I have a confession to make. There’s a reason you only see my head and shoulders in my photo with this column… I am a foodie. There, I’ve admitted it. Now, don’t go and judge me because I know there are a lot of other foodies out there reading this who like me has yo-yo dieted their whole life to no avail. However, there was one time that I was successful in dropping a significant amount of weight and I am determined to do it again and stick to it this time.

I went on a Doggie Diet.

The Doggie Diet does not consist of eating dog chow and rummaging through unattended trash cans or keeping the kitchen floor clean. It has nothing at all to do with food. It consists of one thing that you must do every day and sometimes twice a day… let your dog take you for a walk.

Dogs are great walking companions, personal trainers, and nags. When you begin walking with your dog you will soon find out that rain is no excuse to miss a day. They are ready to walk when you are (unlike friends and family), and let you know when it is time to go for a walk.

Dogs (like people) benefit from daily exercise, rather than a workout once or twice a week and the cost of walking your dog daily is significantly less than joining a gym. Walking your dog for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week can produce an average weight loss of 14 pounds over the course of 50 weeks according to a University of Missouri Columbia study. It will do your dog a world of good too.

In addition to the basic needs of food and shelter, dogs (again like humans) need social interaction. Positive attention from you, exercise and mental stimulation are all needs that can be met by simply taking your dog for a walk. Walking your dog daily provides it with attention from you. Perhaps more than anything, our pets simply want our company. Even when you remain home during the day, much of your time is spent doing chores rather than interacting with your canine friend.

Daily walks will also help curb destructive behaviors. I know that when my dogs have had a nice long walk they are less likely to chew up something they shouldn’t, and, by the way, so am I!

So if you don't want to spend money on a diet program consider taking your dog for a walk. You may see weight loss that rivals what you could achieve through a program and your dog will keep you faithful to exercise. Walking your dog can make the difference between getting out of walking and deciding to skip it for the day. Stick with it and you will benefit both physically and emotionally. I may never see a size 8, but I’d be happy the rest of my life as a size 12 and Rebel and Rosie will help me get there and stay there.