Weight Loss
Think of the Web as your personal nutritionist. On it you'll find weight loss tools for evaluating your current food intake, exercise patterns, and health and weight status, along with weight loss plans, tools, and techniques for improving your weight and overall health.
Expand All Guide SectionsStart Losing Weight
When it comes to losing weight, it can be confusing to think about where (or how) to start. Use the following sites to help you evaluate your current level of fitness, and then get some tips to help get you started.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Before you start thinking about losing weight, consider whether your current weight is a healthy and reasonable one for you. The number on the scale can be deceiving. By using the tools listed below, you can use some basic calculations to determine whether you should try to lose or gain weight, or simply make some improvements in the quality of your diet.
- On many sites, advertised content is tailored to you based on the content you are viewing. In the case of viewing content about losing weight, you may see advertisements for weight loss solutions, quick fixes, or other products. Be very cautious of any drug, product, or other online weight loss system and make sure that you check with a physician about potential dangers before you buy any product or system.
- Not all physicians are qualified to counsel patients on nutrition. Always ask for background and credentials.
- It's helpful to have good role models to follow when you're trying to achieve a goal. Bill and Jim Germanakos are twin brothers who starred in the third season of the reality television show The Biggest Loser. They each lost approximately half their weight, a total of 350 pounds, over the eight months of the contest. To learn how they did it, visit their Web site, Weightlosstwins.com.
- Losing a lot of weight, like the Germanakoses did, requires different strategies than losing just a few pounds. If you are obese or think you might be, take a look at the findingDulcinea Obesity Web Guide to learn about potential health issues and different treatment methods.
Dulcinea's Picks
To help you understand your current level of fitness ...
MyPyramid
lists current nutrition recommendations from the government. Take a look at the "MyPyramid Tracker" where you can enter foods eaten and physical activity performed. The Tracker then generates a report on the nutritional adequacy of your diet and fitness.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
has a free Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator that measures body fat based on height and weight. Start by determining your BMI, then assess whether you're overweight or at risk for obesity by learning about the other tools used in assessment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Web site offers separate BMI calculators for adults and youth, as well as a helpful discussion of BMI and other health measures.
To help you get started losing or managing your weight ...
The Weight-control Information Network
has publications with tips and information about getting active, eating right, and controlling your weight. There are also resources available in Spanish.
The National Women's Health Information Center
has an obesity and weight loss section that provides some insight about finding the safest ways to lose weight, steps to take for a healthier diet, as well as the USDA-approved drugs and surgical options available.
The National Weight Control Registry
Web site has a great way to get you inspired for your weight loss program: a "Success Stories" section filled with photos and stories of others who have lost significant amounts of weight-and maintained the weight loss.
Diet Plans
The best way to choose a diet plan is to take a look at a wide range of plans so that you can ... read more »
Choosing the Right Diet
A plan may seem great in theory, but we all have to take into consideration the special needs of ... read more »
Eating Healthier
In order for your body to run like the efficient machine it can be, you have to fuel it properly. ... read more »
Weight Loss Management
Since the needs of every dieter are different, you will want to choose a diet that best fits your ... read more »
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