Q: I need some help! I want to lose weight but am not sure where to start. With so many diet options out there, I need to know what the best way to lose weight is. I don't have money to go on fancy diets, I don't eat "weird" food items, and I really don't want to exclude certain foods. Is there a diet plan easy to follow and one that is livable to stick to?

I need to lose almost 70 pounds, and I have been doing alternate exercises; like the treadmill; the exercise ball; and Slim in 6 DVD, also the Winsor Pilates DVD's. I try to put aside at least 20-30 minutes every morning, and 15-20 minutes in the evening to do some sort of exercise, and I have not lost more than 5 pounds.. Please can you tell me, for being 5' 2" and 205 pounds, how many calories should I be taking in over the course of a day? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. – Michelle

A: I do not know what your daily diet is like, but you may have to exclude some foods if you want to lose 70 pounds. No matter how much you exercise, if you eat a lot of high fat foods, fried foods, processed foods and sugar you are not going to lose weight. Try changing your eating patterns a little. Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Start your morning with a decent breakfast that incorporates fiber and protein. Good choices include oatmeal, whole wheat toast, eggs, whole grain cereals, fresh fruit and low fat yogurt. Limit or avoid butter, margarine and sugary items like jam and syrup. Keep healthy snacks with you to munch on mid morning like raw veggies, an apple, almonds, low fat yogurt or a low fat granola bar. If you must have something sweet create a trail mix that includes raw, unsalted nuts, dried cranberries and a little dark chocolate. For lunch choose a whole wheat pita with chicken or tuna with a salad. Have another healthy snack in the afternoon. For dinner choose a lean protein like chicken or fish and load up on the veggies.

Here are a few diets that aren’t overly restrictive: Bob Greene’s Total Body Makeover, The Mediterranean Diet and The Zone Diet.