Starting a diet is relatively easy. The hard part is sticking to it. Consumer
Reports just polled more than three thousand of its subscribers on losing
weight to see just what they're doing to stay on target.
Sarah LaFleur says she's really changed her eating habits, and it's paid off.
She's lost 65 pounds in the last three years.
The key to her weight loss, she says, is using a free online app called "Lose
It" to track her calories.
Sarah LaFleur: "I wanted something that was easy, something that I could use on the go,
something that I could do quickly."
The app lets Sarah count calories anywhere on her smart phone. Sarah's not
alone, according to the Consumer Reports National Research Center. A just-
released survey of online subscribers found many people are using online
tools to track their diet, including Weight Watchers Online and free sites like
MyFitnessPal and SparkPeople.
Elissa Schuler-Adair/Consumer Reports: "Our surveys have shown that counting calories is linked to losing weight and keeping it off."
Like Sarah, respondents to this latest survey relied on tried-and-true
strategies to meet their weight-loss goals, like eating more fruits and
veggies.
Sarah LaFleur: "I think the biggest change was the portion size."
Also drinking more water and cutting back on sugar. And the poll shows
many people used positive thinking to keep themselves on track.
Elissa Schuler-Adair: "Thinking about how much progress you've made so far was one of the better techniques for sticking with your diet."
And of course exercise helps, too. When Sarah noticed her weight starting to
plateau, she grabbed her running shoes.
Sarah LaFleur: "I'm a half-marathoner now."
Weight Watchers and Weight Watchers Online were the most popular
commercial diet plans in Consumer Reports' poll, but you don't necessarily
need a plan — 69% of those surveyed followed their own diet and
exercise regimen.
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