It\’s hard to lose weight. Shedding pounds and trimming down takes dedication, discipline and months of effort. You might find that once you finally get the pounds off, staying at your goal weight can be as tough as losing the weight in the first place.
What are the risks of gaining the weight back?
Weight cycling is the repeated loss and regain of weight. Besides returning to an unhealthy weight, not keeping the pounds off can have other negative effects, such as:
Depression and anxiety (stress) about losing weight
Bingeing or eating a lot of food while feeling out ...

Your skirt is too tight. You can\’t zip your jeans. You don\’t even want to think about putting on a swimsuit. You look in the mirror and mutter about how you\’ve got to lose weight.
Though there\’s enough dieting advice out there to fill a dozen refrigerators, be wary of programs that offer quick weight-loss solutions. Remember, modest goals and a slow course will increase your chances of both losing the weight and keeping it off.
Back to basics
If you are really serious about long-term weight loss, look to change habits, not slash calories and deprive yourself. Start ...
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. Your height and weight are used to calculate your BMI. It is used by both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The World Health Organization as a way to help define obesity.
Knowing your BMI is important because your weight alone doesn\’t tell the whole story. If your BMI is too high, you\’re at an increased risk for many chronic health problems. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease and osteoarthritis. It also raises the risk for endometrial, breast, prostate and colon cancers.
Making sense ...
The messages are trumpeted everywhere - eat better, exercise, lose weight, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and watch your stress. It\’s like a broken record. But wait. Maybe it\’s time for you to do something.
Take stock of your health. Is your weight higher than you would like? Do you rarely exercise? Do you smoke? Do you skip the doctor\’s office? Do you reach for the potato chips instead of carrot sticks?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then it\’s time to make changes and improve your life. Good health is the best gift ...
In this age of miracle weight loss pills, cosmetic surgery and best-selling diet books, some voices are saying maybe it\’s better to avoid gaining the weight in the first place.
Keep the number on the scale from creeping up by doing at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity on most days of the week, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In addition, you need to eat just the amount of calories that\’s right for you. Check with your doctor before you start exercising and ask him or her how many calories you should have each ...
You have a mountain of bad habits that you\’ve held onto for decades. In that time, your body has changed, but the habits remain the same. Perhaps it\’s time to open the door and let your bad habits go. You won\’t regret it.
The good news is that it\’s never too late to change. Changes don\’t have to be monumental. A small weight loss, taking a walk around the block, seeing the doctor regularly - these things add up and do make a difference.
Do these excuses for not changing bad habits sound familiar?
I\’ve felt fine for years. I ...
Your Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI, which stands for Body Mass Index, isn\’t exactly a household word, but you should know why it\’s important. It\’s recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The World Health Organization (WHO) as the best standard to judge obesity.
If your BMI\’s too high (higher than 25), you\’re at greater risk for chronic health problems like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast, prostrate, and colon cancer. Conditions associated with being overweight are the second-leading cause of preventable death in ...
Most people who have ever tried to lose weight have already figured this out: successful weight loss goes way beyond dieting and exercise. A positive mental outlook can make or break your goal. So can the way you treat yourself.
Before you embark on your new diet, it may be time for an attitude tune-up. If it helps, forget the word "diet." Think about managing your health, just like you manage your finances, your relationships and your job. Weight loss is no different!
Start with a plan. Take the time to make a list of your goals. Why do ...
You\’ve heard these "facts" about nutrition before. Like many people, you may believe they are true. Are they? Here\’s the truth about five common nutrition myths.
Myth #1: Excess protein is good for energy and muscle building.
Facts:
The body uses protein as fuel only as a last resort. Most extra protein is stored as body fat. Most athletes don\’t realize that they need plenty of carbohydrates to build muscle tissue.
Eating some extra protein is necessary to build muscle mass, but only if you are also doing a lot of weight training at the same time. Even then, your ...
Looking for a new way to stay in shape? How about field hockey?
Field hockey is an exciting, fast-paced game that will give you a run for your workout. This outdoor sport will condition your cardiovascular system and help you stay limber. You\’ll also exercise your mind through the mental strategy and teamwork that\’s involved.
Field hockey differs from ice hockey in several ways. For starters:
There is usually less physical contact
The playing sticks are smaller
It\’s played with a ball, rather than a puck
There\’s no helmet or heavy padding (except for the goalie)
Teams have 11 players, not six
There are more ...
