WeightLossNYC™ is New York Medical Weight Loss Center

Is Omega-3 Margarine Heart Healthy?

2010-09-02T21:07:00.000-07:00

Omega-3 fatty acids have been touted by doctors and health experts as essential to a healthy diet and heart. We can find them in fish oil capsules and many grocery store foods, but a recent study conducted in Holland of omega-3 fatty acids in margarine, however, may challenge its benefits.

In the 40-month long heart study of 4,800 patients that received low doses of omega-3 in the form of margarine in addition to standard heart medication, it made no difference in their chance of experiencing a second heart attack or other cardiovascular problems. Participants in the study were between the ages of 60 and 80 and had experienced a heart attack within the past 4 years.

An important factor to note: the diet in Holland is also different from the American one, as it includes more fish and less red meat and fast food.

Still, a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids is recommended by many doctors for a healthy heart and weight loss, which can be found naturally in foods like fish (salmon, herring and sardine), soybeans, flax seeds and walnuts.

Source: LifeScript.com

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2010-08-31T16:10:00.000-07:00

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Organic Junk Food Is Just as Bad

2010-08-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

Organic cookies, gummy bears and ice cream can now be found at grocery stores everywhere. Eating healthy organic food is healthier for you, but organic junk food is where things get tricky. Many people trying to lose weight mistakenly think organic junk food is permissible -- even healthy -- but they are just as bad for you as traditional junk food.

Researchers in the Department of Psychology at University of Michigan found that when faced with an organic junk food item vs. a non-organic junk food item, consumers seemed to think the organic version had less calories and was less fattening even though that was not correct. There is also a misconception that "organic" equals "healthy," which isn't necessarily true.

This is important for those watching their weight, especially as consumer interest in organic food rises.

When grocery shopping, read the nutrition facts and ingredients and watch for the following things to make healthier choices (whether organic or not):

*How many calories does it have?
*How much saturated fat?
*How much sodium?
*How much cholesterol?
*How much sugar?

It's okay to occasionally indulge in an organic junk food item -- just exercise caution (and don't forget to do physical exercise, either!). Even though an organic snack is made with organic unbleached flour and organic sugar it still can make you gain weight, especially if those calories are not used up.

Source: Judgment and Decision Making, Vol. 5, No. 3, June 2010, pp. 144–150

When Salads Sabotage Your Diet

2010-08-25T20:24:00.001-07:00

When dining out, salads are the go-to menu option for those trying to lose weight. You think that fresh veggies are healthier and contain less calories than the other carby menu items. But sometimes, a salad is just as bad as anything else on the menu and here's why.

On a recent "Eat This, Not That!" segment on the "Today Show," Editor in Chief of Men's Health, David Zinczenko, showed us that many salads at popular chain restaurants are loaded in calories, fat and sodium, which could wreck anyone's weight loss plan.

Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad
1310 calories, 93 g fat, 1470 mg sodium
With not-so-great-for-you fried chicken, this salad has the same calories as a McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder, fries and a coke.

Wendy's BLT Cobb Salad and Ranch Dressing w/ croutons
760 calories, 51g fat, 2090 mg sodium
This salad is just as bad for you as 2 bacon cheeseburgers from Wendy's.

Quizno's Chicken Caesar Flatbread Salad
920 calories, 66 g fat, 2090 mg sodium
With more sodium than you need in a day (max is 2000 mg), this seemingly innocent salad is the equivalent of 3 White Castle bacon and cheese sliders plus 3 fried chicken rings!

TGI Friday's Santa Fe Chopped Salad
1800 calories
Need we say more? This meal contains as many calories as a Burger King Double Whopper, fries and chocolate shake.

California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Chicken Salad w/ bleu cheese dressing
1570 calories, 30 g fat, 2082 mg sodium
This delicious and healthy-looking salad is just as fattening as a Wendy's 1/2 lb double cheeseburger, fries and medium frostie.

You can still dine out and even order a salad every now and then, just follow the tips below for guidance.

Fattening ingredients to avoid
Fried ingredients, tortilla chips, creamy dressing, cheese

Diet tricks
*Sometimes the portions are out of control. Just eat 1/3 of the meal once you've eaten enough healthy calories and take leftovers home.
*Ask for your dressing on side, then drizzle a small amount as needed.
*Choose oil and/or vinegar-based dressings. One tsp. of balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette) can contain as little as 5 calories!

