
ADVANCE, N.C. -- The way Carolyn Thurmond figures it, she lost almost 30 pounds in five months, and she spent less than $1 a day to do it. Thurmond, 42, who home-schools her three children in Advance, N.C., weighed 192 pounds in December 2007 and was having foot problems, heart palpitations and frequent fatigue. She saw a photo of herself and says: "I was horrified. I looked like someone blew me up. My face looked so fat."