For me the key at the end was definitely exercise. I went from moderate exercise (yoga three times a week) to Body for Life (six days a week, alternating cardio and heavy weight lifting). Because of the increase in activity I also increased carbs and increased the total food intake. I was hungry all the time! You're supposed to eat six small meals on BFL but I never got the hang of that. The best I could do was three regular meals plus two snacks.

If I recall correctly I only lost a couple of pounds but I dropped two dress sizes. I quit BFL after eight weeks & I often wonder how much more I would have accomplished if I'd finished the program. But, it's been almost 9 months and I'm still the same dress size, so I can't complain. Now I'm back to yoga 3-4 times a week.

My feeling is that without stepping up exercise I would have needed to limit calories and control carbs more strictly to shake those last few pounds.