Weight Loss / What will Work for You?

Winter is almost a memory and spring is just around the corner. Of course, with spring comes warmer weather, which brings out the shorts, little tee-shirts and dare I say it, swimsuits. Yikes!

If you are hoping to rid yourself of those extra holiday pounds (and maybe some that have been around a lot longer than that!), the time to begin is now. Losing weight is a national pastime; heck with baseball, I think weight loss is the national pastime.

Magazine covers promise dozens of quick, easy weight loss plans (typically right next to a recipe for a fabulous chocolate cake). There are so many diets getting headlines that it can be hard to determine which ones will work, which are merely hype and which are just plain dangerous.

I'm going to be exploring some popular weight loss plans, one at a time, giving the highlights and the results that each one promises. I'll start with the most basic -- calorie counting. Not terribly trendy, but it is the most long-lived plan out there.

Of course, anyone who is considering a new diet and exercise plan should start with a thorough physical exam. One you have your doctor's go-ahead, if restricting calories is the way you choose, you'll pick a number, typically somewhere between 1200 and 1500 for women, and start counting.

One of the greatest advantages to counting calories is that there is truly no food that is "off-limits." You can eat virtually anything you want -- up to your set calories for the day -- and when you run out of remaining calories, you are done for the day. In theory, this couldn't be simpler. Reality, however, can be a bit challenging.

If you choose high-calorie foods that aren't very filling, you can easily be done eating by noon -- so by the very nature of the diet, you will have to spread out your meals and snacks, and keep the portions pretty small. certainly not impossible, especially if you make wise food selections, but it does take a high level of dedication. You must be willing to feel hungry sometimes. But on the plus side, if you have a favorite food that you can't imagine living without, you can work at least a small portion into your diet -- even daily. Not bad for a chocoholic like myself!

Next blog -- the South Beach Diet . . .