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All I have to say is, "Waaaaaahhhhh!"

That is the noise I made when I regrettably climbed onto the scale Sunday and saw it blink back: 190 pounds. That means I officially gained a pound in the last week, despite my renewed commitment to the gym.

I can think of two things that caused this problem. The first is -- and avert your eyes if you cannot take a "too-much-information" moment -- probably driven by PMS water retention. The other might be the fact that Joe and I gorged ourselves on steak and desserts two nights this weekend. That can't help.

I'll note that I am still on track, since I have lost six pounds, which is slightly more than the one pound per week goal. But I am looking forward to actual progress this week.

Joe actually lost a pound this week, even though he went to the gym a scant two days and ate out as well. Worse, he realized his jeans were now big enough that they looked weird on him and then, on a lark, tried on a pair of 36/30 jeans -- his goal size. They fit him perfectly.

The round up...
Amanda:
5-9 fruits/veggies every day: 6 days
Exercise: 5 days
Cheats: too much dessert
Sugar soda: none
Pounds lost this week: -1
Weight: 190
Total pounds lost: 6

Joe
Amanda:
5-9 fruits/veggies every day: 6 days
Exercise: 2 days
Cheats: Dinner out twice this week, too many snacks.
Sugar soda: none
Pounds lost this week: 1
Weight: 214
Total pounds lost: 5

We all miss something different when trying to lose weight.

For Amanda, it's chocolate ice cream and lobster with melted butter. For me it's greasy, bastardized American Chinese take-out.

For Esquire writer Tom Chiarella, it was sandwiches. The writer recently wrote about giving up bread for weight loss and spending A Year Without Sandwiches.

From the article:

I lost weight, but it wasn’t worth it. You give up bread and you figure you’ll miss toast, or the crust of a baguette, or pumpernickel seeds. But what you miss is sun-warm tomatoes between bread. Blood-red slices of roast beef. Paper-thin layers of white onions. Marmalade. The knife-curl of peanut butter. The weight of a tuna salad. None of these works particularly well on its own on a plate. They demand bread.

I figured it would be an easy enough year. I told myself I’d had enough sandwiches and that I’d be better off in the long run. There’s always soup. I went into spring thinking, This isn’t so bad. I might never have another sandwich again. Then one afternoon in early summer, I watched my girlfriend’s daughter slice up a tomato, salt it lightly, and put it between two pieces of Roman Meal. Not long after, I saw a Reuben on the grill in a diner in Albany. Midsummer, I played poker at a game where the only food was a Dagwood, slice your own, made on twenty-four inches of ciabatta. The whole night was a sandwich, noshed inch by inch by five four-flushers and a fish. I didn’t eat a thing.

They've just opened a Jimmy John's downtown -- about a block from my office in Greensboro. Even closer than the one on Tate Street, which cheerfully delivers this far. Not as bad as the McDonald's, KFC and Kabab place that are all less than a block from the High Point office -- but close.

What do you guys have the most trouble passing on?

Joe and I have gotten a lot of strange offers since we started writing this blog. Folks have wanted to sell us vitamins and weight loss suppliments. They have wanted to give us free facials and gym memberships (we don't take gifts -- but thanks for the kind offers).

No proposition was quite as horrifying -- and ultimately helpful -- as that of Deanne Gerson, who offered to measure our "skin folds."

It wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Deanne, a Greensboro College junior and an intern for Get Healthy Guilford, has been learning how to measure body fat percentages. She willingly pinched and prodded my, eh-hem, skin folds to figure out exactly how much fat I'm carrying around.

According to her calculations, I am about 30 percent body fat (given a 3-5 point margin of error). That puts me solidly above average in this department. I should be between 20 and 25 percent. I better get back on that treadmill.

And I'll have to get her to measure me again at the end of this odyssey, to see how much I improve.

Attention men and squeamish women: if you will be overly offended by women's health issues, you should probably just surf away now.

You've been warned.

The last few days it's been tough to keep up my healthy lifestyle plans. I'm tired, so I've sat in front of the TV at home instead of going to the gym every night. Worse yet, I've been craving all the stuff I've managed to avoid the last few weeks: sundaes, brownies and chips.

You've probably already guessed the problem. Three little letters...P...M...S!

Normally, I would just pick up a pint of Ben & Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk and throw the covers over my head until the whole thing was over. But, in the spirit of this endeavor, I decided to explore the causes -- and potential solutions -- to this monthly dilemma that can throw a woman off her best laid dieting plans.