Source: "Today Show," msnbc.com

The Hara Hachi Bu Diet

2010-08-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Starvation-inducing diets du jour aren't the way to a better body. What matters most is eating healthy, exercise and lifestyle choices.

There are tricks you can learn to help you along the way. Today, we look at the Japanese concept of Hara Hachi Bu. It's not a fad diet concept, but merely a way to gauge how much food you are putting into your body.

This idea that originates in Okinawa, Japan -- where the average person mainly consumes lean meats, healthy vegetables, soy foods, fruits and whole grains -- is to eat until you feel that you are 80% full.

Your stomach takes about 20 minutes to register that it is "full," so it's a great strategy to eat slowly and stop once you start to feel somewhat full. Think you're still hungry? Wait a half hour to see if you're still hungry, but usually your stomach will be satisfied.

Because of a healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants, Okinawans have 80% lower rates of heart disease and 50-80% lesser chance of breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancer compared to Americans.

Healthy Eating Tip

If you struggle with figuring out when your body is 80% full, try taking away 20% the amount of food you would normally eat.

Source: Okinawa-diet.com

Dieting, Minus the Crankiness

2010-08-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

When you're dieting, it's easy to feel deprived and cranky. After all, you feel like you're missing out on all the foods and treats you love -- all for the sake of losing a few pounds. The danger in all that sacrifice is that it's easy to slip and make a dieting mistake that results in weight gain.

Dieting doesn't have to be so difficult. In fact, your diet can be full of healthy and delicious choices. Sometimes, you just need some tantalizing ideas to get started.

Healthy Diet Tips to Keep in Mind

Protein Packs a Mean Punch

You need protein in your diet because it not only does it make you feel full for a long time, it suppresses your hunger. It's also necessary for building muscle when you are working out. Be sure not to just picky any ol' protein source; lean protein is what you need, such as peanuts (or peanut butter), non-fat or low-fat yogurt, eggs and lean meats.

Make Room for Snacks

It's easy to skip snacks, thinking it will help you lose more weight, but you actually need them! Healthy snacking can keep your blood sugar in control, curb binging and prevent overeating at meal time. Not eating or snacking enough can cause blood sugar to crash and make you irritable.

Get Your H2O

Drink water to keep your body running efficiently, but also to stay fuller between meals.

Be Fab with Fiber

This cannot be harped upon enough: you need fiber in your diet to be healthy and lose weight. Get it via whole grains, oatmeal, beans, brown rice, fruits and veggies as well as fiber supplements. These foods are nutritious and keep you feeling more satisfied, preventing you from unhealthy cravings.

Fight Those Cravings with These Tips

Craving: Ice cream sundae
Healthy option: Fat-free yogurt, sprinkled with granola, blueberries and strawberry and banana slices

Craving: Cheeseburger
Healthy option: Veggie burger on a whole wheat bun with two slivers of avocado, onion slices, alfalfa sprouts and a dab of mustard

Craving: Alcoholic beverage or cocktail
Healthy option: Fruit smoothie made with fresh berries and vanilla soy milk or skim milk

Source: HealthyWomen.org

Would you like to appear on the Rachael Ray show?

2010-08-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

Call WeightLossNYC Today

Popular media mogul Rachael Ray contacted us to help them find guests for an upcoming show about weight loss. We respect your privacy and offer you the opportunity to request your possible inclusion in the show by calling WeightLossNYC today for details on what is happening with weight loss in the media today.

Why You Need Water

2010-08-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

Drinking water is a must if you are serious about losing weight. A smarter choice than soda or juice, water is pure, and contains no calories, sugars or fat. Not only does it keep your body hydrated to run properly, it can prevent you from eating too much.

These are just some of water's health benefits:

*Increases metabolism and keeps appetite in check
*Improves blood circulation
*Flushes out wastes and bacteria
*Decreases risk of some cancers (colon, bladder and breast cancers)
*Helps your complexion look better

A 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that people who drank water before meals consumed 75 fewer calories per meal on average. This translate to a loss of 14.5 pounds if you eat 75 fewer calories at lunch and dinner over one year.

