Weight Watchers was thought up by Jean Nidetch who founded Weight Watchers in the mid 1960s. Her goal was to offer services and assistance to people who were looking to lose weight. She offered different products that helped in dieting and losing weight, and has turned her early success into a world wide company that operates in 30+ countries and goes by the trademark name of Weight Watchers, but normally translated into the local language of a given country.

Weight Watchers is split up into two different programs that a dieter could follow the POINTS program and the Core program. Each program is followed alongside a support group that helps with a backbone to help when needed most in group discussions and accountability to make sure the target weight loss goal is reached.

The Point System is a simple way to put a numerical value on a person?s burning of energy and caloric intake. Each serving of food is given a number of points, and conversely different types of exercise are given negative points. So, overall a person has a certain number of points per week to try and hit according to their overall goal of weight loss and current weight.

This is where Weight Watchers is drastically different than the South Beach Diet and the Atkins Diet, because a person is not limited to what foods they eat, but how much of that given food they are allowed to eat. If a person wants to splurge on a food that has a high point value, they must then do the appropriate amount of exercise and also watch what other foods they eat throughout the rest of the week to counterbalance their overindulgence. Overall, the amount of exercise in the Weight Watchers plan is directly correlated to how much exercise a person wants to do. If they don?t want to exercise then they can?t eat as many points compared to someone who exercises a lot, can eat more foods with higher point values.

This diet is not for everyone because it makes a person accountable and doesn?t give any room for cheating. If a person wishes to cheat, they are only hurting themselves and their overall goal of losing weight. The record-keeping part of Weight Watchers is annoying and cumbersome to some people because they have to make sure that they record every single food item they eat throughout the whole day and make sure that they give a point value to that food, if not then they won?t necessarily succeed in their overall goal of shaking off the extra pounds.

The POINTS formula The formula for calculating the POINTS content of a specific food serving uses a formula described in US Patent 6,040,531:

p = c/ 50 + f/ 12 - min(r, 4)/ 5

Where p is the number of points, c is the number of calories, f is the grams of fat, and r is the grams of dietary fiber (if the dietary fiber is greater than four, use four). The POINTS value is always an integer, with fractional values rounded to the nearest point. (An alternative format, mentioned in the patent and used on some websites, rounds values to the nearest half-point.)

This formula can be confusing and so can the POINTS system in general, so I will certainly try to make this explanation of the POINTS system a little more understandable in the next article that I submit so bear with me while I try to make sense of the point system and can better explain it to my readers. You can also log on to http://www.eweightlossblog.com for other helpful ideas and weight loss articles and blog entries.

Weight Watchers has helped many people lose weight and keep the weight off by following simple guidelines, and they even can do it without doing much excercise if they chose. If you are looking for other great diet plans and interesting Blog entries and Diet articles, then you can visit either http://www.eweightlossblog.com or you can visit http://www.edietblog.com. Both blogs are updated on a daily basis with new content and interesting practical articles that will help anyone who is looking for that ultimate goal of losing weight.

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When the winter season is over and you are fully stuffed on the turkey and other junk food, you will feel a sudden urge to exercise and get yourself fit again. You may have a long term goal such as getting yourself into an outfit for the summer holidays. Or you just want to look good. But whatever reason you choose to look good you will need to exercise properly. One sure fire way of getting yourself to look good is with a home gym.

There are many advantages to owning a home gym. But with advantages there are always going to be disadvantages. Through this article I?m going to explain both the advantages and disadvantages of owning your very own home gym.

The advantages of owning a home gym are numerous. There is of course the fact that if you are new to the exercising world then you might not feel comfortable going down to your local gym. Where there are bound to be people flexing their muscles and genuinely looking really good. You might find that the privacy of your own home will be better suited to you. Also in your own home you may find that you are more comfortable starting off on the lower weights. If you are using weights then you have to remember to start off low and not over reach. You will get to the heaver weights but you must start off slowly first of all.

Another advantage of owning a home gym is that you can choose the right equipment for it. If you feel that your legs are in more need of a work out, then you can buy equipment that is better suited to working out your legs and lower body. Or if your upper body needs more attention then your lower body, then you can buy the equipment that will exercise your upper body. Of course there is the option of mixing and matching. That means that you can purchase equipment that will exercise your entire body but use it within reason.

