Lose 18 lbs in 7 days

"Let's go!" Debora Tillman called as her husband, Dale, revved his beloved motorcycle. They zoomed off, weaving through farmland under a blue North Carolina sky. The day was perfect. Well, nearly perfect. Because Debora's knees began to ache. She tried shifting positions as she hung on to Dale-but with both of them pushing 300 pounds, there wasn't room. We barely fit, she realized, her knees on fire.

Back home, Debora climbed off the bike with a groan, her asthma starting to act up. Dale, who had rheumatoid arthritis, stretched out his own kinks. Both knew this did not bode well for their long-time dream of retiring and riding across the country. You can't even stay on the bike for an hour, let alone days at a time, said a voice in Debora's head. She felt a familiar sadness creep over her.

For as long as Debora could remember, she'd been a big eater. After a seven course meal, she'd still want cake. Usually two slices. When she got bored or stressed, cookies and candy were comfort. Of course, she'd ended up the opposite of comfortable. As pounds packed on and her health tanked-bad knees, asthma, bum thyroid, prediabetes and more-it meant she was in such lousy shape she couldn't play softball with her three girls or keep up with them at the beach. She was even too big to take them on rides at the fair. Instead, she sat on the sidelines with an aching sense she was missing all the good stuff.

Did she try to change? Again and again. Pills, fads, group programs, diet centers. She would start strong, then get sucked back into old habits. Before she knew it, her girls were grown and she was a grandmother. Retirement is still a way off, but I bet my weight will ruin that too, she said to herself.