The body can't always tell the difference between hunger and thirst, so we often eat when we are actually thirsty. This is helpful to note, especially since it can cause you to overeat.

Be sure to drink enough water and eat foods with high water content such as fruits, vegetables and soups. Usually eight 8-oz. glasses of water is enough for most adults to stay hydrated, but other factors such as being overweight, exercise activity, hot weather and pregnancy can affect that amount. Drink enough so that you are not thirsty and have about 6.3 cups of colorless urine per day. Too much water, however, may deplete your body of too many necessary salts and can have serious side effects. If you are still unsure about your water intake, discuss it with your doctor.

Sources: Huffington Post, CNN, Mayo Clinic

Quality Calories vs. Junk Calories

2010-07-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

We all know when calories add up, so do the pounds. But where those calories come from is even more important. That's why it's vital to choose quality calories over empty ones for everything you eat.

What to look out for

Ingredients
Look to see what is in your food. Even though the package says it's only 100 calories, if they include hydrogenated oils instead of far-healthier olive or sunflower oil or bleached white flour instead of whole grains, then it's junk.

Fiber
We all need roughly 25 grams a day of fiber, which not only helps with regularity, it can keep us feeling fuller and more satisfied than foods without it. Fiber in turn keeps you from overeating and helps you consume less overall calories.

Sugar
If the sugar content is high, then it's not good for you. If you're going to eat sugar at all, make sure it's natural and comes from fruits or vegetables instead of refined sugar in processed foods. Too many sugars in your diet cause you to gain weight.

Fat
Fat is actually a necessary part of a healthy diet -- as long as it's unsaturated. Watch out for transfats and saturated fats, which will make you fat!

Vitamins and Minerals
Check to see what kinds of vitamins and minerals are in what you're about to eat. If it has none, then you know it has no nutritional value. Healthy snacks and foods, however, will have at least some.

--SelfGrowth.com

*Disclaimer: New York Weight Loss Center and WeightLossNYC.com in no way endorse Subway or the foods portrayed in this image or commercial.

Image source: YouTube courtesy Subway

------------------

Still clueless about low calorie-diets? Read here about your diet plan.

Or, make an appointment with Dr. Aron to get started!

Healthy Foods that Fill You Up

2010-07-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

Get a Leg Up on Legumes

Foods that are high in fiber and protein will keep you full longer because they take longer to digest. The meat and bean group has the most protein; it includes meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, and legumes. Beans and legumes are high in fiber as well, as are whole grains, and fruit and vegetables eaten with their seeds and peels. Vegetables are very filling and very low in calories too.[1]

Dieting Tip: Make a Sensible Start

Planning your daily caloric intake to achieve your target goal takes skill and practice; Making your menu of favorites and alternates for each meal is a helpful diet practice too. You can always switch things around to keep it fresh not boring, but ultimately your motivation is to find healthy nutritious meals you enjoy to eat, not to deprive or punish yourself daily!

Process This: Eat Fresh or Frozen

Americans eat 31% more packaged food than fresh food ... A sizeable portion is … read-to-eat-meals like frozen pizzas and microwave dinners, and salty or sweet snack foods.[2]

Choosy Dieters, Choose This..

Choosing foods with least amount of processing and processed ingredients gives you far more control over the quality as well as the quantity of food. Remember you never need to eat any portion of ANY meal that's before you. Knowing the right amount to eat is as much as having the right foods in front of you to enjoy.

[1]Source Hartley
[2]New York Times

Controversial Aspartame ... now renamed AminoSweet

2010-07-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Say Ami-NO THANKS, to Un-Sweet news

Marketed under other names including NutraSweet, aspartame is present in many commercial products including diet foods and diet sodas, sugar-free chewing gum, sweetener packets and more - in fact 6,000 items more - including diabetic foods, vitamins, over-the-counter drugs and even some prescription medications.

Controversial because in 30 years, the FDA has received more complaints (over 10,000) for aspartame than any other food additive combined. Two-thirds of reported complaints reflect neurological symptoms that can even mimic severe health conditions making them harder to diagnose.

