Relationships | 02/26/2009 10:15 am

News Flash! Counting Calories, Not Fad Diets, Helps You Lose Weight

By The staff at wowOwow.com

We’ve all tried them. Some of us have tried them all. You know, those fad diets — Atkins, the Mediterranean or South Beach diets. Perhaps, even in some extreme cases, the cabbage-soup diet.

But new research shows that the best way to lose weight can be far simpler: Watch your calories. And, of course, be sure that the calories you are eating are the heart-healthy kind.

"It’s not so important whether they eat higher carbohydrates or higher protein or lower carbohydrates or lower protein," said Dr. Frank M. Sacks of the Harvard School of Public Health, which conducted the study of 811 overweight men and women by putting them on four different diets. "What really matters is just plain, simple, old quantity: how much people eat." Sacks and his team published their research in today’s New England Journal of Medicine.

Another perk to reducing your caloric intake? You can help your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. So, ladies, instead of eating 2,000 calories a day, try eating 1,500 instead. Your waistline — and your heart — will thank you.

15 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Weight Watchers is the best plan…it teaches you just that …to reduce portions and choose lower fat foods. I lost 35lbs in 6 months!!

The hard part is keeping it up….especially when you love food!

By S.J. Morgan on 02/26/2009 10:30 am

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Why to go! Good for you and keep it up.

By Grande Camper on 02/26/2009 1:05 pm

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I’m trying..it is not easy. Especially when under stress..it all goes to the waistline.

But I high recomend the program that makes you think about what you put in your mouth rather than just eatign what you are told in a prepackaged menu.

You become a lable reader in the grocery store…I have often been shocked at the contents of some foods.

Moderation is the key as it is with ANYTHING!

By S.J. Morgan on 02/26/2009 1:16 pm

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Apples and yogurt. That’s my secret. After that, anything else you eat’ll just move through better.

By Ms. Dee on 02/26/2009 12:48 pm

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"What really matters is just plain, simple, old quantity: how much people eat."

How true. My weakness if not eating in between meals.

By Grande Camper on 02/26/2009 1:07 pm

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Avoid processed foods and bad fats. Never eat fried food. Learn to like raw veggies and fruits. Lean protein sources like beans and small amounts of soy are preferable to heart-clogging red meats. Stop eating when you are full. Now get outside and play!

My mother knew these things instinctively, and passed them down to her five children. It is all common sense, nothing large enough to fit into a book. When we wanted dessert she would hand us an apple. This was part of her philosophy for pinching pennies to feed a family of five kids and two adults. Sadly, she smoked, which helped end her life too young. By example, I never smoked, so her legacy is intact. Thank you, Ma, for all the good advice.

By kermie b on 02/26/2009 1:34 pm

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See, it all comes down to math - count those calories!! And don’t forget to check the numbers of grams of fat/sodium/fiber - more math to check!

By Green Tears on 02/26/2009 2:04 pm

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Weight Watchers has a hand slide scale to make it easy!

You would be surprised about some foods are better than others. White bean chili with 96%low fat hamburger is very filling, yet low in fat and high in fiber!

By S.J. Morgan on 02/26/2009 2:18 pm

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The other must is to choose the salad ( even with dressing) rather than fries when at a restaurant or double the veggies rather than a baked potatoe.

Ask for a container to take half the sandwich home for dinner and drink water or iced tea rather than diet pop!

I lost weight on Bacon Lettuce & tomato sandwiches. Use low fat mayonaise, crisp bacon and whole wheat bread…then you do not feel as you are depriving yourself!

By S.J. Morgan on 02/26/2009 2:21 pm

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I have great admiration for a woman who incorporates bacon into a weight loss plan!

By Green Tears on 02/26/2009 5:46 pm

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The first time I did the 1200 calorie diet I lost 10lbs in 2wks! My hubby was on the diet with me, it helped quite a bit. Then I went off of it. But now, I’m doing the counting and Hydroxycut and exercising. The Hydroxycut is more for the appetite suppressor than anything else. I intend to use cal-counting and exercising as the main way to lose weight and size. Snacking is my demon and I just have too much on my plate to control it without help, so I found H-cut works best. I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone though, it can make you a bit aggressive.

By Ju L on 02/26/2009 7:32 pm

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Check out your mom’s or grandmother’s china- the dinner plates are the size of today’s salad plates. Bottom line- we eat too much! My secret is to eat smaller portions, always a salad first to fill up, and I eat more frequently, grazing on fruits and veggies. Limit refined sugar! My weight aside, from 3pregnancies, hasn’t fluctuated beyond 10 pounds in over 30 years. Menopause, though, really creates a challenge- the metabolism basically stops and a thicker middle is inevitable.

By Dee T on 02/26/2009 8:28 pm

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The plate size is a great tip..I use my salad plate, drink a glass of water before you eat and I too have to battle menopause.

Also try to stay way from WHITE foods… eat wheat bread and pasta, wild rice in moderation, clear broth soups and easy on the salad dressing. Have your salad dressing on the side and dip your fork in the dressing for each bite rather than pouring it ontop of the salad.( you will find you use much less.)

I also carry individual balsamic vinegar dressing packets when eating out and order my salad dry. My favorite is honey mustard of course but you can find low cal varieties in the packets at some wholesale food places.

It is also hard to diet when your spouse does not….my husband was famous for getting fries when I took all the will I had to order the salad.

Often I would steal two fries on his plate just to satisfy the craving and feel better. But best if he would eat the same a me!

By S.J. Morgan on 02/26/2009 9:02 pm

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another good tip for those snackers…..Try some of the snacks Quakes ( by Quaker oats made of rice cakes seasoned in cheese, ranch or carmel).

Albertson’s has their own brand that is just as good and much cheaper….

In WW you can eat 9 for a few points,..but they do contain sodium that makes you reatian water so take it easy!

By S.J. Morgan on 02/26/2009 9:05 pm

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I like everything people have suggested here. I’m a Weight-Watchers fan, too. I found switching to full-time vegetarian helpful. I try to keep my breakfast (usually cereal and skim milk) and lunch simple and carry three fruits with me to work each day (along with my homemade sandwich). Dinner and TV snacks can be my downfall, so by keeping B&L simple I can focus on getting through my evenings with as few calories as possible.

By M. Lewis on 09/30/2009 9:12 am