I am looking for a weight loss partner/coach. Not someone on here
likely, but someone through a service. I am looking for something very
specific though (a long list of what is out there is not going to do
it for me). I want to find a person or a service that partners someone
one-on-one with a coach/mentor/guru. The coach will email or call
almost every day (twice on those really bad days!) and really stay on
me. He or she is not automated, but a real live person. I know how to
lose weight - but frankly I need someone in my life who will badger,
coax, and support me through it all (about 100 pounds worth). Someone
who will have an email discussion, help me set a concrete plan, and
then keep in regular and ongoing contact down to the details. I do
NOT want services that require me to buy into a specific weight-loss
plan or purchase specific foods. I am not looking for a plan but a
person/partner/guru. While I am willing to pay, there is no way that I
can afford the costs of some services I have seen ($50-$100 per day
due to the counseling aspects). Ideally, I would pay on results (how
about a $1000 reward if you can stick with me through all 100
pounds!).

I should also note that I am basically a well-rounded (no pun
intended) person with a happy loving family and a great job. Not in
need of psychotherapy!

---

Clarification of Question by susank-ga on 23 Feb 2004 06:44 PST

Hmmm. A drill sargent gives the impression of yelling - I don't
respond to anyone yelling at me!

Wanted to clarify - there must be an email component to all this.
Doing it all by phone is time-consuming, expensive, and just not my
preferred mode (although phone at times is fine).

Sounds like you need a drill sargent!

Hello, susank-ga!

I am posting this as a comment rather than an answer since it does not
offer the "exact" program you want. Instead, I have posted some
suggestions. If they meet your needs and you would like me to post
them as an answer to your question, I will be happy to do so. I can
also pursue these angles a bit further.

I ran a personal training business for many years and understand the
type of daily motivation you desire. However, I do not know if there
is a daily "dietary" or "nutritional" service that meets your
criteria. Most customized nutrition plans are changed only
periodically.

If you truly want professional support, you should really pay for the
services of an online personal trainer. That will take commitment and
financial resources, but if you are very serious about losing weight,
you should consider that option.

 I have compiled a combination of services that may provide the type
of daily support you want. These types of services look like they
might work for you (alone or in combination with one another)

Here are some suggestions:


My Diet Buddy
http://mydietbuddy.com/

Read through the Premium membership page, and see what you think:
http://mydietbuddy.com/Premium-Members.htm 

"Determine the support partner that's right for you by selecting
lifestyle traits that are similar to yours. Finding good support
partners and staying motivated to lose weight is easy with our
system."

"A powerful force takes place when 2 or more people form a network.
Take the plunge ........ Get Connected! There's no limit to the amount
of new people you can meet. As long as you stay a premium member,
you'll have full time access to the profiles. You may only need one
support partner or you may form a network of 20. It's entirely up to
you."


=====


Diet Coaches
http://www.dietcoaches.com/home.htm

Membership 
http://www.dietcoaches.com/member.htm

"The second and third levels of membership are for those who desire
some serious, intensive and personal coaching! It requires you to
interact us with us by email (2nd level) and email and phone (third
level). With the membership, you will receive from us once a week a
series of questions regarding your current and past eating life
styles. You email us back your responses and we evaluate them. We then
offer you what we feel are realistic goals for you to work on that
week and check in to see how it went the following week along with
asking you for more information (another series of questions.) You
respond and together we work toward the goal of a thinner you! Heed
this warning, special friends: These 2 levels of membership require a
good deal of effort, participation and accountability on your part!
The second level membership fee is $15.00 a week. The cost is less
than many of the group "diet programs" out there and we strive to make
it personal for each of you. We are all individuals and what works for
one may not work for another. Our goal is to help you find out what
works for you and to keep you working at it until you achieve your
goal. The third level of membership includes 2 half hour phone calls a
week and the cost of that service is $50.00 a week."

"2nd and 3rd level members please note: it is a Diet Coaches policy
that women coach women and men coach men. An appropriate coach will be
assigned to you for the personalized coaching."

==

Free Trainers.com
http://www.freetrainers.com/FT/jsp/index.jsp

If you fill out the free registration, you can take a look at their
numerous message boards and see if you can find your own online diet
partner(s) that will provide email support back and forth. (These
won't be professionals, however)


===

Here are some links for online diet programs with a certain amount of
consultation, but they do not provide the daily emails that you
desire.
http://www.rdlink.com/weight.htm


===

Online Personal Trainers and Weight Consultation

Fantasy Fit
http://www.fantasyfit.com/

Personalized Membership includes: 
http://www.fantasyfit.com/fantasticoffers.html
Your own personalized fitness program designed by a trainer with a
master's degree in a fitness-related field. (You will fill out a
comprehensive questionnaire - all fitness levels included.)
 
** Unlimited one on one e-mail contact with your trainer for your
individual fitness and nutrition questions and unlimited program
changes and updates

The entire Fantasy Fit online video library** to view the correct form
for your program exercises (over 200 high-quality videos)
Access to our client-only database of hundreds of fitness, nutrition,
and health questions (keyword searchable)
Unlimited new programs, updates, and changes to your program 
Printable ready-made fitness programs for all fitness levels 
Nutritional guidance and support, including our printable nutritional
diary and nutritional checklist guide
Goal setting 
Motivational support 
Training tips 
Client newsletters 
Workout reminders
And much more! 

====

Changing Shape
http://www.changingshape.com/

* Please look at the message boards, including "Fitness Friends".
There are several messages from people looking for an online workout
and weightloss buddy!

===

JanaTrains
http://www.janatrains.com/default.asp?ID=43

"Online lifestyle training and weight management counseling is where
together we identify your own personal barriers to maintaining a
healthy weight. From there we set long-term goals and then short-term
goals that will lead you to achieving those larger goals."

* "Each week we have an hour-long counseling session (in a private
chat room), there are tools for you to record your daily food intake
and exercise, and you can email me with questions any time."

"The reason this is better than just going on a diet is that your
making changes to your lifestyle that will last, and you will learn
how to continue on your own once we have reached your goals. The cost
is $200 per month."


===


My Fitness Expert
http://www.myfitnessexpert.com/
http://www.myfitnessexpert.com/Client/marketing/programOptions?mode=load
http://www.myfitnessexpert.com/client/home/about_us.html

===

Virtual Fitness Trainer
http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com/infomembers/

==

Please let me know what you think about these suggestions. 

umiat-ga

Well, I went through them all. The closest was fitness friends at
changing shape - but they appear to be going out of business (traffic
there has plummeted). Although I realize that exercise and diet go
hand in hand for weight loss - these are mostly focused on exercise
and I need to be more focused on diet at this point. I thank you so
much for trying though. And am open to any further suggestions.

I am starting a weight-loss coach/partner business. If you would like
to use me as your coach, I would charge a discounted price and be
there for you on a daily basis as you need. I like to follow the Zone
diet, but if you want to follow your own routine and just have a
person to help motivate you and talk you away from the chocolate cake,
I can do that too!