Are You a Yo-Yo Dieter?

By Katelyn Dieffenderfer

All too often, people lose weight only to gain it back again. Follow these tips to stop the maddening cycle.

For many people, losing weight is a source of great pride and accomplishment. After all, dieting can be a grueling endeavor, and the pounds you've shed represent a lot of hard work. Once you've lost the weight, you have both a slimmer body and improved health to show for your efforts.
But if weight loss is so satisfying, why is "diet" still considered a four-letter word? Sadly, most dieters' success is fleeting. According to UCLA researchers who analyzed 31 long-term diet studies, only a very small percentage of study participants managed to sustain their weight loss, while the vast majority put the weight back on. In some cases, the subjects eventually gained even more weight than they'd initially lost.

The Dangers of Yo-Yo Dieting

If any of this sounds familiar, chances are, you're a yo-yo-dieter-and the constant ups and downs are may be undermining your weight-loss efforts and your health. In addition to the discouragement that may accompany rapid weight cycling, according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), yo-yo dieting has been linked to long-lasting negative impacts on metabolism.

What's more, a study by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas showed that men who are yo-yo dieters are more likely to suffer heart attacks, high blood pressure, and diabetes than non-dieters. Further, yo-yo dieters may experience physical problems such as a decrease of muscular strength and endurance, thinning hair, loss of coordination, fainting, weakness, and slowed heart rates, the NEDA reports.

Stopping the Cycle

Creating a food plan is a great idea-it can help you lead a healthier life and reach your goal weight. But take a closer look. Does yours restrict certain foods completely or promote eating from only certain food groups? Did you find it in a magazine at the grocery-store checkout? Is it really more like a diet than a healthy food plan? If so, it could put you at risk for yo-yo dieting.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that you make sure your plan meets the following criteria:

• It enables you to burn at least as many calories as you take in.
• It encourages you to eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods.
• It emphasizes vegetables and fruits, as well as whole-grain, high-fiber foods.
• It includes fish, lean meats, and poultry without skin, cooked without added saturated or trans fats.
• It helps you cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.
• It cuts back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable.

In addition to eating a healthy meal plan, you should be sure to combine it with at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.  (Is it me or do these suggestions sound like the Weight Watchers Good Health Guidelines?  Hmmmmmmmmm................  They are listed on page 61 of your GETTING STARTED BOOK - check them out and how much you need to eat of them)

100 Calorie Snacks

I know we all like snacks and sometimes it's just easy to grab a 100 calorie snack pack.  HungryGirl.com has listed many of the them and I thought you might like to have the list on hand.
Guilt-free, portion-controlled snacks ROCK... but they can be pricey. Save cash -- DO IT YOURSELF! Here's the 411 on exactly how many/how much of some of our favorite treats are equal to 100 calories, plus a few fantastic 100-cal combos!    [Image] 
14 almonds 
PER SERVING (about 14 whole unsalted nuts): 100 calories, 9g fat, 0mg sodium, 3g carbs, 2g fiber, 0.5g sugars, 3.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 25 pistachios 
PER SERVING (about 25 dry-roasted unsalted nuts): 100 calories, 8g fat, 0mg sodium, 5g carbs, 1.75g fiber, 1g sugars, 3.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 

16 Popchips 
PER SERVING (about 16 chips, average of all flavors): 100 calories, 3.25g fat, 235mg sodium, 16g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g sugars, 1g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3*

15 Guiltless Gourmet Tortilla Chips 
PER SERVING (about 15 chips, average of all flavors): 100 calories, 2g fat, 156mg sodium, 17.5g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 0g sugars, 1.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 2* 

12 hard pretzel sticks (not rods) 
PER SERVING (about 12 small plain sticks, average): 100 calories, 0g fat, 460mg sodium, 23g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g sugars, 2g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 

19 hard pretzel twists 
PER SERVING (about 19 mini twists, average): 100 calories, <0.5g fat, 400mg sodium, 20.5g carbs, <1g fiber, <0.5g sugars, 1.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 2*

5 cups 94% fat-free microwave popcorn 
PER SERVING (about 5 cups popped corn, average): 100 calories, 0.5g fat, 204mg sodium, 22g carbs, 4g fiber, 0g sugars, 2.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 2* 

13 Quaker Quakes Rice Snacks 
PER SERVING (about 13 mini cakes, average of all flavors): 100 calories, 2g fat, 223mg sodium, 19.5g carbs, 0g fiber, 3.5g sugars, 1.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 4 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses 
PER SERVING (about 4 pieces): 100 calories, 5.5g fat, 15mg sodium, 10.5g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 9g sugars, 1g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3*
4 teaspoons mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 
PER SERVING (about 4 tsp., average): 100 calories, 5.25g fat, 5mg sodium, 12g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 10.5g sugars, 1g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 

27 Reese's Pieces 
PER SERVING (about 27 pieces): 100 calories, 4.75g fat, 38mg sodium, 12g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 10g sugars, 2g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 

45 mini marshmallows 
PER SERVING (about 45 mini marshmallows, average): 100 calories, 0g fat, 25mg sodium, 25.5g carbs, 0g fiber, 18g sugars, 0.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries 
PER SERVING (about 1/4 cup, average): 100 calories, <0.5g fat, 1mg sodium, 26.5g carbs, 2.5g fiber, 21.5g sugars, 0g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3*
25 jelly beans (like Jelly Belly)
PER SERVING (about 25 small jelly beans, average): 100 calories, 0g fat, 14mg sodium, 25g carbs, 0g fiber, 20g sugars, 0g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* [Image] HG's Super 100-Cal Snack Mixes!Using your newfound knowledge, make your own mixes! Or try out ours...Jelly Bean 'Stach Snack 
PER SERVING (10 small jelly beans + 15 pistachios): 100 calories, 4.75g fat, 7mg sodium, 13g carbs, 1g fiber, 8.5g sugars, 2g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* 
Candy 'Mallow Popcorn 
PER SERVING (9 Reese's Pieces + 8 mini marshmallows + 2 1/2 cups 94% fat-free microwave popped corn): 100 calories, 1.5g fat, 120mg sodium, 19.5g carbs, 2g fiber, 6.5g sugars, 2g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3* Chocolatey Caramel Crunch Mix 
PER SERVING (2 tsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips + 6 Quaker Caramel Corn Quakes): 100 calories, 2.5g fat, 130mg sodium, 17g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 8.5g sugars, 1g protein --PointsPlus™ value 3* 

Berry Nutty Twist Mix 
PER SERVING (1 1/2 tbsp. sweetened dried cranberries + 5 almonds + 5 mini pretzel twists): 100 calories, 3g fat, 105mg sodium, 16g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 8g sugars, 1.5g protein --PointsPlus™ value 3*