Weight Loss for All the World to See

A growing number of successful losers keep accountable by blogging about their weight loss efforts. In today's Lean Plate Club column, meet Shauna Reid--also known as Dietgirl. (I was delighted to learn that the Lean Plate Club is one of the things that helped inspire Shauna's efforts.) By the way, Shauna has lost half her body weight. The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl, a book detailing her odyssey, will soon be published in the U.S.

Also meet Gerry Pugliese. He writes the DiseaseProof blog for Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Gerry was lean until after college, when a difficult job interfered with his workouts and he turned to food to soothe his stress. Sound familiar? Gerry has lost about 60 pounds by eating smart with a diet that is mostly vegetable based and moving more, including discovering yoga.

And then there's Deborah Kosnett, who has been featured as one of our very early successful losers. Deborah writes the blog, Drop the Fork.

Do you have a favorite weight loss blogger? Do you keep your own blog? Share your favorites or your own blog with us now Or join today's Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. (I plan to profile other nutrition, exercise and weight loss bloggers from time to time in future columns. E-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com.)

Surgery for Diabetes

Rocco Turso is one of a handful of Americans who have undergone an experimental operation that has reversed his type 2 diabetes. Read more about it here and then tell us what you think about this procedure. Would you try it if you had type 2 diabetes? Would you want someone you love who has type 2 diabetes to try it? Tell us now. Or join the Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. today. E-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Joy of Motion

Who says you have to head to the gym to be fit? With spring already here--at least by the calendar, if not the weather--and summer just around the corner, it's a great opportunity to take advantage of the parks, trails, fit trails and parcourses that are offered in many public parks. In Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., the parcourse -- which originated in Switzerland -- has just been updated.

And Lean Plate Club members are telling me that they want to continue the Lean Plate Club MisFits group after the official challenge ends this week. Sign up here. The group name is the Lean Plate Club and the group number is 69734.

What's for Dinner Tonight?

Vegetarian Resource Group has lowfat Indian cuisine, including Masala Dosai, which has about 250 calories per serving and just two grams of fat. (You may have to get some of the ingredients for this recipe from an Asian or Indian grocery or online.) There's also New Mex food, including tapatillas, made with corn tortillas, refried beans, avocados, green salsa and lettuce. Is your mouth watering yet? This recipe has about 156 calories per serving.

The Food Network offers Five-Spice Turkey and Lettuce Wraps. (This recipe comes courtesy of Eating Well magazine.) And Ellie Krieger shows you how to make a healthy Chicken Caesar salad.

Woman's Day has drop a dress size dinners that can keep you satisfied without eating a lot of calories. They're all under 400 calories per serving. Asian Chicken and Vegetables is one option that takes just five minutes of active time to prepare and just 30 minutes to cook. It has less than 300 calories. Mojo Seafood Skewers are another possibility. They're less than 150 calories per serving.

What are you cooking this week ? Share your recipes, food finds and more. Or join the Lean Plate Club Web chat where I give away a handful of free prizes each week. E-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

The Best Fast Food

I was reading through messages in the Lean Plate Club e-mail box and found this in response to a question about the best fast food. (Yes, I really do read all your messages, although some weeks I seem to get through more than others! I respond to as many personally as time permits. And if you really need to reach me--you can even call me at 1-800-627-1150, ext. 45018. I'll let you know if I can't talk.)

Here's what a Lean Plate Club member wrote me when I asked in recent weeks about the best fast food:

"I am on the road a lot for my job and often need to grab a quick meal before or after a meeting. Over the last year or so, one of my favorite places -- believe it or not -- is McDonald's. They have a selection of salads that are hard to beat. The best, in my opinion, is the Asian grilled chicken salad. I think it has less than 300 calories and I never use all of the dressing that is provided."

What's your candidate for the best fast food? Tell us now. Then check the Web chat transcripts later. Or join the Lean Plate Club Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.

Eating at Your Keyboard?

If you find yourself dining in your cubicle, you might want to think about washing your hands really, really well. A British microbiologist swabbed keyboards and found that they were dirtier than toilets. Pretty gross, I realize, but it seemed worth a highlight to help stem the spread of disease. Among the pesky microbes discovered: E. coli and staph bacteria. Yuck! This isn't the first time that scientists have reported just you disgusting our desks are. Check out some of the comments in this Lean Plate Club discussion group discussion, where we keep in touch throughout the week. Are you signed up yet? It's easy and of course, it's free.

Too Thin!

Maybe you can't be too rich, but you can be too thin, particularly when you are expecting. A new study finds that very thin pregnant women are more likely to suffer from severe morning sickness than those at a healthy weight. For more on how much to eat--and how many pounds to gain when you are pregnant--check out My Pyramid's site for pregnant and nursing women. It's your tax dollars at work from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Finally, check out this article from our Food section about stretching the pantry.