IT WAS NEW YEAR'S EVE, Melissa wondered if she could avoid the temptation. It was a long year ahead, was she strong enough? She knew in her heart things could be different for her. But for right now, her feet hurt.

It would be weeks. Weeks! That could be unbearable. Weeks can last months sometimes if you thought about all the seconds and minutes in each hour of every day. She would go crazy she thought, crazy. But still ...

She was ready for a challenge. Yes, a two-week challenge was just what she needed. Well, that and a pair of new shoes, but first things first. She would do this thing. She would take this challenge.

Despite all her hemming and hawing, somehow Melissa knew all along what would convince her to get started. It wasn't her goal, or her friends, or even Trevor, it was inside her. Selfish? Maybe, but to Melissa it was all about her. When it came down to it, in the end, at the very core of the issue, with everything hanging in the balance between doing and not doing, she really loved that this was something that rewarded her on so many levels.

Melissa wanted to lose more than six pounds. Six pounds was a clutch purse, she wanted to lose a hobo bag. But as the fortune cookie says, "Every great journey starts with a single step." Her first step would be replacing two meals a day with two bowls of any Special K cereal. After two weeks she might feel so much better. She might even need to go shopping.

She had to read the box. Spoon in hand, she read every corner of the box over breakfast. How could you lose weight eating something like yogurt-covered clusters and berry clusters and crisp golden flakes? But they said it was true. They also said there was a prize inside, but it wasn't until she was elbow deep in crisp golden flakes that she realized that was just a metaphor. Besides, she didn't have to eat just cereal. She could eat a third meal as she normally did every day anyway. Like taco Friday? This was going to be easier than she thought.

But every great story contains great conflict. A moment when the hero fights her greatest enemy and remains true, or all is lost. For Melissa it came Thursday at 4 in the afternoon. Melissa would face her archenemy, German chocolate cake. Just one piece, not even a piece, a sliver. She would kill for a sliver. No! She would not give in. She would snack, that much she knew, but she would indulge in a Special K chocolatey drizzle bar. It was good, she was good, she felt victorious.

The days flew by. Just as she thought they never would. Then came the morning, 2 weeks later, when she woke up and had to get on the scale. Would all her effort really pay off? She was a little bit nervous. She shouldn't be, but she couldn't help herself. "What if it didn't work?" she thought. "What if this has all been for nothing?" Before panic could set in, she stepped up.

For a second she thought she couldn't look as the little dial spun toward a number. It stopped. She was almost a full 6 pounds lighter! She wanted to jump for joy. This was going to be a very good day! This was going to be the start of something great.

There was just something about the way she felt. She decided to walk to work. The world looked brighter and she was happier. There was a new Melissa today and she looked good. And the new. Melissa decided lunchtime was a beautiful time for shopping.

Results may vary. Average weight loss 5.0 pounds. Consult a physician before starting any diet or exercise program. Box does not contain actual prize. Details at www.SpecialK.com