In the last few weeks, I've grown pretty desperate in my quest to lose weight.

After a personal crisis in May, I becaome totally out of control, eating with abandon. But reality set in when some of my clothes no longer fit. And now fall is coming. Shoot, today it feels like it is already here. I have got to get back into my fall clothes. Ya'll know I am not trying to buy new stuff in fatter sizes.

So what's my solution? Fasting.

It was all my brother's idea. He said he wanted to abstain from meals for spiritual reasons. And I agreed, but to be honest, I had to get some fat off my behind. Problem was, I couldn't go cold turkey with no food for two weeks. His mixture of honey, lemons, limes and distilled water didn't help. I was starving!

So I improvised. I decided to keep my coffee and the mixture, but just eat one meal a day. So far, it's gone pretty well. I've lost seven pounds in the last week. And I haven't been too cranky....I don't think.

Hopefully, I can get back into those black pants before too long...

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com