Weight Watchers Review: Final January Weigh-In

It's 30 days down on my trial of the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus program. The results of my final weigh-in for January? A total of 7.9 pounds lost! I am quite pleased and I am right on target for the 1 to 2 pounds per week that is recommended as a safe weight-loss rate (and that just happens to be exactly what someone on the Weight Watchers program can expect to lose!).

They say it takes 30 days for anything to become a habit, and here are a few habits that are really helping me to stick with the program:

Are you following the new Weight Watchers program? What habits have you found to be helpful? Post your advice in comments or share your own review here.

Note: Weight Watchers has provided me free access to the online version of their program, as well as other tools so that I can review the new PointsPlus program. I am in no way being compensated by Weight Watchers.

Image: Clipart.com

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Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home - 5 Day Slim Down - A Mile Each Morning

Energize your day and super-charge your metabolism with the Leslie Sansone: 5 Day Slim Down DVD , a weight-loss program that has everything you need to walk off more weight. With Leslie as your personal coach, you can walk a mile each morning and never leave your home!

Price: $14.98

Click here to buy from Amazon

Veganist

Kathy Freston's new book Veganist is about "leaning into" the vegan diet. This is a welcome approach after the almost militant coercion from groups like PETA.

Freston is previously known for the book Quantum Wellness - an holistic detox diet that is also vegetarian. Freston now has the backing of Oprah Winfrey, who has challenged all-comers to go vegan for a week.

The Veganist is more than going on a diet, and far more than losing weight. Freston makes a number of "promises" or outcomes that will arise from your choice to go vegan.

Your body will find and maintain its ideal weightYou will lower your risk of health issues such as: cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.You will live longer and better.You will take yourself out of harm's way Here she is addressing the industrialized food machine that makes it easier for bacteria to enter the food chain (think pig and cow factories).You will save money The true cost of animal protein is much higher than what we think it is.You will be helping provide food for the global poorYou will reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. You will reduce animal sufferingYou will be following the wisdom of great spiritual traditionsYou will evolve and take the world with you

There is a strong case for following a plant-based diet, and as the world continues to over-exploit its resources, the call for vegan-type diets will become louder. We cannot support every person in the world eating a 8 ounce steak every night.

However I struggle with the need for dogma and rigid rules around dieting. I, for example, go fishing. I occasionally catch a fish (and abide by all fishing regulations and limits). I prepare the fish and eat it. Even though I agree with many of the principles of veganism, I will not stop fishing to satisfy the requirements of dietary dogma.

Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World by Kathy Freston - Available from Amazon.

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Weight Loss 101

Easy ways to keep yourself fit, happy, and healthy throughout the year. More

Learn about diabetes symptoms, what can make a management plan, and what tests you should never skip. More

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"Saturday Smart Swap!": Roll with It

A cinnamon roll is never going to be exactly diet-friendly, but on a chilly winter weekend morning, helping yourself to a warm one and a cup of coffee can do wonders to get you going. So, consider this sweet swap before you treat yourself again:

If Cinnabon is your idea of roll-heaven, think twice: A Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll packs in nearly 900 calories! An Au Bon Pain Cinnamon Roll is a smarter choices at 350 calories. Total calorie savings? 463!

Related Reading: Calorie-Smart Food Court Snacks

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60% of Women Don't Like Eating in Front of Their Partner

A new survey highlights some revealing statistics about the relationship between women and food.

60% of women in relationships do not feel comfortable eating in front of their partner50% of women in relationships get shy undressing in front of their partner40% of women feel as though they are constantly dieting13% of women choose low-calorie meals instead of what they would actually like when eating out

Can we really believe these numbers?

Although featured in Time and the Daily Mail, these numbers seem high. The survey was "carried out for Shapesmart" - according to nutritionist Mary Strugar. Shapesmart is a UK-based weight management program, and Strugar sits on the "Expert Advice Panel". The UKPA mentions that 5,000 people were surveyed - but nowhere can I discover if any of these people had a pre-existing relationship with the diet company.

Reader surveys can be notoriously biased - it's a bit like surveying readers of a gossip magazine if they are obsessed with celebrities -- you are probably going to get a different result to the rest of the population.

Regardless of accuracy - I have no doubt that many women have an unhealthy relationship with food. The reasons for not wanting to eat in front of a partner are unclear - is he critical? Does the woman feel under scrutiny for what she chooses to eat?

Are you comfortable eating in front of your partner?

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10 Holiday Tips that Really Work!

Managing your weight this holiday season doesn't have to be complicated! Here are the 10 easy holiday weight maintenance tips that really work: Store goodies that you make for your family or for office parties in opaque containers.Get enough sleep; doing so could prevent overeating.At a party, have your absolute favorite foods, but leave the rest.Now is a great time to start a food diary.Use a salad plate at the buffet; research has shown using a smaller plate helps you eat less.Get out of the house the day after hosting a party so you won't be tempted by the leftovers in the fridge.Prepare higher-cal dishes that your guests love, but you don't.Eat pie filling and leave the crust -- that's where the fat is.Eat "forbidden" foods in public -- if you "save" them for when you're at home, you'll be more likely to overeat.Keep diet-friendly snacks in your desk drawer to munch on when someone brings in baked goods to share.

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