"I hired a weight-loss coach."
Debbie Chabot, 48, West Dover, Vermont
Lost: 11 pounds
Maintained for: One year
Chabot tried every weight-loss scheme imaginable, and then she found a diet coaching service online. During weekly 30-minute phone calls, her coach helped her identify unhealthy eating patterns and gave her a safe place to talk about her insecurities regarding her weight. Before that, "I never had a person who cheered on my successes or guided me if I got off track," says Chabot, who still checks in with her coach every week or so.
Having a cheerleader can be a big asset for weight maintenance. A new study found that dieters who had social support from family and friends lost more weight over an 18-month period than those who didn't.