Diet Foods and Drinks May Cause Weight Problems

The controversy continues in that some applications of artificial sweeteners may induce metabolic syndrome, as well as simply mislead your body into how many calories you've consumed.

Aspartame, NutraSweet, AminoSweet.. not a health food

The advertising deception in these sweeteners is that in playing on popular culture's fears about sugar, they introduce a new molecule made from distortions in amino acids (basis of proteins) implying a healthy protein connection, where there is no such merit at all.

Mass-consumption of the phenyl-alanine and aspartic acid compounds in these sweeteners have documented effects that can affect brain hormone balance and more.

Healthy Foods Your Best Choice

Your best solution is to eat healthy foods free of artificial additives and misleading marketing messages! Send us your favorite diet recipes and we'll share them with our readers.

Source Huffington

Overcome your own limits

2010-07-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

Your purpose, your only purpose, is to grow beyond the limitations you have chosen to impose upon yourself for this lifetime. Your purpose is to remember who you truly are. Once you do that, you can move on—you can fully live every moment of every day of your life. And you will know, in your most ordinary moments, a most extraordinary joy. —Chief Joseph

Weight Loss Success @weightlossnyc in New York City

2010-07-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

New York Medical Weight Loss Center is WeightLossNYC.com

Visit WeightLossNYC

and learn about safe and healthy weight loss under physician supervision.

Feel free to read our Weight Loss News blog for great tips on how to lose weight and feel great.

Some recent weight loss news:

Weight Loss Success Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlxpeJ1BE7g
Weight Loss Motivation and Support
FDA Warns against non-prescription weight loss pills
Weight Loss Recipes and Nutritional Supplements

Follow WeightLossNYC on twitter @weightlossnyc or fan on us facebook.

Appetite Suppressant Phentermine and Topiramate

2010-07-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Combination of appetite suppressant phentermine and topiramate was disapproved.

A panel of experts advising the US Food and Drug Administration voted against approving for sale a new obesity treatment called Qnexa, citing safety risks. Qnexa combines two existing drugs, the appetite suppressant phentermine and topiramate.

— Oksana Aron, MD, July 16 2010

5 Cool Summer Snacks

2010-07-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Eating healthy has a learning curve, and finding the right snacks to munch on throughout the day can be a challenge. Don't reach for those pre-packaged goodies -- even if they claim to not have many calories. Instead, snack on something that comes from Mother Nature. Not only are fruits and vegetables satisfying and low in calories, they are more budget-friendly, too.

Watermelon
Why it's good It quenches your thirst on a hot day and also reduces inflammation that causes disease while neutralizing free radicals with antioxidants.
Try it as a homemade juice or frozen popsicle (no sugar required!)

Avocado
Why it's good It's rich in vitamins K and B6, oleic acid, fiber and has more potassium than a banana. It's also high in healthy monounsaturated fat and protects against some cancers.
Try it on a burger or make your own guacamole

Cucumber
Why it's good A great source of vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, it can reduce inflammation, keep your skin radiant, lower blood pressure and even keep you cool during a heat wave.
Try it dipped in hummus, on a sandwich or in a salad

Carrots
Why it's good Their antioxidant compounds prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease -- and of course, help your vision.
Try it plain when you crave something crunchy or toss some into your juicer with fruit.

Celery
Why it's good Its vitamin C content helps boost the immune system and it also can reduce blood pressure.
Try it with peanut butter or in a low-fat chicken salad

Source: WHFoods.com

Sodium Shake-down

2010-06-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

“to shake or not to shake?”

Even if you never use a salt shaker at your meals, you may be ingesting far more sodium than your body needs, putting you at increased risk for high blood pressure (hypertension), strokes, cardiovascular disease and, it’s likely, ulcers and heartburn as well.

Yes, our bodies do need salt. It contains sodium which is an essential mineral. The recommended level for most Americans, which includes children, all African Americans, adults over age 40 and anyone with high blood pressure is 1500 milligrams (mg)/day. The recommended level for those who fall outside these categories is 2300 mg. Most Americans consume 3000-8000 mg/daily! Thus, most Americans are consuming two to five times the amount of sodium needed each day!

