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1

New at DietsInReview.com - Free Weight Watchers Points Calculator

Brandi by
Brandi

July 17, 2008
posted to Weight watchers and Diets in Review.

Welcome to Diets in Review! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

It’s true! You can now find the Weight Watchers Points Calculator here at DietsInReview.com. It’s totally free to use. All you need to know are how many Calories, Fat Grams and Fiber Grams are in the food or beverage you’re consuming. Need help identifying those facts? CalorieKing.com or the EatSmart Nutritional Scale are great resources.

It’s just one more way DietsInReview.com is helping you manage your healthy lifestyle, and your Weight Watchers program.

Do you have a diet/weight loss blog or Web site? Then share the calculator with your site visitors by grabbing the embed code.

Click here if you need more info on Weight Watchers Points or the Weight Watchers program.

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Interview with Joel Gates of DozenDiets.com

Brandi by
Brandi

June 17, 2008
posted to Weight watchers, Interviews, Nutrisystem and Diet Reviews.

Have you ever been on a diet? How many have you pursued? In case you haven’t noticed, there are a few out there. At DietsInReview.com alone we’ve reviewed more than 400 weight loss programs and products- and we’re no where near finished. What if you couldn’t make up your mind, and decided to try them all, or at least 12? That’s what Joel Gates isjoel gates doing this year, and you can follow along at DozenDiets.com.

With 2008 about to begin, and a desire to beat his long-time fight with being overweight, Joel began searching for the right diet to begin the year with (just as so many do). “When I started, I didn’t know what to start,” explains Joel, “I’ve done several in the past with varying degrees of success. I picked out those that I thought might be the most successful. I had some criteria- be able to cheat occasionally, stick with it on a daily basis, that I have confidence in and not too off the wall.” Joel also mentions that his health is important and he does take that into consideration when choosing a diet. Before starting he met with his doctor and just recently had a mid-year check-up to ensure he’s being safe about it.

Each month in 2008, Joel will follow a different diet. Half-way through the year, he’s lost about 43 pounds and 10% of his body fat. (Beginning stats were 234 pounds, 30% body fat) He keeps a daily journal at DozenDiets.com, displaying weight changes, body fat changes, food diary, exercise diary, cheats, successes and everything else that plays into his diet each day. Each month concludes with a summary, where he scores the diet on a 40-point scale, for ease of understanding, forgiveness of a cheat, ease of execution and results.

dozendiets.com

To date, he’s completed:

Jan: Low-Calorie Diet
Lost 8.5 pounds
Score 30/40

Feb: South Beach Diet
Lost 11.3 pounds
Score 28/40

Mar: Slim-Fast (tied for first place so far)
Lost 8.6 pounds
Score 34/40

Apr: The Abs Diet (in last place)
Lost 6 pounds
Score 23/40

May: Weight Watchers (tied for first place so far)
Lost 8 pounds
Score 34/40

June: Advanced Mediterranean Diet
Lost 6 pounds to date
Anticipates a high score

July: NutriSystem

Hear my interview with Joel in its entirety below. He discusses his experiences with each diet, which seem to be more male-friendly and which are definitely built for women, and how he plans to continue the rest of the year, considering he’s been far more successful than anticipated.

0

Get out and grill!

Brandi by
Brandi

May 26, 2008
posted to Weight watchers and Recipes.

Just a few of our top recipe picks for the holiday. They promise to be tasty and take the guilt out of Memorial Weekend.

rosemary chickenGrilled Rosemary Chicken - A savory, roasted flavor. 4 Weight Watchers Points, 194 Calories, 1g Carbs.

Grilled Pork Roast - Be patient with this one, that slow-cooked flavor is worth the wait. 5 Weight Watchers Points, 228 Calories, 0g Carbs.

red snapperGrilled Red Snapper with Herb Pesto - The bold pesto flavor is a perfect compliment. 4.5 Weight Watchers Points, 189 Calories, 7g Carbs.

Southwestern Grilled Sirloin - A spicier twist to the steaks you love. 4 Weight Watchers Points, 188 Calories, 2g Carbs.

kabobsCaribbean Chicken Kabobs - A fun finger food for any cookout. 3 Weight Watchers Points, 152 Calories, 1.7g Carb.

Grilled Halibut with Pineapple - This grilled fish and pineapple tastes like summer. 6 Weight Watchers Points, 300 Calories, 1.0g Carb.

1

Guest Blog: Looking inside a Weight Watchers Meeting

Brandi by
Brandi

May 19, 2008
posted to Guest Blog, Weight watchers and Diet Reviews.

We’re very pleased to have guest blogger, Roni from WeightWatchen.com, join us again to share her experience with Weight Watchers Meetings.WeightWatchen.com

Attending Weight Watchers meetings for just about three years I’ve seen it all. Cheering for those who lost weight, cried with those who struggled and offered a helping had to those who asked. I’ve never been to an AA meeting, but I’ve often compared the experience. I mean, really, a group of people coming together to overcome an addiction, sounds pretty close to me.