But of course as stated there will be disadvantages when owning your home gym. One disadvantage is the price of a home gym. The price is never cheap for a home gym, especially if you want to get started right away. You could be spending easily in the region of $1000. That is not petty cash. There are people that have paid double that for their home gym, so learn to shop around for the best price before making any decision on a purchase.

Another disadvantage when owning a home gym is the space required. A home gym can take up a lot of space in the home and you have to make sure that you have the right amount of space for your desired gym. Some gyms require space of about 3 meters on each side. So you have to make sure that the gym you choose will be able to fit nicely into the room that you desire.

Overall owning a gym is a good purchase to make, especially if you do want to work out and tone up your body. If you can afford a gym then the purchase could be necessary. If however you do not have the space and/or the money then sign up for a gym. Where you can then maybe get some advice from the staff about where to start on your exercise regime.

Andy Eaton is the owner of http://www.gym.andyeats.com a site dedicated to helping people get into shape and at the same time helping them find their perfect Gym Equipment. visit http://www.gym.andyeats.com for quality gym equipment and information on choosing the right fitness plan.

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To state the obvious, there are great benefits from losing weight. Though losing weight is not easy, the long-term effects would probably be of help to anyone considering to shed those unwanted and unhealthy pounds.

Here are a few of the remarkable advantages from losing weight.

1. Weight loss prevents high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke

That is a three-in-one benefit from losing weight. It is a fact that heart disease and stroke are one of the primary reasons for disability and death in both men and women in the US. People who are overweight have a higher risk to have high levels of cholesterol in their blood stream as well as triglycerides (also known as blood fat).

By decreasing your weight by a mere five to ten percent, it could positively decrease the chances of having or developing heart disease or a stroke. Plus, how your heart functions would also improve as well as your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride count will decrease.

2. Weight loss prevents type 2 diabetes

Both types of diabetes, type one and type two are linked with being overweight. To those who already have diabetes, regular exercise and weight loss could help in controlling your blood sugar levels as well as the medication you may be currently taking. Increase your physical activity. You could simply walk, jog or dance. It helps get those blood streams moving as well as lose those unnecessary pounds.

3. Weight loss helps reduce your risk for cancer

Being overweight is linked to various types of cancer. Specially for women, the common types of cancer that is associated with being overweight include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, ovary, breast, and colon. Men are at risk too from developing cancer if they are overweight. These include cancer of the colon, prostate and rectum. Extra weight, a diet high in fat and cholesterol should as much as possible be avoided.

4. Weight loss reduces/eliminates sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where one could temporarily stop breathing for a brief period and then would continue to snore heavily. Sleep apnea could cause drowsiness or sleepiness during the day and ? because of being overweight ? could result in heart failure. Weight loss could help eliminate this problem.

5. Weight loss reduces the pain of osteoarthritis

When one is overweight, the joints of knees, hips and lower back would have to exert double ? if not triple ? effort to carry the body through out his / her waking, walking and moving life. Weight loss decreases the load these joints carry and thus decreasing the pain of one who has osteoarthritis.

Lots more FREE weight loss information available!
Just visit http://www.weightlossartist.com. Proven weight loss secrets and diet tips will all be revealed!

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Description

The South Beach Diet is yet another way for people to lose weight. It seems that everyone wants to lose weight at some point in their lives. One day they look at themselves in the mirror and they just decide that they need to go on a diet. But then there is the tough choice of which diet to choose from. After all there are so many diets out there that anyone can find it hard to choose one diet and then stick to it. If you do choose to use The South Beach Diet, then you will be on a diet that seems to let you eat anything that you choose to eat. The option of fast-food takeaways is in the diet snacks are also not a problem and The South Beach Diet even includes desserts.

How Does It Work?

There is no magical way that The South Beach Diet works. It seems that you are free to eat what you want when you want. The South Beach Diet actually urges you to have snacks during the day and you will still have 3 course meals. It seems that the first two weeks are when everything starts to happen. During the first two weeks of The South Beach Diet you will not be allowed to eat any bread, pasta, rice, potatoes or any fruit. Also things like chocolates and cakes as well as sugar are not allowed to be touched during the first two weeks of The South Beach Diet. After two weeks though you can actually start to eat these foods again because you will be eating the right amount of carbohydrates and so you will lose weight instead of gaining it.

