"I have gained and lost the same ten pounds so many times over and over my cellulite must have deja vu."   Jane Wagner

For over 25 years we have been best friends. When we met in college it began with a laugh, and it was one of those special moments that only future-soon-to-be-super-best friends can experience—we both knew that we would be in each other’s lives for a long time to come. Early on the things that bonded us were laughing, movies, theater, travel, and of course FOOD! 

Before we met each other our weight had always played a large role in our lives. The challenge to be and stay healthy in a tasty world is something we both had been dealing with separately for a very long time and from and an early age. In college, enjoying meals together became our reprieve from an intense academic schedule. From our way-too-early morning stops at the local High’s (remember High’s?!) to get that all important college power breakfast (Diet Coke and doughnuts) to late night meals at Denny’s (who still doesn’t think it’s a great idea to eat breakfast at midnight?!), to smuggling pints of ice cream into movie theatres, we supported each other and laughed our way through it all.

In the decades after college, whether in the same city or not, we continued to laugh, write, act, play, travel, eat, and cook together, and most importantly to provide much-needed moral support and humor to get each other through the good times and the bad. Even though our eating habits have changed (thank God!), our conversation has not. Particularly as we age, our late night phone conversations always circle back to our weight, health, body image, food, and how to enjoy the pleasures of food without sacrificing our health, well-being, and sanity.

We are FOODIES to the core. One of us still struggles with his Diet Coke and doughnut addiction (but we won’t say who). One of us still struggles with whether to cook her own meals or order in and eat on the couch (again, we won’t say who). Over time, however, overeating has been giving way to steadier eating habits for us both. More often, natural sugars are replacing artificial sugars. Shame and guilt waivers when met by true love and enjoyment! Except when the pizza shows up. And the Thai food. And there was that time in Mexico with the Sangria. Remember the limoncello in Italy! Oh, and the cheese plates in France! We totally have to go back there…ooops…anyway…

Everybody needs someone who gets them. Everybody needs someone who understands what they are going through. And everybody needs practical, real-life techniques.  As anyone who has struggled with weight gain, weight loss, and weight management knows, it can be a never-ending conversation. This is OUR ongoing conversation. We hope you join us and our community in the conversation to encourage, inspire, and inform everyone so they can find their own unique language.

Rick and Kate