Do You Rely on the Calorie Counts Provided by Restaurants?

Researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University conducted a study of 269 restaurant dishes to determine their caloric content and to compare the measured calorie level to the stated calorie level from the restaurant.

On average, the calories posted by the restaurants were accurate. However, out of the 269 samples, 50 dishes contained 100 or more calories than posted; 17 dishes had at least 273 more calories than posted.

See more about the study here: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011/07/Healthy-restaurant-dishes-pack-more-calories-than-expected/49517614/1

What is the take-home message here?

On average, the calorie information posted by restaurants can be helpful when you are trying to make chocies based on that information. However, there are some discrepancies in the information. Listen to your body's hunger and satiation cues. Eat slowly, enjoy the meal and don't "eat by numbers."

Get Enough Sleep to Best Manage Your Weight?

Can getting enough sleep help you manage your weight? Maybe. Many studies show some link between sleep habits and eating habits. People who are sleep-deprived tend to eat more calories and often eat less healthy food choices than people who have had adequate sleep. One recent study showed that sleep-deprived people ate approximately 300 more calories per day than their well-rested counterparts: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/us-sleep-gain-weight-idUSTRE7675RE20110708

Millions of Americans are sleep-deprived so the general message is: work towards good sleeping habits. It might help you manage your weight more effectively and you know that it will make you feel better, look better and be more fun to be around!

The Holy Grail: What is the Secret to Successful Weight Loss/Management?

People ask me nearly everyday how to lose weight. Although there are many answers to that question, I always remind those who ask me that the real key is not just how to lose weight but how to successfully maintain a healthy weight over the long term.

We continue to learn new and interesting things about weight loss, human metabolism, the importance of exercise but still the majority of Americans are overweight.

Have you heard of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR)? It is a fascinating prospective investigation of long-term successful weight loss maintenance. Some key findings about the people in the NWCR who have successfully lost weight:

• 78% eat breakfast every day


• 75% weigh themselves at least once per week


• 62% watch less than 10 hours of television per week


• 90% exercise 1 hour per day, on average

Want to know more about the NWCR? Check it out: http://www.nwcr.ws/default.htm