Some may not understand the purpose of the meeting. Can’t you take the materials and just leave? The short answer is, yes, yes you can. No one requires a Weight Watchers member to stay for the meetings, but it’s a large part of the plan. Let’s be honest, how many dieters know what they should and should not be eating? How many know they have to reduce their portion sizes? Increase their exercise? I’d wager quite a few. But what makes Weight Watchers different is the meetings.

So what actually goes on in there?

Well, if you are a traditional Weight Watchers member, after you weigh in you have the option of staying for the weekly meeting. Each week the leader brings up a special topic. It may be seasonal based, like planning for vacations in the summer or how to handle holiday parties. It may be goal orientated, like how to storyboard or visualize your goals. Whatever the topic may be most meetings start with the leader asking if anyone has anything to celebrate. Celebrations can include a weight loss or a non-scale victory like working out consistently or getting into a smaller size. One meeting I had everyone cheer because I got my husband to eat cauliflower! Whatever it may be the leader asks the participants to share. After the share session the topic is discussed. Participants are again asked to offer their insights and ask questions. The meeting ends with an optional overview of the plan for anyone who may be new or wants a refresher. They are really quite simple, yet they offer that sense of community and shared experience that some of us need.

So if you thought there was some crazy cult rituals or sacrifices, I’m sorry to disappoint. It really is just people sharing their weekly experiences with a common goal. Something this Weight Watchers lifetime member found invaluable on her journey of losing 70lbs.

5

Food Find: Stacy’s Pita Chips

Brandi by
Brandi

May 15, 2008
posted to Food Finds and Weight watchers.

I told you’d there would be new things happening at Diets In Review. One of which will be a new segment in the Diet Blog called “Food Finds”. These will be healthy alternatives to some of the foods we love and crave. I’ll only post them if I’ve tried them myself and they promise to be something I will eat again. I mean, if you can convince a picky eater like me to dig in to something new, you’ve probably got a winner.stacys pita chips

First up, Stacy’s Pita Chips. I’m not lying when I tell you chips are possibly my biggest vice. Nacho cheese, BBQ, plain - you name it, I can polish off a bag without even thinking twice. So I’ve been on a mission to replace these chips, or rather, that crunch that accompanies my sandwiches.

I found Stacy’s Pita Chips and I think this is where I’m going to stay. The calories and fat are both lower than regular chips, and they have more fiber. I won’t lie, not the impressive amount I’d hoped for. They also have 3 Weight Watchers Points per serving, for those of you counting.

I tried the Naked with Sea Salt and the Cinnamon Sugar. They are fantastic, super crunchy, delicious flavor and they go well with my sandwich. These pita chips are baked and proudly boast that they are all-natural.

Finishing off a whole bag still won’t do me any favors, but I can satisfy my need for crunch and not feel so bad about it.

stacys pita chips nutrition facts

Nutrition Facts from CalorieKing.com.

0

Jenny Craig on the Today Show

Brandi by
Brandi

May 12, 2008
posted to Weight watchers, Jenny craig, Diet Shows and Diet Reviews.

All this week, the Today Show will be looking at some of the most popular diet programs on the market.  Each day they will highlight one, featuring a woman who has followed the weight loss plan for three months. Matt quoted a daunting statistic, 66% of American adults are overweight. It’s not a number that should surprise anyone, but make the lingering “obesity epidemic” that much more real. jenny craig

This morning, all eyes were on Jenny Craig, and the newest recruit Lisa Abbott. Lisa said she’s been struggling with her weight for more than 12 years. She gave birth to twins, life got busy, like many American women and moms, her weight took a back seat to everything else. She said that this time, she was ready to feel healthy and ready to be a positive role model for her daughters.

Lisa followed Jenny Craig for the past three months- documenting the entire experience for the Today Show. Her starting weight was 181 pounds, and on the show this morning she had lost 18 pounds, currently 163.

The Jenny Craig program in the past few years has been made very popular by stars like Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli and now Queen Latifah. Just like these divas of weight loss, Lisa Abbott also stuck exclusively to the Jenny Cuisine frozen meals. Three meals a day, perfectly portion controlled, supplemented with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and a total daily caloric intake of 1200 calories.

Lisa admitted to being hungry in the first few weeks, as the calories were far below her usual. She said in time, that went away. Her stomach is now much smaller and even if she wanted to eat a larger portion, she said she just can’t do it. She expressed her surprise at how good the Jenny Craig meals were, saying they were “very good and very tasty.”

In addition to the Jenny Craig diet, Lisa has a consistent exercise regimen, working out at 24 hour Fitness (also known as the Biggest Loser gym).

Tomorrow, tune in to the Today Show as they follow one woman on Weight Watchers, the 40+ year weight loss giant.

For more information, read our reviews for Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers.

