9 a.m.: Time to really test out if this apple thing works. Tonight we're hitting a favorite restaurant with friends. Eating out is a big danger zone for me -- and don't even ask me to just order a salad ... what's the point in paying for a night out if I can't enjoy myself? My plan (it's always important to have a plan when you're losing weight) is to budget my calories wisely at breakfast and dinner, eat my apple a half hour before we leave, skip the drinks and leave half of my dinner on my plate.

9 p.m.: The apple didn't cure my love of good food, but I felt much more in control when my meal came. I felt satisfied before I hit the half-way point and managed to bring home half my meal in a takeout box.