Enter Lynda Brown, a UNCG professor and researcher with a PhD in nutrition.

A few months ago I wrote about our gym on the Triad Diary blog.

The highlight was its bizarre "Lunk Alarm" -- a large blue light and siren that go off whenever anyone grunts, drops weights or "judges" other people. This is designed to make people who are really out of shape and most need to go to the gym feel as though they won't be intimidated weight lifters and bodybuilders. The weight lifters and bodybuilders can, apparently, fend for themselves.

The thing's never gone off at our gym -- and Amanda theorized that it might not even work, that it's just there to psych out the potential grunters.

But then last night, it actually sounded.

Amanda was in the locker room. She heard it, but I saw it. The poor guy who'd done the grunting looked confused when a gym employee came over to scold him as others looked on. He thought the noises he'd made were basic "I'm lifting something heavy" noises.

Shows what he knows.

I previously mentioned that a Jimmy John's has opened downtown -- just a few blocks from the Greensboro office of the N&R and even closer than the one that's already on Tate St.

Since I am highly vulnerable to delicious sandwiches, this worried me a bit.

But then I went to the Jimmy John's website and checked out their terrific nutrition tracker.

Not only does it let you check out all of the nutrition information for every one of their sandwiches and ingredients, but it lets you delete and switch things out -- say, substituting mustard or avocado spread for mayonnaise. This was eye opening.

We have reached a kind of summit. That ugly place were you don't seem to lose any more weight.

For me, it's 190 pounds. For Joe, it's 214. We are trying not to dispair.

Instead, I am going to really focus on the things that are throwing us off. For him, it's the inconsistent gym time. For me, it's the all too easy cheats.

For instance, I have opted not to entirely give up on eating out. We don't eat cheese fries when we do it. But we do eat out. And sometimes, I order dessert. And I don't feel bad about it. That is, of course, until I check my weight at the end of the week.

We are still on track with the one pound a week goal. But frankly, Joe and I thought we would lose more than that.

The week in review:
Amanda
5-9 fruits/veggies every day: 5 days
Exercise: 3 days
Weakest moment: Eating brownies. Almost every day.
Sugar soda: none
Pounds lost this week: 0
Weight: 190
Total pounds lost: 6

Joe
5-9 fruits/veggies every day: 5 days
Exercise: 2 days
Weakest moment: Big bacon cheeseburger and fries with Amanda before a movie.
Sugar soda: none
Pounds lost this week: 0
Weight: 214
Total pounds lost: 5

Well, this weekend Amanda and I let N&R staffer Ryan Seals (an Army Specialist and Iraq war veteran) put us through some of the calisthenics he endured during basic training at Fort Leonord Wood, Missouri.

Ryan really got into it - wore his uniform, yelled at us, made us drop and give him pushups when we screwed up (which was often) -- and did it all in the cold, wind and rain.

But long story short: it was not pretty. Except for that weird psychedelic hallucination I had at the end (no, really...)

Here's some terrific suggestions from reader Dick:

Amanda,

As someone who has struggled with a night time snacking habit forever, I offer a few suggestions.

Try to reduce the TV habit. For me TV is the trigger. I struggle to sit in front of the tube for more than an hour before the pangs start. Even if I have just finished a big meal and am full. Try to replace TV with any other habit. Work in the yard, walk the dog, even reading helps (it's hard to eat while holding a book, plus you don't see all those food commericals.)

Prepare healthy snacks in advance: raw veggies like celery, green peppers, broccoli and carrots (those pre-cut one are really a boon) are low in calories and filling.

Give up salted snacks. This has always been my downfall. I could down a half a box of Cheese-its in a heartbeat. It seems like I would keep eating and eating the salty snack just because I liked the salt so much. Then I would become thirsty for some soda or juice and then want to eat more of the snack.

About a month ago I went cold turkey on the salted snacks. I allowed myself anything else. This has worked really well. When I get the snack craving I try to go with the veggies first then sometimes hot oatmeal or cold cereal, which I like and is filling, Sometimes this works and sometimes I have to eat something else (like a couple cookies, yogurt or ice cream.) This strategy seems to be working. Often the veggies are enough and even when I lapse to the less healthy alternatives, usually one portion is enough.

Good luck!

Dick

This week TLC premieres a new program with a big promise:

"I Can Make You Thin," starring British hypnotherapist Paul McKenna.

