Tools and Tips to Take it Off

BMI Calculator

Body mass index (BMI) is a tool used to determine if your weight is healthy for your height. It determines if a person is underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. However, BMI is not always accurate for those with a large percentage of muscle mass or for those with a small or large frame. While it may not be perfect, BMI is a great place to start in determining your healthy weight.

• • Adult BMI Calculator


• • Children (ages 2-19) BMI Calculator

Determine Your Calorie Level

According to Dr. Judith Beck, author of The Complete Beck Diet for Life, you can determine a healthy daily calorie level to slowly and steadily lose weight while still maintaining a balanced diet. Click here to find your daily calorie needs for weight loss based on Dr. Beck's best selling book.

Which Diet is Right?

If you are thinking about trying a diet but aren't sure which one, Health.com has summaries of over 50 popular diets to help you choose what is best for you. The guide takes a look at the specified program's requirements in regards to eating out, caffeine and alcohol consumption, expense of the program, the need for professional counselors, the cost of the plan, and other factors.

Write it Down

Writing down everything you eat and drink may seem labor intensive but studies show that it makes big difference in helping people stick to their weight loss goals. When keeping a food journal, try to track what eat and how much you consumed. If you are an emotional eater or trying to change your eating habits, consider jotting down how you felt when you ate, where you ate, and what time. If you plan your meals and calorie count for the day ahead, jot down your planned food and then add any unplanned food after you eat. Click here for an example from The Beck Diet Solution: Weight Loss Workbook.

Burn 100 Calories Fast

Here are 10 easy ways to burn 100 calories without even trying. If you do just one task each day, you will have burned 700 calories by the end of the week (3,000 calories by the end of the month).

-Tend the garden for 20 minutes
-Dance for 20 minutes
-Grocery shop for 40 minutes
-Give a 20 minute massage
-Play the piano for 33 minutes
-Wash and wax the car for 18 minutes
-Push the lawn mower for 14 minutes
-Take the dog on a 23 minute walk
-Ride your bike leisurely fro 21 minutes
-Iron clothes for 25 minutes
(Based on a 150-pound woman.)

Low-Calorie Entrées

Indulge with one of these luscious entrées featuring less than 300 calories each.

• Casseroles
• Italian Classics
• Pizza
• Mexican Entrées
• Ground Beef

More Light Recipes

Kick off the year with these light recipes to help you shed the pounds.

• 11 Simple Ways to Cut Calories
• Guilt-Free, No-Compromise Recipes
• Dinner Tonight Made Easy
• Restaurant Favorites Made Healthy