The Best and Worst Advice from Top Diet Plans

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You want to lose serious weight, fast, but don't have time to read every diet book out there.

Here’s some help!

The Ultimate Weight Solution: The Seven Keys to Weight-Loss Freedom

By Dr. Phil

The diet plan from this daytime talk-show host boasts seven keys for weight-loss freedom.

Best Tip: Reduce your exposure to unhealthy foods and to cues that cause you to eat.

This works because: You can't eat what isn't there!

Worst Tip: Use exercise poles on your walk to burn more calories.

Why it's not so great: Unless you're cross-country skiing, skip the poles and mix up your routine at the gym instead.

You: On a Diet

By Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen

Retrain your body during this two-week program, created by Mehmet Oz, M.D. and, his partner, Michael Roizen, M.D., that aims to make you healthier for life.

Best Tip: Pick a range for your ideal weight instead of fixating on a particular number.

This works because: You'll feel guilt-free when faced with the small fluctuations that occur naturally day-to-day.

Worst Tip: Eat the exact same thing for lunch—and breakfast too if you can stand it—every day.

Why it's not so great: The lack of variety may bore you to the point of giving up on your diet.

The Biggest Loser 30 Day Jump Start

By Cheryl Forberg, R.D., Melissa Roberson and Lisa Wheeler

Based on the hit reality show, this is a serious diet and exercise plan for only those serious about weight loss.

Best Tip: Try circuit training.

This works because: The effective, total-body workouts will help you lose weight and inches, as well as boost your metabolism, strengthen your bones, and may even make you more resistant to stress.

Worst Tip: Start your own competition à la Biggest Loser, complete with group meetings and registration fees.

Why it's not so great: Without producers, camera crew and a six-figure salary, it's not worth the trouble.

French Women Don't Get Fat

By Mireille Guiliano

A French-born, NYC exec considers the differences in American portion sizes (big and bigger) and eating techniques (fast and faster) to that of her native country.

Best Tip: Add "petit" and "peu" to your French vocabulary.

This works because: You can have a little of everything if you stick to small portions.

Worst Tip: Carry a sprig of lavender to smell as you pass the tempting aromas floating out of bakeries and restaurants.

Why it's not so great: Even if this did keep your mouth from watering, it could also have you sneezing up a storm (and looking a little silly).

The Beck Diet Solution

By Judith S. Beck, Ph.D.

Dr. Beck's approach is to change the way you think about eating so you can keep up any diet.

Best Tip: Differentiate between cravings and hunger.

This works because: If you can tell the difference between wanting to eat and needing to eat, you can cut out unnecessary calories.

Worst Tip: Just say, "Oh well."

Why it's not so great: If you're really dreading going to the gym, or just dying to have a few more fries, are you really going to be able to just say, "Oh well," and stick to the rules of your diet?

Eat Great, Lose Weight

By Suzanne Somers

Somers doesn't shy away from fat and encourages low-carb, high-protein meals, while steering clear of all things sugary.

Best Tip: Reward yourself with the treats you miss the most while dieting.

This works because: If you long for white bread but couldn't care less about chocolate cake, enjoy a serving of bread before dinner but skip dessert.

Worst Tip: If a restaurant doesn't have whole-wheat pasta, bring your own.

Why it's not so great: Celebrities might be able to have chefs cook off the menu, but the rest of us shouldn't bank on getting the star treatment.

The Thrive Diet: The Whole Food Way to Lose Weight, Reduce Stress, and Stay Healthy for Life

By Brendan Brazier

Designed to reduce stress, this plan focuses on nutrient-packed whole foods.

Best Tip: Eat less processed food.

This works because: Sticking to whole, fiber-rich foods will help you lose weight.

Worst Tip: Eat raw.

Why it's not so great: This diet can sometimes lead to deficiencies in powerful nutrients like calcium, iron and protein.

Golds Gym
15 Industrial Drive
Middletown NY 10941
845-344-4653

Top Ten Metabolism-Boosting Foods

Top 10 Metabolism-Boosting Foods

Nutrition

This month, certified nutrition counselor, New York Times bestselling author and Diet.com contributor Leanne Ely shares the best foods to rev up your metabolism.

As someone with a compromised thyroid, I am always interested in natural ways to boost my metabolism. And while it is true that exercise will do a metabolism good, there are a number of foods that will get your metabolism going in the right direction as well. What's not to love about that?