Weight Loss Tip: Use WeightLossNYC's Free Online Nutritional Calculator

Health experts have sounded a loud warning: Reducing intake to appropriate levels could save 150,000 lives per year, mostly by preempting high blood pressure.

Laudably, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced plans to reduce the amount of sodium in restaurant and processed foods gradually over the next ten years. Will this be enough and fast enough to reverse the effects of high sodium on Americans’ health? It’s certainly a step in the right direction but consumers must also educate themselves and make lower sodium choices.

Most Americans due to time and convenience factors will continue to use some processed foods. The key is to consider the sodium content (as well as fat and calories) on nutritional labels. — A typical example:

Tuna fish (half of a 5 oz. can) = 250 mg.
2 slices of whole wheat bread = 150 mg.
1/2 can (7.5 ozs) of Trader Joe’s chicken noodle soup = 730 mg.
TOTAL = 1130 mg. which is 75% of most Americans’ daily sodium limit

You can easily imagine eating a bowl, instead of a cup of soup, which means 1460 mg. from soup alone with a total sodium count for this ostensibly healthy lunch (it does include heart healthy fish and low fat soup after all) of 1860 mg.! What if you add a few crackers with this lunch (81 mg. for 3 Ritz crackers) or a pickle (280 mg. for a medium one) with the sandwich? Do you feel your blood pressure rising?

Eat Fresh, Not Processed, Foods

The antidote: eat fresh, not processed. Fresh fish, meat, poultry and vegetables, prepared simply with a couple shakes of salt and desired herbs provides sound nutrition without excess sodium. Add freshly prepared pasta, beans, rice, quinoa or other whole grains for variety and even greater nutritional value.

Eat Fruit Liberally

Eat fresh fruit liberally. Now is the time the Farmers Markets and grocery stores are stocked with an abundance of fresh peaches, plums, melons, cherries. Low in sodium and high in taste, fruits are easy to snack on and don’t pack the sodium that pretzels and other processed snacks do. In the winter when fresh choices aren’t as plentiful, dried fruit in moderation (watch the calories) can replace some of the recommended 2-5 daily fruit servings.

Plan Your Grocery Shopping

As you plan your grocery shopping, think fresh, fresh, fresh! Planning ahead can also save time, a frequent excuse for not eating more healthily. Leftover chicken breasts from dinner can be tossed into a salad or put in a pita pocket with lettuce and hummus for a low sodium and nutritious lunch. Last night’s leftover fruit salad dessert combined with cottage cheese and unsalted nuts is another healthy option.

Read Nutritional Labels

Be creative and read nutritional labels. Look at cooking magazines and websites for healthy menu options. A little planning goes a long way. Also keep in mind that as your taste buds get used to the taste of fresh and not processed, food will taste better, while treating your body better. Eating fresh will also usually mean keeping your calories and cholesterol in check. And your waistline.

Learn more about WeightLossNYC's Diet Plans

Live a Healthy, Happy Life

2010-06-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

Lose Weight for a Lifetime of Life!

Having a thinner body is possible. Just follow these steps below if you want to ditch those extra pounds. These ideas aren't short-term quick fixes — they're lifestyle changes that will leave you healthier and happier for years to come.

Eat healthy

This one's obvious, but be sure that you are eating whole, real foods — not processed junk. Get those whole grains, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, fiber, vitamins and minerals in your diet to maintain a lean physique and avoid serious health problems.

Go ahead and snack

Believe it or not, frequent snacking throughout the day helps you stay thin by increasing your metabolism. Eat healthy snacks such as fruits, vegetables and low-calorie or low-carb snacks between meals to curb your hunger — and prevent eating too many calories at meal time (or any other time).

Be active

You can't lose weight by cutting calories alone. You will also need to do vigorous exercise a few times a week and physical activity every day. Exercise keeps weight down, metabolism high and your heart happy.

Rest up!

Get enough sleep each night to stay healthy. For adults, this means 7-8 hours. Not getting enough rest on the other hand can impair your memory, raise blood pressure and even cause weight gain.

Relieve stress

Manage your stress by engaging in relaxing activities. Why? Lower stress levels can help regulate insulin and keep your immune system in top condition.

