Well, at 5'5" and 128 pounds, you're at your ideal weight. Depending on your chest size, you may not be able to lose any more. The reason why I say that is because, obviously, bigger boobs weigh more. My best friend is 5'4, like me, and at her skinniest she wore a size 9/10 and weighed 150 pounds, all because her bra size is a 38DD. I,on the other hand, at my skinniest, wore a size 9/10 and weighed 121, because my bra size was 34B. So it's all relative. I don't think you have a weight problem. I think the problem is all in how you see yourself. Anyhoo, I will address the separate issues you said you have with your body and your eating habits. You said you are the type of person who eats all the time. That can actually be a good thing- experts are now telling us that this is the way to be. All top models also eat all day. It is a way to keep from getting hungry and making the wrong choices. Do you have fresh fruits and vegetables available to you? In the mornings, instead of grabbing a doughnut or a bagel, or sitting down to a bowl of cereal before school, do fifteen minutes of excersize and grab an apple on your way out the door. Choose fruits or vegetables as snacks. Before you go to bed, do another fifteen minutes of low-impact excersize, such as leg-lifts, squats, toe-touches, etc. I've found that eating decent and excersizing daily really improves my own self-image. As for the "Pooch Belly", that's normal in women. We store fat around our reproductive organs "just in case" to aid in pregnancy. If you want to get rid of it, you can do sit-ups, and/or you can eliminate wheat flour (and yes that means white flour) from your diet. The flour is what goes straight to that area, but it can sometimes be challenging to people to find their starches elsewhere, not to mention the fact that you can't have cookies! The bit of fat on the upper thighs is hard to target. The only way I've found to get rid of it is a ThighMaster. You're not going to find a pill or "Miracle Diet" that will make you happy with your body. You're at your ideal weight. With some toning and adding some fruits and vegetables to your diet, you'll find that not only will your little problem areas all but disapear, but your body image and self esteem will skyrocket! It's amazing what excersizing does for you.

I know this is an old post but this may help i too lost 30 pounds with dr beale in 2 months however he did not have me on the 500 cal diet. Most people dont say how her puts on on a diet depending on you goal/ need. i didnt have a time frame to loose i just wanted to loose so i was over 300 pounds when i went to him. My allowed foods was the same but i could eat as many times a day as i preferred but i count not have anything that was not on the list. with all the veggies and fruits sub for all the chips and candy my calorie intake dropped drastically. I was average 1200-1400 a day (2-4 pound lost weekly) and 1000-1200 a day (4-6 pounds weekly) she was right the maintenance work as well. I stopped going becuase i got pregnant and just never went back but recommend to anyone. He is no longer practicing (R.I.P) but what he started is still being followed by his colleagues whic includes his daughter. so to answer one question the less you have to loose the shorter time he will have you on the diet. and how fast you are planning to loose it ie weddings is a factor too. you go in every week some people twice a week to be monitored.

Surely some of you public-spirited Minnesotans can look around to see whether such, or something reasonably similar, is to be found in your area. Shouldn't we take some interest in helping the old buzzard get some of his morning buzz? To recharge his batteries? ole joyful

Oh gg, now I feel really badly for you. No coffee? Argghh... My split pea soup is pretty easy. I pour a bag of split peas into the crockpot, add a couple of finely chopped carrot, a finely chopped onion, a smoked pork hock if it suits me and I have one. The girls liked me to add cubes of potatoes. Pour water over the split peas and veggies. If you're using a ham bone or pork hock, don't add salt until it's cooked and you taste it. I toss in a bay leaf and some freshly ground black pepper, put it on low and let it cook all day while I'm at work. When I come home I stir, remove the pork hock if I used it and add the chopped meat back into the soup, taste for seasoning. It's done. I use the same technique for bean soup and for lentils, but lentils cook up a lot faster. This is one of my favorite tomato soups, it's from KatieC. She cans it, so do I, but this recipe is just as good freshly made. Roasted Tomato Garlic Soup Recipe By :Katie 12 tomatoes -- *see Note 2 carrots -- cut in 1" pieces 1 large onion -- quartered 2 whole heads garlic -- peeled (or more, to taste) olive oil 2 cups chicken broth -- (or 3) 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil -- (or 1 Tbsp. dried) cream -- to taste Core tomatoes and cut in half. Place, cut side up, on foil covered cookie sheet with carrots, onion and garlic. Brush with olive oil. Bake at 400F for about an hour, or until vegies are roasted and a little blackened. Place in a large saucepan with the chicken broth and basil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Blend with a stick blender (or in small batches in a blender) until almost smooth. Add cream to taste. *Note: These measurements are approximate...I use whatever it takes to cover the cookie sheet. This makes 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of soup. OK, so I'll drink an extra cup of coffee every morning on your behalf, would that help? Oh, hey, you could make an expresso ice cream shake, yeah, that's it! I don't suppose you like iced coffee? (I don't, but maybe...) Annie