1. Some like it hot

Chili, cayenne pepper, salsa — just add some picante to your meals and watch your metabolism climb, perhaps as much as 20%! Who knew a spicy burrito (make it with lean protein and go easy on the cheese) could work wonders?

2. Berry interesting

With a high fiber content, berries have the distinction of giving you less calories than you eat. And their natural sugar content nicely satisfies a sweet tooth. Berries need to be on everyone's shopping list.

3. Fishing for compliments

Once again, wild salmon makes the list with its abundant omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids not only boost your metabolism, they increase energy levels and make your skin positively glow.

4. Celebrate celery

When I was in high school, we ate celery to lose weight before cheerleading competitions. We were on to something way back then: Celery takes more calories to digest and absorb than you get from eating it. Put some celery sticks in your lunchbox this week.

5. Pucker up

By adding a tablespoon of lemon juice to a glass of water every morning, you'll slow digestion down a bit, aiding your body's ability to metabolize, thus speeding everything up. No sugar though: This is lemonaid in its purest form.

6. Ice, ice, baby

Regular water consumption is good for metabolism because it helps your body digest and detoxify, and can help raise your metabolism rate by 30%. Bring down the temperature a bit on your trusty bottle of water (40 degrees F) and you'll burn even more, according to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

7. Float your oats

Oatmeal's slow release of glucose and fiber fills you up, making it a metabolism favorite. Even if your childhood memories of porridge are less than fond, try a bowl of steel-cut oats (add blueberries for a double whammy). It will do your body good.

8. Cabbage patch

Actually anything in the brassica family will do the trick. All of these cabbage patch kids — from broccoli to cabbage to cauliflower and anything in between — improve the function of metabolism.

9. Soup's on!

A study at Baylor College of Medicine found that people who ate a bowl of soup before meals lost more weight than those who didn't. Make sure you're eating veggie-filled, broth-based soups, though — cream soups will just add to your girth.

10. An apple a day

Or make that an apple per meal! Research from the State University of Rio de Janeiro discovered that eating three small apples a day helped people eat less at each meal, with the result being a boost in metabolism. Can't beat that!

Golds Gym
15 Industrial Drive
Middletown NY 10941
845-344-4653

Willpower Secrets From the Pros

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Steal the real-life-tested appetite control tricks of women who whip up culinary delights for a living. Learn how they keep themselves from nibbling 24-7.

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They say you should never trust a skinny chef. But what about a petite food stylist or a svelte cupcake queen? The fact is, when your job involves truffle fries instead of office supplies, you have to get creative at dodging food so you don't blow up like a human soufflé.

Front-load your calories

"My key to not eating cupcakes all day? A high-protein breakfast fills me up and keeps me satisfied. My favorite: egg whites with basil and tomatoes. And I plan a lunch I can look forward to, like brown rice sushi or chicken and broccoli. Yum!"
—Linda Lea, producer for the Food Network's Chopped and co-owner of Butter Lane Cupcakes in New York City

Savor your sips

"When I'm at a wine-tasting party for a client, it can be hard to keep track of how much I've had to drink. The wine glasses (and calories!) can add up. My trick: Sip slowly. By the time we're ready to move to the next pairing, they've cleared the glass away."
—Melissa Libby, restaurant publicist

Freshen up

"I brush my teeth multiple times a day because having a clean-mouth feeling keeps me from wanting to nosh. Fudge-stuffed cupcakes don't taste as delicious with minty breath. Chewing on a piece of strong, pepperminty gum stops the nibbling cold, too."
—Bianca Henry, Today Show food stylist, New York City

Downsize your utensils

"If I'm tasting a dessert, I'll use an espresso spoon—you can only load so much on it. That way, I can enjoy a spoonful of chocolate pudding cake with coffee ice cream without overdoing it. Smaller spoon, fewer calories."
—Emily Luchetti, executive pastry chef, Waterbar and Farallon restaurants in San Francisco

Fill up on H2O

"As soon as I get to work, I drink eight ounces of water. It helps me fuel and connect with my body, and I just don't find myself reaching for cookies when I'm well-hydrated."
—Linda Lea

Make it bubbly

"I love mixing textures with meals, so I drink sparkling water with lunch or when I'm taste-testing food. The bubbles give me the sensation of being full."
—Jill Santopietro, senior food editor for chow.com

