1. Diet friend-or foe?
2. Budging a stuck scale!
3. Always tired?

Diet friend-or foe?  I hate talking about dieting. Just being 75 pounds overweight is embarrassing enough, thanks! But since I can't seem to stick to a diet on my own, I decided to confide in my best friend. At first she was very supportive, but now she calls every day to ask if I've “cheated” on my diet. It's like she assumes I'm going to fail. Am I just being overly sensitive?

It's natural to feel sensitive, but I encourage you to keep relying on your friend. A recent study found that 70 percent of women who lost weight and kept it off had turned to loved ones for support. However, since it sounds like your friend doesn't realize the effect she's having on you, be up-front with her. Say something like “I'm so glad I have a friend like you to help me reach my goal. But I've noticed I respond better to praise, so it would be even more inspirational to me if you focused on my successes rather than my slipups.”

Budging a stuck scale!   My coworker and I made a pact to lose 20 pounds each, and we've been really good about sticking to our diets. We even started meeting before work for a 30-minute power walk. We had lost about nine pounds each when my friend started skipping out on the walks, but I kept at it. Four weeks later, she's lost an additional 12 pounds, while I've lost only 4 more! Should I stop exercising too?

Remember, people lose weight at different rates, and since you're still losing, I'd say you're on the right track. In fact, I bet daily exercise has built additional muscle, which weighs more than fat. So stick with your daily routine. Regular exercise aids metabolism and digestion, plus a brisk 30-minute walk burns 300 calories, which adds up to 2,100 calories a week-or 35 pounds a year!

Always tired?   After 10 years of yo-yoing on every fad diet out there, I've finally discovered one that works for me. It breaks down to 70 percent carbs, 10 percent protein and 20 percent fat. Over the past six months I've lost 50 of the 60 extra pounds I've been lugging around. Even though I should be celebrating, I'm just too exhausted and edgy to even think about it. I thought losing weight was supposed to give you more energy-not take it away!

You're right. You should feel fabulous. But your funk, combined with your diet, points to a chromium deficit, which triggers fatigue for up to 80 percent of women. Chromium helps the body metabolize glucose (blood sugar), which is essential for energy. But since a diet rich in carbohydrates (sugars) floods the system with glucose, you may not have enough chromium to meet the high demand. To reclaim your zest, eat chromium rich carbs, such as potatoes, and whole grains, and snack on nuts and cheese for a non-rich dose of the mineral.