Tune in this Friday, March 19 to the Rachael Ray Show to hear one woman’s inspirational story about losing 164 pounds, and find out her number one tip for keeping the weight off!

Julie struggled with her weight her entire life and reached a high of 321 pounds, but it wasn’t until her mother was diagnosed with cancer that she decided to make a change.

After doing research and learning that being morbidly obese increases your risk of cancer, Julie committed herself to Weight Watchers and their Lose for Good campaign. The 32-year-old has since lost 164 pounds, and she tells Rachael the most important thing she gained from the program.

Fast-food giant McDonald’s has been up against a wall in recent years as consumers have demanded healthier food options, not just from them but food producers in general. New salads, grilled chicken options and even fruit as side dishes have graced more of the chain’s menus. Now in New Zealand, Weight Watchers-approved menu items will be available. “The partnership is a reflection of the work we have put into changing the face of our business and menu,” says Mark Hawthorne, McDonald’s New Zealand Managing Director.

It’s the only McDonald’s market in the world to offer these menu items with Weight Watchers’, a world leader amongst diet brands, seal of approval. Three meal combinations are available for a total of 6.5 Weight Watchers POINTS. Weight Watchers Points are a proprietary calculation based on a food’s calories, fat and fiber; the lower the value, the “healthier” it is for you. These combos are as follows, keep in mind these are from the New Zealand menu:

• Filet-O-Fish, Garden Side Salad and medium diet drink or Pump mini
• 6 Pack Chicken McNuggets (includes nugget sauce or ketchup), Garden Side Salad and medium diet drink or Pump mini
• Sweet Chilli Seared Chicken Wrap, medium diet drink or Pump mini
  

Companies who sell weight loss products sometimes play fast and loose with the facts, particularly when they site studies and claims about the effectiveness of their product. And, that’s exactly what Weight Watchers is saying Jenny Craig did in a a recent television commercial.

In a recent TV ad, Jenny Craig claims that their clients “on average lost over twice as much weight as those on the largest weight loss program.” Code for Weight Watchers.

The problem is, Weight Watchers says that no study exists to back Jenny Craig’s claims, and decided to take legal action. They won round one of the dispute. This week, a U.S. District Court in New York granted the company’s wishes and ordered a temporary restraining order on Jenny Craig, which prohibits them from publishing or broadcasting claims that they are superior to Weight Watchers.

Tune-in tonight, January 13, to The Joy Behar Show on CNN’s Headline News to catch-up with some of the biggest names in weight loss and fitness.

Jillian Michaels is in studio with former contestants Bill Germanakos and Matt and Susie Hoover. The Weight Watchers CEO Dave Kirchhoff is on-hand. And Lisa Lillien, a.k.a. The Hungry Girl, will also attend. The group will be discussing dieting, nutrition and how to stay fit and in shape.

Women lose weight differently than men. At least, that’s the way it often appears. Men can just decide to cut out dessert and drop a pants size in a week, and yet, women can work out and eat as cleanly as possible, but look at a dessert and gain five pounds. It’s just not fair, is it? Why is this, and how can women stack the odds to be a bit more in their favor?

The reality is that, as a whole, men are larger and have more muscle than women, thanks to testosterone. Men are genetically designed to have a higher percentage of muscle and less fat, which works in favor of keeping them fit and allowing them to eat more calories. Several popular diet plans have taken these principals into account and have created programs specially designed for women. Here are some of the best diets for women:

Weight Watchers

This program helps members by introducing healthier choices and physical activity into their lives. Weight Watchers was made popular by its POINTS system, which helps members learn how to have the foods they love and still lose weight. With in-person meetings, online support and even the new iPhone app, Weight Watchers is always there for support and guidance.