I'm a newcomer so I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is April Adams and I'm a Registered Dietitian. Now I know that "Dietitian" probably conjures up some negative thoughts from some of you, but let me assure you that I am not a health nut and I do not believe that you have to follow an impossibly rigid diet in order to lose weight. I wholeheartedly believe that you can include ALL foods in your diet in moderation and still reach and maintain a healthy weight. It's just important to find a good balance for the foods our body NEEDS and those it CRAVES.

Weight loss boils down to calories in vs. calories out, so all you have to do is simply learn how to cut unnecessary calories out of your diet (and/or spend more calories in activity). You just need learn how to make small, gradual changes in your eating habits that you can maintain forever. Fad diets and other quick-fix weight loss methods are not the answer! Not only are they miserable to follow but they leave you worse off than when you started when you gain all the weight back plus more.

Back to me...

I spent most of my professional career as a clinical dietitian in a hospital counseling those seeking weight loss, but I'd say that most of my understanding of the battle of weight loss has come from my mom. She has struggled with weight as long as I can remember. She has tried everything! Now, she is finally on her FINAL weight loss journey as I coach her along. She's lost about 30 pounds and has about another 40 pounds to go. I feel that I have a very good understanding of the struggle many of you are facing through both professional and personal experience.

I am now a full-time work-at-home mom for two beautiful kiddos and I consider my job as mommy to be my most important one right now, but it is still important to me to be able to use my education that I worked so hard to achieve (and payed so much for!). In order to get the best of both worlds I decided to write a book that has all of my tips for healthier eating and weight loss in it. As a result I am owner of Books by April and co-owner of the Indiana Weight Loss and Wellness Institute. I'm trying to get the word out about my book, Back to Basics, because I really think it can be a great guide for most of you. It is so unique from other weight loss books in that it is down-to-earth, it's practical, it's doable, and it is an incredibly easy read.

I don't claim to know it ALL, but I would be happy to answer your questions about eating healthier and losing weight.

soo...basically you are here to advertise?

as i said in another threaad.. before you start dumping threads on us - full of info that's really not new tomost of the folks here -spend some time reading around the forum -YOUmight actually learn something...

This forum isn't your run of the mill forum -full of 19 year old wannabe anorexics on the next fad diet... this forum people actually have common sense and have tried to educate themselves on what is and isn't healthy and what is and isn't effective...

We tend to not fall at the feet of every guru that comes in the door - they g enerally have to prove themselves and very very few do...

so welcome but you're here to only sell your book - to an audience that already knows the basics - then you're really not in the right place... but if you want a health minded community to bounce ideas off of and to learn from -then pull up a chair..

Damn it.
Read all that and should have just skimmed to find this.
Never get that 30 seconds back again.

Ouch!

I'll admit that I'm not a forum expert. In fact, this is the first forum that I've posted to. However, I do understand that this is a community and newcomers are scrutinized (as they should be) for the well-being of the members and for the purpose of the forum.

I purposely mentioned in my introduction that I have a book because I wanted to be open and honest about that and not feel as if I was being sneaky in any way. I know that you all don't know this (how could you?), but I know that I am an honest and trustworthy person who has worked hard to produce a good product that I know can help individuals who are struggling to lose weight and keep it off. I have worked hard to achieve the education to back up my advice and am not just an Internet spammer who wants to make a buck. I truly have a passion for helping others lose weight in the most practical way possible.

As I mentioned in my intro., I am a work-at-home mom who wants to be able to use my education and I thought that this would be a good way to do so.

I apologize for posting info. that is apparently already widely known in this forum. Noted. I read some of the previous posts, but certainly did not read all of them.

I'd be interested in hearing some of your theories on weight loss. Stick around, don't pitch your book, offer advice, and I'm sure your passion will shine through. And I actually look forward to having some conversations with you, personally.

Thanks Steve! I'm looking forward to some good discussions and I know this will be a good way to keep me fresh and on my toes clinically. Unfortunately, Dora, Tom & Jerry, and Dr. Seuss aren't providing enough brain exercise for me. I'll be happy to include more adult conversations in my day!

Haha, while a good children's story is great for the soul, I can certainly understand the desire for something more on your level, especially about something your passionate about.

Brian (Bigguy),

Thanks so much for your private message today. As a newcomer I can't respond to a private message for 4 more days, so I wanted to go ahead and let you know that I did get it and really appreciate it!

April