A Word about Weight Loss

Recently, while complaining about how hard it is to get my exercise and lose weight, a friend talked to me about some new "easy" diets that are out there now.  I know there are a lot of people, including many of my friends, who are using these diets but I remain leary.  I am not a scientist or a doctor, and I've never been on these diets...I don't claim to be an expert, or even to know anything at all about them...but I feel I have reason to be cautious...
About 13 years ago there was a doctor approved and monitored weight loss program that we were assured was safe and easy.  Lots of people had tried it and had great success, and I was feeling desperate for anything that worked...so off to the doctor I went.  After a discussion with the doctor, and having him answer all my questions, I felt it was the right thing to do and I started on Phen Fen.  It was truly the best thing that ever happened to me and I lost weight really fast.  I found myself craving fresh fruits and not wanting all the bad food that had contributed to making me fat in the first place.  How could that possibly be bad, right?  I was on Phen Fen for 4 1/2 months and the weight just melted off...it truly was amazing.  Then something "bad" happened... I got pregnant and had to stop taking it. I was SO UPSET.  I still had more weight to lose, and now it was all over...at least for a year.
Then the bad news hit.  Suddenly people were suffering cardiac and pulmonary damage...and some were dying...and it was all linked to Phen Fen.  I spent a lot of time reading about the symptoms, trying to determine if I had any of them, and being really scared about what might be wrong with me.  I filed as a part of a class action lawsuit...but I didn't really care about the money at all.  I spent sleepless nights wondering if I was going to need a heart transplant or possibly die, leaving four kids with no mother. I made a couple of trips to cardiologists for tests...it was horrible.
Finally I was assured that everything was fine. (Consequently, I didn't qualify for the class action lawsuit, but I'd rather be broke than dead, so no problem)  The cardiologist informed me that most of the people with damage had been on the drugs for at least six months, and since I had stopped at 4 1/2 I was lucky.  That's when I knew that not only was my cute little Savannah a great blessing, but she was also my own personal miracle...she literally may have saved my life.
So this is why I no longer participate in weight loss programs that seem "easy" or "quick". I have learned that there is no such thing as quick or easy when it comes to good health and weight loss.  Exercise and eating right is the only way...it's really all about mastering SELF CONTROL...which is hard.  But I also believe there is more to gain by mastering your self than just weight loss, and that will make all the hard work worth it.