You know who you are. Yeah, you with the Diet Coke in one hand and the rice cake in the other. Always reading food labels, counting calories, eliminating whole food groups from your meals, mesmerized by every ad and infomercial for diet pills, jungle juices, and exercise gadgets. Yet still hanging on to those extra pounds that you promised you would lose back in 1999. And somehow a few more inches around your middle section have decided to stay and make themselves uncomfortable.

Are you frustrated and angry with yourself? Are you ready to give up? Not sure who or what to believe anymore? Concerned about how your weight may impact your health?

You are not alone. Currently, over 30 percent of the population is trying to lose weight. And another 30 percent is trying to maintain their weight...with over $30 billion being spent on diets annually! But (no pun intended), 66 percent of these people will gain everything back within a year. And within 2 years, 99 percent of all dieters will fail! No surprise then that by the year 2015, it is predicted that 75 percent of adults will be overweight.

Aside from what you see in the mirror, that extra weight has significant health consequences such as increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer (breast, colon, endometrial), high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and polycystic ovary syndrome (infertliity).

Do you know that a 20-pound reduction in weight can reduce total cholesterol by 10 percent and triglycerides by 30 percent?

Did you also know that a 20-pound weight gain between the ages of 18 and midlife doubles a woman's risk of postmenopausal breast cancer compared with women whose weight remained stable?

Or for every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing osteoarthritis increases 9 to 13 percent?

Are you ready to take back control of your health and your weight? Would you like to understand why these diets fail? Curious as to how participants in a recent University of Colorado clinical study not only lost weight and inches, but also reduced their cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin levels?

Do you struggle with carbohydrate cravings, emotional or nighttime eating? Are you tired? Is your waist slowly increasing in size? Want to know what it means when your waist measured at the belly button is greater than 34.5 inches?

Then join a group of like-minded women for this month's Wine, Women and Wellness seminar titled "How to Shed the Middle-Age Spread" on Monday July 28, 2008 at Canyon Wind Cellars Tasting Room in Georgetown.

4-4:30 p.m. Welcome and Wine

4:30-6 p.m. Seminar

6-6:30 p.m. Q&A

Each month this summer a different wellness topic is being paired up with healthy appetizers and delicious Canyon Wind Cellars wine. Karen Kapusta, creator of the popular Wine, Women & Wellness series of seminars, will provide cutting-edge information focused on women, their lives, their issues and their wellness in the casual and comfortable setting of the Canyon Wind Cellars tasting Room in Georgetown.

"I'm so glad I attended the June seminar", said Carla Conde, owner of LeBoudoir Fine Lingerie in Evergreen. "I found the concepts on aging and disease very enlightening. It prompted me to take control of my health. I'm excited about going to the July session to learn even more."

The fee is $5 and includes a glass of wine, appetizers, and materials. Space is limited and registration is first-come, first served. For more information and to register, please contact Susan Romeo at (303) 569-4100 or go to susan@susanromeo.com

Set aside this time just for you!