Snack smart

"I sample our goat cheese dozens of times per day. Instead of eating it on a cracker or bread, I'll pop a piece on a slice of apple or eat it plain to save calories."
—Tasia Malakasis, owner of Belle Chèvre goat cheese creamery in Elkmont, Alabama

Go nutty

"For me, a key to not eating too much junk food on set is keeping a stash of healthy almonds to nibble on instead; they're my perfect snack. The combination of protein and fiber helps prevent blood sugar crashes, the fat is good-for-you fat, and the crunchy texture requires a good bit of chewing, so I feel like I'm really eating something. Plus, they're incredibly portable."
—Bianca Henry

Make plans to indulge

"I'll have an afternoon cappuccino with cocoa dusted on top. If I have that to look forward to, I'll 'behave' throughout the day."
—Emily Luchetti

Preserve the goodies

"The freezer is one of the most underutilized tools in your kitchen. It's not just for ice cream; I freeze nuts, brownies and cookie dough. That way, I won't eat it right away, and I don't feel like I'm wasting food by throwing it out."
—Jill Santopietro

Be crazed (in a good way)

"We're constantly on the go at work—lifting 50-pound bags of sugar and flour, squatting beneath baking trays all day long. These are not only great ways to burn calories at work, but they honestly keep us too busy to even think about snacking on cupcakes. And staying busy works no matter what you're doing!"
—Katherine Kallinis and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne, co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake and stars of TLC's DC Cupcakes

Think afternoon delight

"Customers will come in and say, 'If I worked here, I'd be as big as a house!' Believe me, I would be, too, if I didn't stick to my rule of not eating sweets before 1 p.m. If I'm still craving a cookie in the afternoon, I'll have one."
—Abbey Alpert, partner at The Flour Pot Cookies in Ambler, Pennsylvania

Soup up

"Once a week, I'll make a big stew. I add just 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a big pot and throw in garlic, onions, carrots, beets, low-sodium chicken broth, potatoes, beans, maybe some low-fat cuts of meat. When hunger strikes, I have a super-satisfying, low-fat dish that I can pig out on without feeling guilty, and then I don't reach as much for the Camembert."
—Nadia G, star of Cooking Channel's Bitchin' Kitchen

Weigh your options

"I always ask myself, 'Is it worth the calories?' French-style nougat with loads of nuts and fruits dipped in dark chocolate is worth it to me; gummy candies and potato chips definitely are not."
—Nur Kilic,owner of Serenade Chocolatier in Brookline Village, Massachusetts

Do a doggie bag

"I am typically in 10 restaurants each week, and that's just for business! Most of the food is so good I want to snarf down the whole plate, but I savor each bite and plan to ask for a doggie bag so I can enjoy the dish again. I love taking home that delicious food and recreating the experience for my five-year-old."
—Elizabeth Moore, Atlanta-based restaurant publicist

Golds Gym
15 Industrial Drive
Middletown NY 10941
845-344-4653

Burn 350 Calories in 10 Easy Steps

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Don't let a busy schedule stop you from getting a good workout. We've created an office-friendly fitness routine that burns 350 calories in under an hour.

clip_image002Gold's Gym Fitness Institute members and New York City–based personal trainers, Sue Fleming and Nikki Kimbrough, are pros at making exercise plans for busy clientele. They designed a 10-step sweat-free workout that fits into any schedule and burns up to 350 calories, i.e. one serving of macaroni and cheese.

And they explain how to increase that number to 500 calories when you do make it to your local Gold's Gym. That extra effort could help you lose up to one pound per week according to the National Institute of Health.

So stop making excuses and use that office downtime to up your fitness level. All you need is a resistance band and a few extra minutes throughout the day.

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1. Mountain Climber

3 sets of 15-20 reps on each leg
Anywhere: Stand facing a desk or counter an arm's length away. Rest your hands on the edge, palms down, and fingers forward and slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Lean in, then walk your feet out in back. Lower your hips slightly so that your body forms a diagonal line. Balancing on your toes, bring your right knee toward your chest. Alternate legs continuously. Calories burned: 30

At the gym: Start in a plank position, with hands just wider than shoulder width apart, body straight out, core tight. While balancing on toes, bring your right knee toward your chest, then alternate legs as if you were running continuously.

Calories burned: 50

"Really focus on keeping your core tight," Kimbrough says. "When you lift your leg, focus on the lower abdominal region and use those muscles to bring that knee up." The more you use your abdominals, the less strain you feel in your back.