TLC hasn't spent a lot of time promoting the five-part series (which starts this Sunday, March 16 at 9 p.m.) But McKenna's shtick is that he can change your life by reprogramming your brain.

Last weekend I had a dream about soda. Coca-cola to be specific. I dreamt that I was someplace where no one knew me and no one knew I was on a diet. I looked over both shoulders and held out a clear plastic cup and happily watched it overflow with sugary, caramel colored soda.

And I drank it quickly, before the dream evaporated.

Strangely, when I woke up, I thought it had really happened. Then yesterday it did.

I kicked butt at the gym, then stopped at the grocery store to pick up some milk and orange juice. As a treat for working so hard, I also picked up a bottle of Cherry Coke Zero.

Later, at home, I popped it open and took a couple of big, satisfying swigs. Joe picked up the bottle and examined it.

"Is this regular coke?"

"No." Indignant.

"Um, I think it is."

Crap. It was. I felt all dirty. And used by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which made the Cherry Coke look almost exactly like the Cherry Coke Zero.

To share the burden, Joe drank the rest of it.

Amanda and I have very different weaknesses when it comes to this staying healthy thing.

For her, it's the snacking.

Last weekend I went shopping and, at Amanda's request, I picked up a box of Life cereal. Monday night Amanda ate almost the entire box in a late night snacking frenzy. When I woke up there was enough cereal -- and milk -- for one bowl.

"I don't think we're going to be able to have that in the house again," she said sort of sheepishly.

"But...what if I want some?" I said.

"Yeah, sorry," she said. "No more of that."

I'm just as bad on my end -- but with exercise. Tonight I went to the gym for only the second time this week -- and it's Thursday.

I exercise better in the morning -- when Amanda can't yet move or speak. At the end of the day I'm often too spent to get much out of it. But I have to wake up at least an hour early to hit the gym before work -- and I'm having trouble doing that too.

This week we vowed to support each other more in our areas of weakness. Tonight we held to that vow.

Amanda called from work to ask what we were going to do for dinner.

"I can cook something," I said. "What are you in the mood for?"

"Pizza and beer," she moaned. "Peee-zzzaaa and beeeeeeer...."

"No pizza and beer," I said. "I'll cook us something healthy."

"Can't we pleeaaase have pizza?" she said. "Just tonight? We'll just cheat tonight..."

"No," I said. "I'm going to cook us something healthy. I'll have it on the table when you get home."

When she walked through the door I handed her a plate of grilled salmon and steamed vegetables.

"This is me supporting you," I said.

After dinner, she pulled me off the couch.

"Come on," she said. "Gym time. You've only been once this week."

"Do I haaaaave to?" I whined.

"Yes," she said. "This is me supporting you."

Check out this quiz on modern portion sizes vs. portion sizes of the past.

It points out that twenty years ago the average bagel was about half the size and half the number of calories as today's bagel. The news gets worse from there.

I've noticed this a lot since we started struggling to lose this weight. You're almost never given one portion size of anything -- and if you are, it seems very small in this giant-food culture we've built.

Much to my disappointment, Paul McKenna didn't hypnotize anyone on the first episode of his new show Sunday night.

Instead, TLC's "I Can Make You Thin," included a handful of helpful, practical tips to battling the bulge.

McKenna laid out his rules for eating:

-- Eat when you are hungry.
-- Eat what you want.
-- Eat consciously.
-- When you are full, stop eating.

His argument is one of moderation: you can eat anything you want, as long as you don't gorge yourself on it. It's a great idea, but one I find tough to follow (you may recall my recent inability to stop myself from eating a whole box of Life cereal).

In the spirit of Cheesefry Nation, I am going to give it a shot. At lunch today, I tried one of his "eat consciously" exercises. Every time I took a bite of food, I put down my fork and chewed the bite 20 times. When I didn't feel hungry any more, I stopped. I still had half of my lunch left on my plate.

Now that is a sure way to cut the calories. But let's just see if I can make it last all week.

...that today I am wearing me "skinny jeans."

Now, I only wish the fit a little bit looser. But I'll be taking it one day at a time.

Here's a very late Week 6 wrap up. For starters, we are now at the break even point. I weighed in at 189 this week. That means I have made my goal at this mid-way point. But it's getting tougher every week.

Last week was especially tough because I started a new gig as the city reporter, which means lots of long hours and late nights. That is a sure recipe for disaster: take-out food for dinner and skipping gym sessions because I get out of work too late.