Michelle Obama Campaigns Against Childhood Obesity

2010-06-21T21:50:00.001-07:00

Weight Loss Diet Plan

First Lady Michelle Obama will fight childhood obesity with the newly launched Let's Move! campaign. Her goal is to greatly reduce childhood obesity rates by 2030 — and doing so begins at home, in the school cafeterias and even in the womb.

A new report by the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity lists 70 different recommendations and tips for families to implement, including information on prenatal care, breastfeeding, quality school lunches, recreational/physical activities and more.

The following statistics come from the report:

one in three children in America are overweight or obese
one third of all children born in the year 2000 are expected to develop diabetes
obesity rates are highest among non-Hispanic black girls and Hispanic boys
the current generation may even be on track to have a shorter lifespan than their parents

Source: LetsMove.gov

Obesity and Pregnancy

2010-06-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Live a Healthier Life

The Health Department reported yesterday that half the 161 women who died because of a problem with their pregnancy between 2001 and 2005 were obese.

as published by NY post June 19, 2010

Start Losing Weight Today

Visit WeightLossNYC to learn more about obesity and how you can overcome its debilitating effects. The life you may save is your own.

Healthy Weight Loss?

2010-06-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

Supplement Your Weight Loss Wisely

People still sell snake oil. They just put pictures of leaves on the bottle now. — Cracked magazine

Don't Believe the Hype

Many foods that consumers gobble up, thinking they’re healthy, are actually sugar and fat packaged to look like they are nutritious.

Granola Bars

Prime example: granola bars which may have as much fat, ounce per ounce, as a Snickers® candy bar.

Protein shakes

Protein shakes meant for bodybuilders doing heavy lifting not for folks sitting in front of computers all day. In addition to the protein, they can contain LOTS of sugar and fat too.

Protein Bars

Protein bars also fall into this category. They should replace meals, not supplement them, for more sedentary people.

Vitamin Waters

Water is the best drink for you, right? Not when 32 grams of sugar are also crammed into the bottle. Even a full size Snickers® candy bar has less sugar — 30 grams of sugar! Stick with the plain stuff to hydrate your way through a healthy summer.

Your best defense: Read the nutritional labels

They’ll tell you calorie, fat, sugar and protein content. They’ll also indicate where there are enough vitamins to count towards your daily requirements. Knowledge is power!

Get Smart

Work with WeightLossNYC to build the best weight loss plan for you. Call today for your first appointment & Start Losing Weight — Today!

Sugar, Not Caffeine Raises Blood Pressure

2010-06-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

If you’ve experienced elevated blood pressure and have no clue what caused it, you may have to take a look at your daily soda intake.

New research now shows that the sugar in soda – and not caffeine – may be the cause of increased blood pressure. In a dietary and blood pressure study of 810 adults, it was found that reducing intake of sugar-spiked soda to one serving per day led to a significant blood pressure drop in 18 months. Overall, those in the study who drank less soda had lower blood pressure levels.

High blood pressure typically has few symptoms and is a risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and shortened life expectancy. Limiting sugary drinks to one per day is recommended until further research can effectively pinpoint the causal link of raised blood pressure.

—BeverageDaily

Healthy Portions = Healthy Weight

2010-05-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Portion size can make or break your diet, but the right size still eludes many.

Americans have become obese at alarming rates since the 1970s, as more than 66 percent of our population is now either overweight or obese. What's changed since then? Portion size, for starters. "Super-sized" options abound for virtually anything you eat or drink, making it too easy to consume more than you need.

These are just some examples of how portion sizes have grown over the past 20 years:

Two pizza slices
Then: 500 calories
Now: 850 calories

Coffee w/ milk and sugar
Then: 8 oz., 45 calories
Now: 16 oz., 330 calories

Movie popcorn
Then: 5 cups, 270 calories
Now: tub, 630 calories

Bagel
Then: 3-in., 140 calories
Now: 5-6 in., 350 calories

Cheeseburger
Then: 333 calories
Now: 590 calories

Coca-Cola
Then: 8 oz., 97 calories
Now: 20 oz., 242 calories

Portion sizes have changed, but healthy eating hasn't. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says that a bowl of cereal should only be the size of your fist (likewise for a baked potato), a cup of salad should be no larger than the size of a baseball and a healthy serving of meat is 3 oz. (or about as large as a deck of cards). Once you learn the tricks to control your portions, you'll also be able to better control your dress or pants size.