0

Healthy Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

Brandi by
Brandi

May 5, 2008
posted to Weight watchers and Recipes.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Do yourself a favor- don’t sit back and watch everyone else have all the fun today just because you’re on a diet. Be sure to make a healthier choice than babysitting the queso bowl or going for thirds on fried tacos and sopapillas. Try one of the many recipes that offer lower calories, fat, carbs and even Weight Watchers Points for many Mexican food favorites.

These are the top Cinco de Mayo recipe picks at DietsInReview.com.

Low-Carb and Weight Watchers Margaritas

Margarita Chicken - with 3 Weight Watchers Points, 1g Carbs, 1g Fat, and 128 calories

Chicken and Red Chili Tamales - No guilt here, just 2 Weight Watchers Points, 9g Protein, low calories and low fat.

Fajita Breakfast Burritos - Only 5g of Carbs!

breakfast burrito

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp. each vinegar and soy sauce
  • Cubed cooked chicken or turkey sausage
  • 1/8 cup onion, diced
  • 1/4 cup green pepper, cut into strips
  • Dash of cumin and garlic powder
  • 1/8 cup light cream
  • 1/4 cup cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 Tbs. salsa

Instructions

1. In skillet, heat vinegar and soy sauce
2. Add chicken, onions and green peppers
3. Season to taste with cumin and garlic powder
4. Let cook for 3-4 minutes
5. Combine eggs and cream
6. In another skillet, cook half of egg mixture
7. Tilt pan to distribute evenly across pan
8. Let one side set and carefully turn over
9. Repeat with remaining egg mixture
10. Divide ingredients between both egg “tortillas”
11. Top with sour cream and salsa

0

Low-Carb and Weight Watchers Margaritas

Brandi by
Brandi

May 4, 2008
posted to Weight watchers and Recipes.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo without crashing your diet. No fiesta is complete without an icy cold margarita, and these two recipes will give everyone a reason to say cheers! You can serve this low-carb or Weight Watchers margarita alongside any of our delicious Mexican recipes with a healthier spin.

low carb margarita recipeLow-Carb Margarita
This classic margarita has less than 3.1 grams of carbs.

Ingredients

  • 1 jigger (1.5 oz) tequila
  • 2 Tbs. (1 oz) lime juice - fresh or bottled
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp. orange extract
  • 1 Tbs. artificial sweetener (i.e. a liquid, carb-free brand)
  • Ice - small handful
  • Margarita salt or kosher salt

Instructions

  • Wet the rim of the glass and dip into a small plate of salt.
  • Combine all ingredients
  • You can either serve it over ice, strained into the glass, or blended in a blender

weight watchers margaritaWeight Watchers Raspberry Margarita

A refreshing twist on this Mexican cocktail has only 4 Weight Watchers Points.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sorbet, margarita- or lime-flavored
  • 3/4 cup seltzer, lemon-lime
  • 1/3 cups raspberries
  • Shot of tequila

Instructions

  • In a blender, combine all the ingredients
  • Puree until smooth
  • Pour into a tall, chilled glass
47

Understanding Weight Watchers Points

Brandi by
Brandi

February 27, 2008
posted to Weight watchers and Diet Tips.

I see this question all the time: “Can you explain Weight Watchers Points?” Unless you’re in the program and living it, it can definitely be a little confusing. Granted, nothing like counting calories or carbs and fumbling with calculators. If you’re actually a paying member of Weight Watchers, you’ll have access to the online program which will do all the point calculations for you. You can also receive a manual tool that will figure the points… it reminds me of those cardboard grading tools the teachers used in elementary.

Here at DietsInReview.com- we have a free Weight Watchers Points Calculator you can use.

So- the point, Points. Weight Watchers Points are assigned based on the serving size of food and how much fiber, fat and calories are in that food. Once you become a member, you and your counselor will determine the healthy target point range based on gender, height, weight, activity level, nursing women, etc. Points range from 18-37 per day. This list will show you what to expect for a daily points target:
<150 pounds… 18-23
150-174 pounds… 20-25
175-199 pounds… 22-27
200-224 pounds… 24-29
225-249 pounds… 26-31
250-274 pounds… 28-33
275-299 pounds… 29-34
300-324 pounds… 30-35
325-349 pounds… 31-36
>350 pounds… 32-37

The diet is very rich in high fiber foods like fruits and vegetables. The body will maintain satiety and give your body the nutrients it needs to stay full and healthy because of this. The higher in fiber, lower in calories and lower in fat a food is, it will be given a lower point value. For instance, an apple, low-fat string cheese, fat-free cottage cheese or Hummus all have 1 point. To the contrary, a Big Mac has about 13 points and a Starbucks muffin about 6-10 points- so the less fiber, higher fat and higher calories a food has, the higher its point value. Just like in golf, you want to maintain a lower score.

If you just love doing math, you can use this equation yourself: points = (calories / 50) + (fat grams / 12) - (fiber grams/ 5).

You can find more than 300 Weight Watchers recipes that are low in point value here at Diets In Review.



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