I lost about a stone nursing our poor departed Orange cat, and missing meals and not exercising. This was very much a Mixed Blessing... I've kept the weight off for 5 months by exercising and eating healthily aka by putting my own health near the top of my list of priorities. I'll go back up if I slip up...

What I'm saying is, it's better to be healthy and fit than to reach your so-called 'ideal' weight. And that takes ring-fenced time, energy and commitment... best shared with sweeties, to leverage the Copious Free Time factor, I think: G & I are going to the gym together, D&I are going to aikido together, and we all cook together, whenever we can.