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I am going to be fat forever.

That is how I felt Wednesday night as I was slurping chocolate ice cream of a plastic spoon.

Actually, it's what I said to Joe, who sat across from me, nibbling on a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner.

He paused and considered this.

"Are you serious?"

I didn't respond.

"Do I get a vote?'

Well, no. Not unless he plans to hold me captive and start feeding me intravenously, which is about what it would take to make me totally give up chocolate.

I admire his resolve. And his 11 pound weight loss. (I lost a mere 8 pounds in the last ten weeks and catch up seems near impossible.)

But he can't have enough will for both of us.

He can, however, lean on me to stay committed.

That might just be the key to our success throughout the Get Healthy Guilford Challenge.

It might be what makes me snap out of this I-can't-lose-another-pound funk get on with our next goal, ten more weeks of consistent weight loss.

The Journal of the American Medicine Association reported earlier this year that people are more likely to keep weight off if they have regular contract with a weight loss professional.

Now, Joe's no nutritionist, but I am guessing his help and support has a similar affect. It's hard to let yourself slip when someone is watching your back.

I can only hope I can help him, too.

I promise to start by washing the chocolate ice cream down the drain.