Meet Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LDN

Dawn Jackson Blatner is a registered and licensed dietitian, and has been a national media spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association since 2002. She is also an instructor at Chicago's Chopping Block Cooking School, where she teaches students how to cook healthy meals. Blatner owns her own business offering individual patient counseling for the prevention and management of conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. In addition, she provides corporate consultations, wellness lectures and professional seminars.

Blatner has worked as a consulting dietitian with a national health food chain, exclusive spas and DePaul University. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree with highest honors in human nutrition and food science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and completed her internship at the University of New Mexico.

She has been widely quoted in national newspapers and magazines, appears on local and national television and radio programs, and writes for consumer magazines. Blatner appears regularly in the Healthy Eating segment on Chicago's "Fox News in the Morning." She has contributed to several books and is currently working on two healthy eating books to be published in 2008. To learn more about Dawn, visit her website.

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The best alternative to loose weight for me, was the program of Jenny Craig.

Posted by compres Jul 30, 2008 12:20 am ET

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I am 33 years old and I'm very sad and frustrated cause I can't loose weight. I weight 208 pounds and I am 5ft 4in. I tried to contact a nutritionist as my doctor suggesed me but I would had to pay her 90 dlls per hour and I don't have money to pay that. I really want to be healthy

Posted by blanlor Apr 21, 2008 9:10 am ET

I'm sorry that you're sad/frustrated b/c you can't lose weight but you haven't said what you've tried in order lose weight. You need to set weekly and monthly goals and reward yourself when you reach one (NOT food!) You need to change your eating along with an exercise plan. You don't need money to learn to lose weight. I started at 8 yrs. old and I had no money. Go to the library and get a book on how to lose weight and borrow some workout videos. They also carry magazines that are geared to weight loss programs along with exercise programs. Read, read, read and educate yourself on how to take off the weight and incorporate exercise into your daily life. I am now 50 and have kept off 40 lbs. and have been exercising for 30 years. This changed my entire life! I know you can do this so, don't let $ stand in the way as an "excuse" for not starting a healthy lifestyple and exercise program. You can always start with a walk aroung the block and then just keep increasing the distance. This is free. You need to convince yourself that you CAN do this and you will. Take that first step and walk to the library. I KNOW that you CAN do this. Get going and good luck!

Posted by mrsmoviegirl Mar 20, 2009 9:36 pm ET

I see this was posted back in April, but I just joined now. I was 201 lbs. and am 5 ft. 4inches. I started having back problems and actually hurt my back at work. I was debilitated for over 2 months. I knew I had to do something. I joined Weight Watchers and still go to the meetings. I have lost 50 lbs. and feel great. Got a new hairdo and people think I look 10 years younger. I am hoping to lose at least 20 more pounds.

Posted by whotogoto Sep 10, 2008 12:33 pm ET

I am 38 and I am overweight, I need help I also have hypothyroidism which enables my slow metabolism I weigh 230lbs and am only 5ft5.

Posted by dinnette Mar 25, 2008 12:07 pm ET

i am 44 and have a hypothroid i lost 45 lbs just by cutting out mt favorite foods like pizza nochos and i exersize faithfully 1 1/2 a day on a bike and a tread mill and watch what i eat i cut out all fat and potatoe and noodles and bread i eat only healthy life bread with 1/2 the calories hope this helps

Posted by donnavincett Mar 10, 2009 8:24 am ET

i am 38 i'm very unhappy with my weight i need help somehow

Posted by daddy40 Feb 27, 2008 8:23 pm ET

I would like to help you. You didn't say how much weight you would like to lose. Just start with changing your eating and start exercising. You need to learn how to eat well so that you keep off the weight you lose. You can look on e-diets as they have about 10 different diets that you can choose from. You could also check out Weight Watchers online. As for myself, I would buy any health magazine that will teach you how to eat the proper foods to help you lose weight but won't leave you starving. You need to reduce your caloric intake by 3,500 calories to lose 1 lb. So, if you reduce your calories by 500 per day, you will lose 1 lb. per week. But, if you add in exercise, you will lose more, burn calories, and build muscle and tone. So, you will not only lose weight but will look spectacular too! Set small weekly goals and reward youself when you reach your goal (anything but food). You just need to take that first step to set you on the right path to a healthier lifestyle. You can do it!!!! I am 50 now and have been eating healthy and exercising since I was 19. I lost 40 lbs. and it changed my entire life for the better. Go ahead and start - just take that first step towards a happier and healthier lifestyle. You are the only one who can help yourself and I just know that you CAN do it!

Posted by mrsmoviegirl Mar 20, 2009 9:25 pm ET

i need serious help i am unhappy with my weight. i am over weight. and the fun part is im only 14

Posted by lyssyreeangel14 Feb 03, 2008 9:48 pm ET

Even though you're only 14, it's great that you realize that you need help in controlling your weight. It's the first step towards success! I was also overweight from 8 yrs old to 19. I hated when people made fun of me. I hated most when people told me that it was too bad that I was heavy b/c I have such a pretty face. I finally wised up before turning 20. I bought Shape Magazine and read the whole magazine from cover to cover to educate myself on eathing right and exercising. You can get good examples of the right combinations of food through weight watchers or e-diets whichare both online websites. I just turned 50 this past February and I have kept off 40 lbs. for all these years and have been exercising for 30 years. You need to make healthy eating and exercise a part of your lifestyle for the rest of your life. If you really hate exercise, try something fun like dancing or swimming or just go outside for a power walk and enjoy the scenery. I hope that I can help you at least start on the right path to a slimmer lifestyle. You CAN do it! Just keep reassuring yourself and set small weekly goals for yourelf. Once you reach your goal, reward yourself with something small but special (NOT food!). Good luck. Losing weight changed my entire life and I'm so happy that I made this lifestyle change. Oh, don't forget to at least take a daily multiple vitamin too.

Posted by mrsmoviegirl Mar 20, 2009 9:15 pm ET