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2. Stand-up Hands-Up

3 sets of 10 reps

Anywhere: Stand with feet hip width apart. Place a resistance band under your feet while gripping one end in each hand. Lower your hips to a squat position and slowly stand up. Next, curl your hands up to your shoulders like you're doing a bicep curl, then raise your hands above your head. Lower your arms. Repeat.

Calories burned: 30

At the gym: Replace the resistance band with barbells or a weighted fitness bar.

Calories burned: 45

Make sure to keep your elbows close to your sides as you curl your arms to your shoulders. Keep your back straight and your core tight when you raise your hands above your head. "This is great for a midday energy burst because you are working more than three muscle groups with one exercise," Fleming says.

3. Stair Climb


2 sets of 5 minutes
Anywhere: Almost every office building has a set of stairs, take them instead of the elevator to a meeting or take an afternoon break and do a full 10 minutes. Take two steps at once if you're feeling extra energetic.
Calories: 90
At the Gym: Use the stair climber and increase resistance when you can. Add back leg kicks and side steps for an even better leg workout.
Calories: 130
It's a well-known, but highly effective fitness step: Take the stairs whenever you can.

4. Lower-Back Extensions


3 sets of 20 reps
Anywhere: Sitting in a chair, lift your arms above your head. Lean over and curl your back over your knees until your fingers almost touch the ground. Pause. Raise your arms again above your head. Repeat.
Calories burned: 15
At the gym: Grab a stability ball and balance on it with your stomach on top and your toes on the ground. Let your torso fall over the ball, and relax your arms by your sides. Starting with the head and upper back, slowly lift your spine until it's straight.
Calories burned: 30
Cubicle-bound office workers should put this move on their to-do list. "People who work at a desk tend to hunch over," Fleming points out. "A strong lower back helps you maintain good posture and avoid back injuries."

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5. In-and-Outs


3 sets of 10 reps
Anywhere: Sit on the front edge of a chair (without wheels). Place your hands along the sides of your body, holding the sides of the chair. Kick your legs straight out in front of you, toes flexed, and lean back in the chair as far as you can while keeping your back straight. Then simultaneously bring your knees and chest toward each other as close as you can. Return to starting point, and repeat.
Calories burned: 30
At the gym: Sitting on a bench, repeat exercise above. Stabilize your body by holding the sides of the bench. For an even better burn, remove your hands from the bench and cross your arms over your chest.
Calories burned: 40
This move may seem tough at first, so Kimbrough advises beginners to start by keeping one leg on the floor and lifting the other knee up, then alternating. And last but not least, take your time when you do these. "Too many people try to rush it," she says.

6. 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock


3 sets of 15 reps on each side
Anywhere: Tie a resistance band around a doorknob and close the door. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your body at a 90-degree angle from the door (start on your right or left side). Grab the band with both hands and hold it at shoulder height. Pivot on your feet to turn your body away from the door while pulling the band across your body. Switch sides.
Calories burned: 20
At the gym: Repeat the exercise while holding dumbbells.
Calories burned: 30
"This works your obliques (the muscles on the side of your stomach) and shoulders, which are often overlooked," Fleming says. You can increase the intensity of the move by walking farther from the door to pull the resistance band tighter.

7. Chest Press


3 sets of 10 reps
Anywhere: Lie on the ground with the resistance band behind your back. With elbows straight out from the shoulders, lift your hands straight into the air, then bring them together above your chest. Pause. Then lower hands back down.
Calories burned: 10
At the gym: Replace resistance band with dumbbells or a barbell and lie down on your back on a bench.
Calories burned: 15
"If you want to increase the difficulty, just loop the band around your hand a few times to shorten it," Fleming explains. A daily dose of this exercise will help you perform better pushups or, for the yoga devotee, chaturanga dandasana.

8. 10-Minute Walk


2 sets
Anywhere: Take a lunch stroll and a brisk evening walk to get an easy dose of burned calories.
Calories burned: 75
At the gym: Add a boost by walking on an inclined treadmill or walking with ankle weights.
Calories burned: 90
"Buy a pedometer," Fleming suggests. Studies have shown that walking 10,000 steps per day can increase your metabolism, and Fleming has found that being able to check her daily count pushes her to walk more. "If I'm at 8,000 at the end of the day," she says, "sometimes I'll just walk around the block or stay on the treadmill until I hit that goal."

