A new study shows chocolate for breakast may help you keep the weight off.
The study included 200 non-diabetic patients who were considered obese by clinical definition. Each was randomly assigned to a group who either consumed a 300-calorie breakfast or a 600-calorie breakfast, which always included some sort of sweet treat.
Dreaming of a cupcake to reward yourself for all that dieting work? Well, you may have to reframe your fantasies.
From Eileen: A friend of mine started a big-time diet and exercise program last week. She jumped in with her typical gregarious enthusiasm, setting up sessions with a personal trainer, reading food labels, packing her lunch, counting her calories … and telling everyone “This is it, guys! This is it!”
After the first week, she stayed on course, losing a pound. Not a smashing success, but a great start nonetheless. She was pretty pleased with her progress. Slow is OK because this was it, the real deal.
From Joe: Are you eating out less because of your new diet? Or because our new economy demands more frugal living?
Are you feeling deprived because you miss those frequent trips to restaurants? Professional chef Sara Jenkins might make you feel better about eating more meals at home:
Gerry gives all the credit for her weight loss to her trainer, Tony.
From Gerry: Me!
I didn’t actually win the 2011 Fittest Loser Challenge, but I’m doing a victory dance all the same.
In 12 weeks, I lost 36 pounds. My body age went from an astounding get-your-papers-in-order-to-sign-up-for-Social-Security 60 years to an amazing 42 years of age.
Or, as my husband put it, “From menopause to trophy wife in just 12 weeks.”
From Eileen: For those of you who can’t wait for Monday’s paper to read the final results of this year’s Fittest Loser contest, here you go. Congratulations to all the participants!
Bob Pearson, 38, of Hampshire
Trainer: Josh Steckler
Starting weight: 296
Final weight: 218
Pounds lost: 78
Percent lost: 26.4
John Novak, 46, of Mount Prospect
Trainer: Wade Merrill
Starting weight: 324
Final weight: 247
Pounds lost: 77
Percent lost: 23.8
Jayne Nothnagel, 52, of Bloomingdale
Trainer: Mark Trapp
From Eileen: Gerry’s column this week is about being stuck. Anyone who has ever been on a weight loss program knows that feeling when the scale won’t budge. Gerry’s trainer, Tony, told her to drink more water, do an extra hour of cardio and stretch. Sounds reasonable, I suppose.
But who wants reason when you’re stuck? Anyone else have advice on what to do when you reach a dieting plateau? We’re talking sensible advice here … Actually, the question should be how do you keep your motivation up when you have hit a bump in the road?