Howdy,

Like many of you I'm not all that excited about putting my picture up for everyone to see, but people really want it, so here it is. Aren't the dogs cute? The big one on the left is Stout (after the beer). He's a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and he's a big sweetie. The little one on the right is Annie. She's a Border Collie and is quite certain she is smarter than I am. Which may be actually be true, but please don't tell her :-)

People who write diets books are usually medical people or impressive looking fitness model types. Most of the time neither group looks like they have serious weight problems. Isn't it hard to trust someone who hasn't really truly struggled with their weight? I think so.

As you can easily tell I'm not a perfect fitness model kind of guy. My weight always wants to climb like a flaming rocket. And I'm not a medical person. So why should you read my book if I am not any of those things?

Because what I am is a scientific minded person who has struggled with my weight my entire life. I could not believe losing weight was so hard because I consider myself a pretty good and competent person. Probably a lot like most of the people who find their way to this site. In fact, I call this the Oprah Paradox, the idea that even very accomplished people like Oprah find controlling their weight difficult. And if that's true then there must be something wrong with the old "exercise more and eat less" advice we always hear. And there is. It doesn't always work and I talk about that a lot in the book.

My weight struggles led me to spend years researching the real science behind why losing weight is so hard and trying out various ideas. The result is this book: Your Designer Diet. What I found is a way normal, every day people can control their weight, even though they aren't perfect, while still experiencing the wonderful pleasure food brings to our lives.

I've used the ideas in this book to lose over hundred pounds. I still use the ideas in the book to keep the weight off. It's not easy, but it's possible. If someone like me can do it then I have faith you can do it too.

To continue on and learn more about this site and Your Designer Diet, please Start Here.

If you are looking for a more standard format bio, here it is:

Todd Hoff lost over 100 pounds by using the techniques outlined in his book. A poet and magazine writer, Hoff has degrees in Computer and Decision Science that allows him to combine his own personal struggle with diabetes and weight gain with the science and facts needed to show the way to others. He lives in Los Gatos, California, with his lovely wife, two happy dogs and can often be found walking amongst the ancient redwood trees.