9. Bent-Leg Step-Ups


3 sets of 12 reps on each leg
Anywhere: Stand in front of a step or chair. Put your left leg on the step in a bent position at all times. (Do not straighten leg.) Keep your right leg on the floor. While your left leg is still and bent, quickly raise your right leg and tap the ball of your foot on the step, then lower your foot to the floor. Switch legs and repeat.
Calories burned: 30
At the gym: Hold a dumbbell in each hand and repeat the exercise above.
Calories burned: 40
"This move might seem familiar to people who use the stair machine, but the difference here is you have to keep the nonmoving leg at a bent position, and that really gets your quads working," Kimbrough explains. The burn in your quads will get your heart rate up and can push you through a late-afternoon energy slump.

10. Wall Sits


3 sets of 3 reps
Anywhere: Place your back against the wall with your feet hip width apart. Slide down until your legs form a 90-degree angle. Make sure your knees are directly above your ankles and the back of your head is against the wall. Begin holding for 10 seconds, then increase your hold time when you can.
Calories burned: 20
At the gym: Place a stability ball between your back and the wall and repeat the exercise above. For an even better burn, add 10 dumbbell curls per wall sit.
Calories burned: 30
"The great thing about this move is that all you need is a wall and a little time," Fleming says. "Do it while you wait for an appointment, or for the commuter train to pull in." People might look at you funny, but you will look better in the end.

Disclaimer: The calories burned in each of these fitness moves was calculated for a 150 pound person exercising at a moderate to vigorous level.

 

Golds Gym
15 Industrial Drive
Middletown NY 10941
845-344-4653

4 Surprising Myths about Excess Weight

Here are four surprising things you may not know about weight—and why a few extra pounds aren't always as bad as you think.

We get it. We’re fat. Americans are fat. Europeans are fat. And the rest of the globe is quickly catching up. And, yes, excess weight is very, very bad. Gaining too much weight boosts your risk of cancer, heart disease and, well, 17 other terrible things that we’ve written about before.

So, do our chubby thighs and seems-like-we’ll-never-shed-it baby weight always spell disaster? Is there any silver lining at all? Maybe. Here are four surprising things you may not know about weight—and why a few extra pounds aren’t always as bad as you think.

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MYTH #1: A high BMI means you need to shed pounds.

FACT: Body mass index, or BMI, is a good starting to point to determine if you’re in shape because it is a simple number that takes into account both height and weight. (You can easily check your BMI using a calculator). But it isn’t perfect—far from it.

BMI does not take into account physical fitness or bone structure, and it doesn't differentiate between weight gained at a muscle-building camp or weight gained at McDonald’s.

So if you’re packing a lot of muscle—say, if you’re a bodybuilding male—you may end up with a BMI in the obese range. (For example, at the peak of his bodybuilding career, Arnold Schwarzenegger had a BMI of 33, which is considered obese.)

Keri Gans, a registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesperson, measures her clients’ BMI during a consultation, but takes the number with a grain of salt. “The key is muscle,” she says. “A bodybuilder might have a BMI that’s almost obese, when he’s just really, really built with a lot of muscle.”

MYTH #2: Weight loss is always good, no matter how you achieve it.

FACT: Yo-yo dieting can strain the heart, cause gallstones, and disturb your metabolism. It’s better to adopt a healthy diet and exercise program and lose weight steadily—experts generally recommend a pound a week—than to crash diet and shed tons of weight, only to rapidly gain it back.

Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are very different from crash and yo-yo dieting, but they pose many of the same health risks and also are potentially life-threatening. Anorexia and bulimia can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and other serious problems due to electrolyte imbalances. Purging, or repeated vomiting, can put a serious strain on the heart and damage teeth due to stomach acid exposure.

Gans says it is “much better and healthier” to be five or 10 pounds overweight than to constantly lose and gain weight.

MYTH #3: Slender equals healthy.

FACT: Sure they look good, but those skinny people may not be any healthier than heavier people—particularly if they have a cigarette hanging from their lips.

People who are relatively thin can still carry unhealthy fat internally. This fat is called visceral fat, and it pads vital organs. Thin people who carry internal fat are still at risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, says Gans.

“Just because you’re thin doesn’t mean you’re walking away scot-free from disease,” she says. Anyone, thin or not, could be at risk of heart disease or diabetes due to his or her genetic makeup. People often assume that type 2 diabetes is caused by eating too much and exercising too little, but, in reality, about 20% of people with diabetes are thin, and that’s generally due to genetics.

