In this case, the consultant was Helena Boxer, the nutritionist that their client had recommended. She looked as nondescript and unassuming as Andrea Curel had described, that is, until she started speaking. Helena Boxer wasn’t thin and she wasn’t bulging muscles. If anything, she had a bit of a tummy, but it looked womanly. As she spoke, she glowed with vitality and Marissa was taken in by the directness of her gaze.

“Basically, I’m about to tell you all a bunch of really depressing facts. They are all things you don’t want to hear and don’t want to believe. If you decide you don’t want to go ahead, then you’ve lost nothing but some time. That’s why I don’t take sign-ups until after the first session.”

Well, that was fair, Marissa thought, considering how many checks she’d already written to the gym and Take It Off.

“So I’m going to start at the top. I’m not going to tell you what diet to follow. There is no best, one-size-fits all nutrition plan that leads to weight loss and fitness. Everyone is different. Our bodies change constantly. What works this year might need tweaking next year. Our evolution is based on adaptability and flexibility—success in weight control requires both.”

So okay, Marissa thought, if there’s no plan to follow . . . then what? She felt a tickle of confusion and more than a little frustration. She was so tired of working so hard for so little.

“I can tell you, though, how to spot a bad plan. One simple rule will eliminate ninety percent of what’s being hawked out there. If the book or guru or infomercial says you do not have to exercise to succeed it’s a fraud.”

Marissa blinked.

“I know, I know, that seems harsh and I’m not given to blanket statements. But this is one I feel strongly about. It’s just my opinion. Exercise, physical activity, like walking, swimming, hiking, tennis, dancing—it’s vital to your health and well-being. You can’t maintain a healthy weight without it, especially as you get older. Our bodies are designed to move.”

Helena turned back the first sheet of her obviously well-used flip chart. “Here’s the list of the big lies. One—you don’t have to exercise. Two—you don’t have to watch what you eat. Three—you don’t have to wait for results. Four—you don’t have to change. I am telling you the more these statements are used in any so-called weight control program the bigger the lie and, curiously, the more they charge for their advice and products.”

Remembering the price tag on Bianca’s late night infomercial miracle pills, Marissa found herself nodding as she scribbled notes.

“You want to believe it—I want to believe it too. I’ve struggled all my life to control my weight. I want a magic bullet. It wasn’t until I accepted that fitness and meal planning were a reasonable use of my time—not just reasonable but justifiable and vital—that I had success. So think about that for a moment. We can train ourselves to plug in our cell phones, take the car in for oil changes, moisturize our skin, brush our teeth every day, absorb the news important to our lives and jobs. These things take time but they’re necessary to maintaining our lives. So when is the last time you allowed time to maintain your body?”