Disadvantages

There are a lot of people that disagree with The South Beach Diet and it seems that they have a good reason to. Just like the Atkins diet there seems to be a big problem with some of the foods that are suggested that you eat. This can result in problems for lots of people. You need to make sure that you have a healthy balanced diet and not a diet that is as erratic as The South Beach Diet. You will be encouraged to eat a lot of food that is highly unhealthy and this will result in future problems. The way our bodies work is very fascinating, but the way that people try to change this through diets can and will cause problems for many of us. For example some of the foods such as fish do have a high level of Mercury in them. The reason for these high levels of Mercury is because of generations of pollution that has been taking place. But high levels of Mercury can cause someone to experience serious neurological disorders. While this will only be as a result of high levels of Mercury intake it seems that The South Beach Diet wants you to have a lot of fish intake, especially during the first two weeks and as you start to include it into your diet after these first two weeks you will still have a high intake of fish plus all the other minerals that come with fish such as Mercury.

Summary

There are many diets that do work and they work very well. However it seems that The South Beach Diet has helped many people to lose weight, but it seems that people are trying to forget about the old way of losing weight through general exercise of about 30 minutes a day and also eating a healthy well balanced diet. If you have been eating a lot of bread and are then told to quit for two weeks for you new diet, then you will experiences some withdrawal symptoms and you will find it hard to resist these cravings.

With all these new diets coming out a lot of people get confused as to which diet is right for them. They do seem to get lost somewhere and find it hard to find the right diet that will help them lose a lot of weight. If you do choose to go for a normal well balanced diet then you can be sure that there is nothing wrong with what you are eating. While these diets all over the world claim to help you lose weight a lot of them are rubbish and are just invented to help some people make some money for themselves.

Scott Nichols is the editor of - http://www.e-healthcenter.info/ Get many articles on health and diets

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Now that you?ve read part 1 of this article, let?s continue!

To help with family food budget concerns, clip coupons from newspapers, weekend inserts, and any place you can find them. Download coupons from the Internet to save money. You?ll find great discounts at CoolSavings.com and CouponCart.com.

RefundingMakesCents offers an affordable subscription to a neat print magazine for coupon deals, trades and lots more, with a secret code to their website for Internet coupon-codes for lots of online companies like Amazon.com (cookware) and Barnes and Noble (cookbooks).

Use seasonal food selections for extra savings. Create menus and meals based upon what?s on special for that week or month. Hint: stock up and store or freeze special-priced items and family favorites when possible. But don?t over do it. With convenience stores and supermarkets for food shopping in practically every neighborhood anymore, there is no need to hoard. An old saying, ?Haste makes waste? might apply if you see a great buy, purchase multiple items, then let them become outdated and have to toss them out.

One fun way to save is by trading coupons and working out food deals with friends, family, neighbors, your church group and anyone else who?d like to join in. Food cooperatives and farm markets available in your area may offer special pricing to groups or large purchases. So team up for better purchasing power and split everything up between group members. If you?re not into that much organization, go one-on-one with a neighbor, other friend or relative. Buy a huge bag of potatoes, onions, oats, and / or other foods, then share.

Here is one special item to note with regards to dietary planning. It?s unfortunate, but fast foods, especially those that are high in fat content (fried, greasy foods), are often cheaper than good, healthy food choices. For example, lean beef costs more than high-fat beef; cereals high in nutritional value are often priced much higher than the low-cost, sugary brand names. And low income and homeless people are particularly victims of this situation, many times needing to turn to the less healthier food choices for survival. So whenever possible, your plans might want to include donating a portion to homeless shelters and churches who would probably be more than willing to take extras off your hands.

Gisele Brosnan is an Editor for http://www.diet-plan.youthful-body.com Our site is dedicated to providing information on diet plans and weight loss. Visit our site often! Every day we compile useful tips to make weight loss and weight management as simple as possible.

? Copyright BrainCandy Factory. All rights reserved.

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If you have diabetes, it is essential that you take special care with your diet. For an adult with Type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise may not be sufficient; they may require medication like diabetic pills or insulin injections as well.