What’s more, smokers are particularly at risk for illness. Some people smoke to curb their appetite (thereby staying skinny), but cigarettes can cause lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease.

A 2008 study found that one in four normal-weight people had at least two metabolic factors (such as high triglycerides, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar) in the abnormal range.

MYTH #4: Fat is fat, and it’s always bad.

FACT: Not all fat is created equal. New research suggests that even if two people are equally overweight, one may be much healthier than the other.

For one, people who carry fat around their midsection are at greater risk for illness than their pear-shaped counterparts, who carry weight in the hips, buttocks and thighs. Belly fat has been linked to a greater risk of erectile dysfunction, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and other conditions.

But it goes deeper. Some people with extra pounds tend to accumulate fat in their liver; others the same size do not. Researchers now think that obese people with fatty liver deposits are at much greater risk than those without them, particularly because they are prone to insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes. The problem? It’s hard to tell who’s who. In reality, extra weight is bad for anyone, but it’s clearly worse for some people than others.

Whether you can be “fit and fat” is still hotly debated, but physical activity and a healthy diet do tend to offset the risks of being overweight, says Gans. Of course, it depends on how overweight a person is; if you’re only slightly overweight but still active, you may be less likely to experience health problems like high cholesterol or heart disease.

Although the term fit tends to be subjective, much of a person’s fitness is based on how quickly his or her heart rate returns to normal; the quicker the heart can recover, the better shape it’s in. So if you’ve hit a stubborn weight plateau, keep working out anyway—you’re doing your heart and lungs a favor.

Gans agrees. “You don’t need to be thin to be fit,” she says.

7 Strategies to Curb Hunger While You Lose Weight

Nutrition

It's 9 p.m. and you know just where that bag of peanut M&Ms is — it's stashed in the pantry behind the ultravirtuous oatmeal and seriously fortified cereal. Out of sight, but not out of mind. How can you be hungry, you wonder, when you ate a mere hour-and-a-half ago? The answer isn't so simple. Everything from stress to hormones to people, places, and situations can kick your appetite into overdrive. The good news: Whatever the cause, you can beat your hunger pangs. Here, the latest stay-full strategies from the experts.

Whip up a side of potato salad

Surprise! White potatoes aren't the dietary demons Atkins devotees led us to believe. Potatoes contain a type of starch known as natural resistant starch that acts a lot like fiber once it's in your digestive system. That means they make you feel full longer, keep your blood sugar level after a meal, and may even reduce body fat.

But there's a trick to maximizing this benefit: Chilling cooked potatoes nearly doubles the amount of natural resistant starch in a serving. Try an Italian-style potato salad. Boil peeled, sliced potatoes until they're fork-tender; drain, and toss them with salt, pepper, and your favorite red wine vinaigrette. Cool the salad in the fridge and garnish it with chopped parsley before you dig in. Not a spud fan? Try black beans (or any other bean) or split peas, warm or cold, for the same benefit.

Front-load your day's calories

We all know that breakfast helps keep your waistline trim, but here's more solid proof: In a recent study, University of Texas at El Paso researchers found that people who ate breakfast took in 5% fewer calories over the course of the day. That's only about 100 calories (if you typically eat the 2,000 calories per day recommended for adult women), but, over time, it adds up.

Saving 100 calories a day for one year equals a loss of more than 10 pounds. Experts estimate most of us eat 20% of our daily calories at breakfast, 30 percent at lunch, and 50 percent at dinner.

But you would probably be better off shifting more of your total daily calories to the morning, researchers say. If you can't stomach a bigger breakfast (keep it healthy with a combo of low-fat protein, whole grains, and fruit or veggies), add a midmorning snack (a container of yogurt, some fruit with a few whole-grain crackers, or half a sandwich).

Hunger Photo Blender

Pull out the blender

Froth beats fat. Researchers have found that study subjects who drank smoothies and other drinks blended for at least twice as long as necessary ate 12% less — and felt fuller — than those who drank beverages blended for a shorter period.

Why? Blending is a no-calorie way to increase serving size by adding air. Adding low- or no-cal ingredients to entreés (such as lettuce and tomato on top of turkey burgers or alongside broiled fish) has a similar effect: They work by increasing the amount of water instead of air.

