Then one day I tried to pick him up, realized he was almost 40 pounds, and decided I had to take action.

I asked Dr. Sarah Abood, a nutritionist at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, to help. She set up a weight-loss program for Eddie, told me how I could help him shed the extra pounds, and gave me a list of acceptable treats for Eddie.

By early January, Eddie had lost nearly 7 pounds, and Dr. Abood gave him the go-ahead to try maintaining his weight. To read more on how Eddie lost the weight, catch up on my weight-loss blog.

Every day Eddie gets the same amount of dog food. In addition to that, his treats are only carrots, broccoli, and string beans. Changing his diet was just the beginning. We also made a commitment to exercise: We walk about three miles most days. Eddie loves to walk. He loves to meet the neighbors, the neighbors’ dogs, and especially the neighborhood cats. When he’s just exploring our yard, he loves to chase squirrels and chipmunks. He has energy now and loves to be on the move.

I just weighed him and he’s down to 30.5 pounds. He is still driven by food, but we’ve used that drive, and his new love for carrots, to teach him a few tricks. He looks great and he’s regained that playful, affectionate, and charming personality that disappeared when he was concentrating so much on filling his face.

When we started a year ago, my goal was to be Eddie’s weight-loss buddy. I think it’s the walks – and the carrots – because I’ve lost a few pounds, too!

So now I’d like to ask, what’s happening with you and your dog? Are you working on a weight-loss plan for your dog? Do you have any success stories you’d like to share? Do you have problem areas or things you’ve struggled with? Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is an ongoing process. And that process only gets easier if you have someone to share it with. Take it from me and my weight-loss pal Eddie!