There are many facets to losing weight. Of most importance is being motivated in the first place and receiving support. Next, nutrition self-education makes it possible to start a weight loss plan and have it make sense. Devices like food diaries and food trackers let you work out some emotional-eating issues.
Then it is time for the nitty-gritty, practical tools, like the body mass index, to let you know just how overweight you are. Here are three Web sites that provide free gadgets to get you excited and help you lose weight.
Flashy Weight Calculators at Free Dieting
Free Dieting has numerous weight loss calculators that make it easy to assess your present weight, choose a weight loss goal and learn about calories. For starters, two important tools to use are the body mass index that lets you know if you are overweight or obese, and the waist-to-hip ratio that measures fat distribution. A study of 27,000 people from 52 countries, reported in the July 2007 Environmental Nutrition Newsletter, found that the waist to hip ratio is the best predictor of heart disease problems.
After entering a few bits of information, a calculator for daily caloric needs determines how many calories you need for maintenance and how many to lose weight. A tool called calories burned tells you how long to exercise to lose a certain amount of calories. For example, it takes 39 minutes on a stationary bicycle (moderate peddling) to burn 300 calories. A weight loss calculator estimates the date to lose a desired amount of weight.
Exercise Videos at Women Workout Routines
Women Workout Routines shows you free muscle-toning/strength-training exercises with moving pictures and written explanations, such as a lower ab workout. In addition, you can download free workout videos like a 20-minute perfect butt routine, and play it on Windows media player. Another feature on this Web site is to ask an exercise question or read the previous questions and answers, like how to flatten one’s stomach without doing sit-ups.
A Walking Guide at Spark People
After signing up for a free account at SparkPeople.com, look at the getting started guide to get oriented. This all-inclusive Web site has it all and has received yearly awards. Fast walking is the easiest aerobic activity to do, and it is aerobics that will help you lose weight. Spark’s walking guide tells you how to get started. Their 12-week Beginners Walking Program promotes FIT which stands for frequency, intensity and time. The safety tips are a necessary-read for the beginner.
Web Aids Bolster Exercise
Taking the plunge and deciding to lose weight takes a lot of guts. It is not just to look better, but it is to be healthy, feel better and live a longer life. Use Web sites like Free Dieting, Women Workout Routines and Spark People to get free how-to information and exercise know-how.
Reference
“Adult Weight Loss Camps.” Suite 101, accessed March 14, 2009.
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