Dwaine Simpson has been feeling pretty good lately, good enough to play 54 holes dressed like the late pro golfer Payne Stewart in his trademark knickers and tam-o'-shanter.

''He was a good looking son of a gun and he wore knickers, so I got knickers -- size 34 -- and a hat with a white ball on top. Felt good,'' Simpson says. ``I didn't play worth a darn, but if I had done that the first of the year, I'd be dead now. I'm really pleased.''

So are five others who, like Simpson, resolved to lose weight in 2008. Six months after making that New Year's resolution, they're sticking with it, eating smaller portions and taming their sweet tooth. And although they have seen a plateau here or there, all are determined to keep the weight off or lose even more in the next six months.

The key is to think beyond willpower, says Dr. Michael R. Lyon, co-author of Hunger Free Forever: Tame Your Appetite and Tune Your Metabolism for Lifelong Weight Control (Atria, $25.95).

''Willpower does not regulate weight in the long term,'' Lyon says. ``When blood sugar drops, there is a feeling that you should eat, a feeling that occurs dozens and dozens of times a day. If you use willpower to avoid eating during hunger pangs, the appetite center in the brain will light up like a laser . . . You'll nibble away 1,000 calories easily.''

You can avoid that by eating at regular intervals a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry or lean meat. Just go easy on the portions, steer clear of fried foods and use these six success stories for inspiration.

Gustavo Lumer, 38, Aventura

Starting weight: 260

Current weight: 225

``I kind of plateaued. I need to lose another 35 pounds. I went to South America for a few days and there was too much food there. . . . I'm eating smaller portions, the key ingredient. My wife Marina and I took out almost all the sweets. We're both feeling much better and have more energy. . . . You have to keep training. Stop doing everything right for a few weeks and the weight starts piling up again. . . . I used to skip breakfast; I don't do that anymore because I would be overly hungry at lunch and dinner. We're eating six times a day, three meals and three snacks. . . . My doctor says if I keep it up I'll be off blood pressure medication by the end of year. I used to take pills for acid reflux, but not any more.''

Marina Lumer, 35, Aventura

Starting weight: 180

current weight: 155

``I went to a wedding and everyone said I looked even thinner than I did at my wedding. . . . We usually drink a soup, then eat a Jenny Craig dinner or a light frozen dinner from the supermarket or grilled chicken or grilled salmon cooked at home, and also cooked veggies such as carrots or broccoli or squash. . . . One day a week we eat whatever we want during one meal on Thursdays -- when we're doing everything right. If we really want something we wait until that day. . . . We've been really bad about exercise. We went to the gym today only because we had an interview with the photographer. I'm gradually stopping breast-feeding, so now I have to definitely start exercising. I hope to gain some muscle. . . . My back used to hurt a lot, but now it doesn't.''

Janet Carabelli, 49, El Portal

Starting weight: 166

Current weight: 156

'There's now visible muscle definition in my arms and legs, my butt is `perkier' (my husband's description), waist is smaller and there is less abdominal fat -- though there's still a lot of work to be done before I'm happy with that area. . . . I have increased my daily protein intake to about one gram per pound of body weight, and I'm maintaining stable blood sugar levels by eating frequently. My breakfast, lunch and dinner are comprised of roughly one fist of protein, two of vegetables and less than one of starch. The 'mini-meals' I eat at mid-morning and late afternoon are the same proportions, but total size is equivalent to a fist. I periodically log every morsel into a food diary -- including any tasting I do while cooking. . . . I continually vary my workouts and lift heavier weights. . . . My weight has stayed the same for two months, which would have been a major disappointment if the calipers weren't showing muscle gains and fat losses. . . . Wearing form fitting waistbands and feeling clothes get looser are very motivating.''

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