I'm really going to have to find a way around the new schedule.

The week in review:
Amanda
5-9 fruits/veggies every day: 5 days
Exercise: 4 days
Weakest moment: Lotsa scallops. Wrapped in bacon.
Sugar soda: just a few sips
Pounds lost this week: 1
Weight: 189
Total pounds lost: 7

Joe
5-9 fruits/veggies every day: 5 days
Exercise: 3 days
Weakest moment: I too partook of the bacon-wrapped scallops. And bacon, eggs and eggs-in-basket the next morning.
Sugar soda: I finished Amanda's 20 ounce bottle of Coke -- my first sugary soda in weeks.
Pounds lost this week: 0
Weight: 214
Total pounds lost: 5

So we're in week six of our "Lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks" challenge and I'm only down five pounds.

This officially puts me behind the eight ball, against the wall, under the gun and in various other uncomfortable metaphoric positions.

But you know...I'm not so bothered by this.

Why? Because today I'm wearing a pair of black jeans that I was two inches too fat for when we began the challenge. Because my gut is noticeably smaller. Because I think I'm feeling better, sleeping better and functioning better since we began this challenge because my body's running on better fuel -- more fruits and vegetables, more water, less sugar and fat.

And isn't that what it's all about?

No.

No it's not.

That's all very nice, but this is about losing ten pounds in ten weeks.

And I'm going to do it if it effing kills me.

As promised here is the video of N&R staffer Ryan Seals running us through boot camp.

The video is hilarious. But it doesn't quite show how wet and cold it was out that day.

Major thanks to Louis Bekoe for the footage and editing. Although I think the pleasure of watching us suffer was probably thanks enough for him.

Joe and I have been updating you on our status for about six weeks now. But we want to know how you are doing, too!

If you've joined the "Get Healthy Guilford" challenge, how has it been working? We've hit a wall in terms of results and energy -- I'll be the first to admit it. And it seems like we aren't the only ones.

Thus far, according to the Get Healthy Guilford online game card, participants have lost an average of 2.52 pounds. The last two weeks -- when we have lost almost nothing -- the participants have averaged just .08 and .16 pounds lost. So it looks like we are in good company.

So how's about a little change in attitude? Let's focus on our successes. For me, it's staying consistent with my "no soda" guideline. It's fitting into those size 14 jeans I haven't been able to wear.

How about you? What have you accomplished?

Week in Review:
Amanda
5-9 fruits/veggies every day: 4 days
Exercise: 0 days
Weakest moment: Can you say Easter candy
Sugar soda: none
Pounds lost this week: 0
Weight: 189
Total pounds lost: 7

When all else fails, turn to weird pseudo-science weight loss cures!

Like these Weight Loss Sunglasses!

They tint everything blue, you see -- the least appetizing color in the spectrum. Look at your food through them and you won't even want that double bacon cheeseburger!

Amanda points out that blue is also the color of our kitchen (not our fault) and it doesn't seem to have helped us...

Jack LaLanne lets his viewers in on the secret to happiness: fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and, maybe, a little singing.

Jack had it down thirty years ago -- how did so many of us get so fat and miserable anyway?

All right -- today I'm 211 lbs.

That's nearly 8 lbs down from the 218.8 lbs at which I began.

If I can lose (and keep off) two pounds in the next two weeks, I will have met my goal.

This comes as a great relief after a few weeks of no loss at all and the thought that I'd never make it. So what changed this week?

Well, I did.

It's true I've been going to the gym less -- but when I was going to the gym regularly, I was mostly just running. I was afraid of seriously lifting weights because my family has a tendency to put on muscle quickly and I didn't want to stay at the same weight (or even gain pounds) while trying to drop 10 lbs in ten weeks.

But a guy at the gym and my aunt both gave me the same good advice in the last two weeks: lift, but lift light. Go with lower weight and higher repetition. You're not looking to build mass -- you're looking to tone your body and drop some of your fat. To do that you need to take in more protein (I now have hardboiled eggs at the ready at home) and not shy away from the weights.

So I began doing a push up, sit up, dumbbell routine at home at least once a day and --- gasp -- it worked. I'm still watching what I eat and monitoring my food though my online database -- but I'm not starving myself or eating anything I don't like.

And -- knock wood -- it seems to be working. Here's hoping I can keep it up through the end.