--DivineCaroline.com, NHLBI

Ice Cold Latte Calories

2010-04-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

An ice cold chai latte sounds refreshing on a warm day, but a seemingly innocent treat could also add some serious calories to your daily intake.

Coffee drinks are notorious for being loaded with lots of hidden calories that will derail you from your goal of slimming down for the summer. An untouched cup of black coffee contains a mere 5 calories and can boost metabolism, but your average mocha from a fast-food chain -- drowning in sugar, coffee syrup and whipped cream -- can contain as much as 1,000 calories and way more grams of sugar and fat than you will want in one week.

These diet-busters in a cup come from your local coffee shop or fast-food restaurant. The 23 oz. Double Oh! Arctic Mocha from Cosi has 1,210 calories, 19 g fat (10 g saturated) and 240 g sugars. You don't have to forgo coffee drinks completely. Check out the nutrition facts first and go for options such as skim milk and no sugar, whipped cream or chocolate syrup. Make your own drinks at home so you know exactly how much of each ingredient goes into it for better portion control.

--Men's Health

Also check out our other post on coffee drinks.

Start Losing Weight Today

2010-04-06T11:23:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our Diet Blog

New York Medical Weight Loss Center blog will keep you informed and motivated on ways to Lose Weight quickly and easily.

Visit WeightLossNYC.com

For more ways on how you can start losing weight today!

Lose 10-20 lbs per month

with our FDA approved fast and safe diet plans

Spring into a New You!

2010-04-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Bloom in Brooklyn

Bloom into a better you this spring at WeightLossNYC — We can help!

Learn about our safe and easy weight loss plan, supervised by a bariatric physician, a medical doctor expert in weight loss treatment.

Look and Feel Your Best this Summer

Call Now: 718-491-5525

Start losing weight today! Lose 10-20 pounds per month on our FDA approved diet plan.

photo / commons

WeightLossNYC™ is New York Medical Weight Loss Center

Is Omega-3 Margarine Heart Healthy?

Signup for Monthly Email Newsletter

Get Active! Keep Motivated!

Organic Junk Food Is Just as Bad

When Salads Sabotage Your Diet

The Hara Hachi Bu Diet

Dieting, Minus the Crankiness

Would you like to appear on the Rachael Ray show?

Call WeightLossNYC Today

Why You Need Water

Quality Calories vs. Junk Calories

Healthy Foods that Fill You Up

Get a Leg Up on Legumes

Dieting Tip: Make a Sensible Start

Process This: Eat Fresh or Frozen

Choosy Dieters, Choose This..

Controversial Aspartame ... now renamed AminoSweet

Say Ami-NO THANKS, to Un-Sweet news

Diet Foods and Drinks May Cause Weight Problems

Aspartame, NutraSweet, AminoSweet.. not a health food

Healthy Foods Your Best Choice

Overcome your own limits

Weight Loss Success @weightlossnyc in New York City

New York Medical Weight Loss Center is WeightLossNYC.com

Visit WeightLossNYC

Follow WeightLossNYC on twitter @weightlossnyc or fan on us facebook.

Appetite Suppressant Phentermine and Topiramate

Combination of appetite suppressant phentermine and topiramate was disapproved.

5 Cool Summer Snacks

Sodium Shake-down

“to shake or not to shake?”

Weight Loss Tip: Use WeightLossNYC's Free Online Nutritional Calculator

Read More Weight Loss Tips from Dr. Aron, Bariatric Physician

Eat Fresh, Not Processed, Foods

Eat Fruit Liberally

Plan Your Grocery Shopping

Read Nutritional Labels

Learn more about WeightLossNYC's Diet Plans

Live a Healthy, Happy Life

Lose Weight for a Lifetime of Life!

Eat healthy

Go ahead and snack

Be active

Rest up!

Relieve stress

Read More Weight Loss Tips & Start Losing Weight Today

Michelle Obama Campaigns Against Childhood Obesity

Obesity and Pregnancy

Live a Healthier Life

Start Losing Weight Today

Healthy Weight Loss?

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Sugar, Not Caffeine Raises Blood Pressure

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