A diabetic diet is essentially a healthy, low-fat, balanced eating plan that helps the patient feel better and more energetic, and achieve some control over the symptoms like fatigue, thirst, blurred vision.

Type 2 diabetes sets in when you skip meals and eat large meals of refined, processed or simple carbohydrates and fats. Starving results in huge variations in blood sugar, and overeating affects your metabolism.

You should eat little but more frequently, and consume foods that will burn slowly. This will maintain your blood sugar level to controllable limits throughout the day, without adding large amounts of glucose to your bloodstream.

Complex carbohydrates are processed more slowly than simple carbohydrates, and help to maintain stable blood sugar levels. So, complex carbohydrates including high-fiber and starchy foods like whole grain breads, brown rice, oats, fruits and vegetables are recommended instead of simple carbohydrates found in cakes, muffins and pastries.

As a general rule, a diabetic diet provides 50% starch, 30% protein & 20% fat in calories. Follow these simple rules: eat only those foods which are on the diet list, do not skip or miss meals, and eat only the amount of food specified.

Measure your food using a standard 8-ounce measuring cup, a standard teaspoon and standard table spoon. Bake or boil your meat. Avoid frying foods unless fat is allowed. Buying special foods is unnecessary. Foods can be chosen from the same foods purchased for other family members.

Avoid sugar, sweets, candy, honey, pie and all foods prepared with sugar. Stay away from high-fat and -cholesterol diets, beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages, and red meat. For weight control, avoid fats, fried foods, sweets, and all foods prepared with sugar and oil.

Diet Plans provides detailed information on Diet Plans, Free Diet Plans, Weight Loss Diet Plans, Diabetic Diet Plans and more. Diet Plans is affiliated with Online Diet Programs.

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For sometime now, you've been hearing about the Milk Diet and it's benefit in helping you lose weight. I recently searched on Google for the Milk Diet and could only find vague references to milk as a supplement to help you lose weight.

To date, there is no actual Milk Diet. Instead, supporters of milk as a supplement to losing weight suggest adding milk to any diet. They claim the amount of weight loss will increase simply by adding more whole milk to your diet.

So, does milk help to increase the amount of weight loss? If so, how does it work? First, here are some surprising facts about milk...

It's normal to be lactose intolerant. That's right, about 85% of the world's population is lactose intolerant. As an adult, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, the main sugar in milk, no longer functions.

Milk fat, the main benefit of drinking milk, is only necessary for newborns. Once you're old enough to eat solid food, there's no need for milk fat and the lactose enzyme becomes non-functional.

This is why a majority of the world's population is lactose intolerant. You don't need to drink milk as an adult. But why are some people lactose tolerant? Cultures that live at the most Northern regions of each hemisphere don't receive enough sunlight to convert chemicals near the skin surface to vitamin D. To provide themselves with vitamin D, they have retained the function of the lactose enzyme. This accounts for only about 15% of the world's population.

There are many other sources of vitamin D and Calcium. As a matter of fact, milk ranks some where in the middle as a good source of calcium. Here is a quick list of good sources of calcium...

-Bean sprouts

-Spinach, cooked

-Collard greens, cooked

-Mustard greens, cooked

-Almonds

-Chestnuts

-Walnuts

-Raw oysters

-Shrimp

-Salmon with bones

-Garbanzo beans, cooked

-Soybeans, cooked

-Tofu, firm

The Milk Diet

The evidence that milk can help you lose weight is inconsistent at best. A few poorly designed studies show a benefit and a few poorly designed studies show no benefit and may even reverse your weight loss efforts.

These studies are poorly designed because they are not rigorously controlled and compared to a group not taking milk. There are a few studies about to finish and report their findings within the next couple of months.

I have decided to wait and not make any conclusions until the proper studies release their results. Until then, follow a more traditional method of losing weight. Restrict calories gradually and moderately. Reducing your caloric intake about 250-550 calories from your baseline per day and exercising will result in about 2-3 pounds of weight loss per week.

For more on the Milk Diet, visit...The Milk Diet

To Healthy Living!

Michael A. Smith, MD
Chief Medical Consultant
Diet Basics Website

Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for the Diet Basics web site. It's a content rich weight loss site dedicated to all dieters. Please visit his site at...

Diet Basics

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