Fool your sweet tooth with scent

A whiff of vanilla may be the antidote for your craving for a double dip of Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream. Here's the theory, according to experts: The inherent sweetness of vanilla sends neuropeptides (gut-to-brain messengers) into a kind of sensory overload that fools you into feeling like you've satisfied your sweet tooth. Any vanilla scent? — extract, body lotion, or a candle — has a similar effect.

Stock up on lentil soup

According to a new study from The Cochrane Collaboration, an independent health research organization, people on diets that call for fiber-rich, complex-carb-loaded foods such as lentils, sweet potatoes, and apples lost a little over two pounds more in five weeks, compared with people on low-fat or other types of diets. These foods rank low on the glycemic index (GI), which means they're less likely to cause blood sugar spikes and leave you feeling hungry.

Snack smart

By now you know that snacking doesn't have to be a bad thing for your waistline. But did you know that the right snacks can actually suppress ghrelin, the hunger hormone? Low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods like strawberries (49 calories a cup), broccoli (20 calories a cup), and sweet potatoes (103 calories — and ready in a microwave minute) are your best defense. They make you feel satiated on a lot fewer calories than potato chips will.

Breathe hunger away

Stress causes your body to pump out cortisol. And this, ultimately, creates a resistance to leptin, a hormone that helps you feel full. As a result, the more stressed out you are (and the more often you feel that way), the less able you are to tell when you're full.

Short-circuit the problem with this stress-reducing breathing exercise: Exhale fully, counting to five as you release tension from your body; let your shoulders slump as if you're a deflated balloon. Then count to five as you inhale gently, fully, down through the lungs into your belly; hold for a four-count. Exhale again, repeating the first step. Continue for five minutes; practice a few times each day — or whenever you feel inclined to make tracks to the snack stash.

5 Reasons to Love (Good) Fat

5 Reasons to Love (Good) Fat

Nutrition

Healthy Fats

If you skimp on healthy fats — omega-3s in fish, supplements, and some plant and dairy products — you're missing out on a great way to help prevent a host of common problems. Here's a quick look at how good these fats really are, and the best ways to work them into your life.

1. Fight those aches

How omega-3s help: Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that nearly two-thirds of patients suffering from chronic neck and back pain stopped needing anti-inflammatory pain pills after taking fish-oil pills for 20 to 30 days. The key may be omega-3s' ability to fight inflammation.

How to get them: You don't necessarily have to take the pills. Cold-water ocean fish (salmon, mackerel, herring) and lake trout are the best sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3s.

Health.com: 5 Quick Ways to Stop Back Pain

2. Stay slim

How omega-3s help: Mood swings can lead to bring-on-the-brownies moments that sabotage your efforts to lose weight. Omega-3s may help by stabilizing your moods, researchers say.

How to get them: Try a high-quality omega-3 supplement for 30 days. If you don't notice a difference, increase your dosage.

3. Have more "up" days

How omega-3s help: Another form of omega-3s known as DHA makes up 25% of your body's brain fat and manages the production and flow of the feel-good chemical serotonin. People who battle depression seem to be DHA-deficient.

How to get them: Researchers believe a DHA supplement may be a gentler (and ultimately more effective) alternative to antidepressants. But don't count on just any supplement available at a drugstore or on the Web. Here's a list of omega-3 supplements judged in independent tests to be fresh and free of contaminants, and to have the amount of good fats listed on the label.

4. Breathe easier

How omega-3s help: Omega-3s may help reduce the inflammation associated with asthma. In a recent Indiana University study, patients taking fish-oil supplements were better at controlling exercise-triggered symptoms than people taking a placebo or just eating a normal diet were.

How to get them: A supplement is your best bet.

5. Keep your heart healthy

How omega-3s help: In addition to fighting inflammation, omega-3s may lower blood pressure and reduce clotting. And they may help fight diabetes too, because diabetes has a strong inflammatory component. Omega-3s also help cells lower blood sugar, a key to avoiding diabetes, researchers say.

How to get them: Eat plant foods like flax, walnuts, spinach, arugula, avocados, and canola oil, and soy products like full-fat tofu and edamame. They have a form of omega-3s called ALA that may help prevent heart disease, according to Harvard Medical School scientists. Also eat cold-water fish twice a week. And if you like eggs, shop for brands like Eggland's Best that contain high levels of omega-3s. Bon appétit.

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