There can be few people alive today who have not heard of the Weight Watchers plan and it's amazing to see that what started out as a simple meeting between a few friends in Jean Nidetch's house in Queens to exchange dieting tips and ideas has matured into an enormous publicly quoted company employing nearly 50,000 people and operating in more than 30 countries around the world.
So why has Weight Watchers become so successful and why is the company continuing to grow after more than 40 years in business?
The answer rests in the fact that Weight Watchers does not merely offer a diet plan but is founded on a philosophy of dieting as just one part of an overall plan to set and maintain a healthy lifestyle in term of physical, mental and emotional health.
Because of this Weight Watchers does not just provide you with a diet sheet and tell you what you can and cannot eat, but gives you the advice and information needed to make the best decisions about your diet.
Also, and of critical importance, the Weight Watchers plan provides you with a level of motivation and support that is essential to your success and that is lacking in so many other diet plans.
Locally held group meetings, which many people who have not had the benefit of the Weight Watchers experience frequently dismiss as simply a waste of time, are, in many ways, the key to the Weight Watchers plan. Such meetings not only provide a wealth of advice, tips and information, but also allow members to provide each other with support and encouragement which is necessary for the long-term success of any diet.
In addition, the fact that you have to meet with your fellow members on a regular basis and show them your progress, or lack of it, is a very good way of helping to keep you on track as, at times, you're tempted to stray from your dieting regime.
Supporting Weight Watcher's philosophy of dieting there is naturally a basic diet plan, or more exactly, two plans - the points plan and the core plan.
The basis of the points plan will be familiar to anybody who has tried dieting in the past. Members are given a weekly points allocation depending upon their present weight and the target weight they are aiming for and may eat whatever they like within their allotted points.
The strength of the points system is that a score is allocated to any food imaginable and there's no limit on the types of food that you are allowed but only on the quantity which you can eat dependent upon that food's points score. This is in contrast to many other diets that ban some foods altogether or require that particular foods are included in your diet.
The points plan also gives you a great deal of flexibility by allocating negative points for exercise. So, if you want to go over your points allocation you are free to do so as long as you take enough exercise to counteract the additional points consumed.
The core plan was created in response to the popularity the South Beach and Atkins plans. Under this plan a wide variety of foods including whole grain foods, fat free airy products, fat free airy products, whole grain foods, and lean meats are classed as "core" foods and there is no limit on the quantity of these foods that you are allowed to eat, other than the proviso that you should only eat these foods to satisfy your hunger rather than eat them until you are "full".
Any food item which is not included on the "core" list is then allocated a points score in the regular manner and members are given a weekly allowance for these foods of 35 points.
There is nothing new of course in either the core plan or the points plan and many of the hundreds of diets available follow the same sort of pattern. The strength however of the Weight Watchers plan lies not in the underpinning diet itself, but in the need that all dieters have for information, advice, help and, most especially, support in what is sometimes a long, and at times difficult, struggle to lose those stubborn pounds.
Operating largely as a "club", Weight Watchers has gone from strength to strength over the years and, as long as it continues to offer so much more than just a diet plan, it will undoubtedly continue to flourish in the future.
For more advice, news and information about Weight Watchers and the Weight Watchers Plan please visit International Weight Watchers today.


Gesundheit! A look into the world of Living with Allergies
Allergies are nothing to sneeze at. In fact, common household and environmental allergies can cause loss of production, loss of money, and can make you feel just plain crummy. The bottom line when it comes to allergies is that this world is filled with potential allergens and if you are a person who suffers from the effects, running from them won't do you much good. Instead, say "Gesundheit!" and attack the problem head on!
Allergies can be tested by a simple skin test administered by a physician to see what irritants will cause a slight localized reaction. Allergies can manifest as hay fever, watery eyes, itching, hives, swelling, and even if severe enough, asthma. The key here is prevention and control. Here are a few tips to keep the "Gesundheits" to a minimum in your presence so you can carry on in your hectic daily life when dealing with environmental allergies.
Remove old carpet and replace with hard wood floors or new carpet.
Carpeting and rugs are prime habitats for dust mites and pet dander which are major contributors to household allergies. By replacing old carpets, you are getting rid of years of dust mites and droppings.
Vacuum twice per week, deep clean twice a year.
It has been clinically proven in many studies that vacuuming your carpets and rugs with a good HEPA filter Vacuum such as Miele vacuum cleaners. Meile vacuum cleaners are a good choice for this task because they will reduce your levels of dust mites significantly. It is also a good idea to have your floors steam cleaned once per year to get the deep dirt, dust, and other allergens out.
Do your laundry.
Wash your bed linens each week in hot water and cover with Allergen proof slipcovers. Companies are becoming more aware of the health hazards associated with dust mites and dander and are making products to be anti-allergenic to be used as covers for mattresses and pillows.
Keep pets off of furniture.
The family pet should be not allowed on furniture. This allows the dander which is basically dust mite food, to really infest mattresses and furniture. Shampoos made for dander control may be another option.
Keep yourself cool.
Dust mites love humid, warm, moist conditions. Running a room dehumidifier is a good idea to keep the humidity down and the dust mites at bay. Air cleaners are another good bet for keeping a smoke and pollen free home.
Change your filters.
Change your duct work filters monthly and use a Hepa grade filter. Home air purifiers can also help to make sure the air pumped through your home is as clean as it can be.
Living with allergies can be difficult at times but with the use of Miele vacuum cleaners in addition to these simple tips, the only "Gesundheit!" that will be heard is the one you give the person next to you.
This article was written by The Elite Home team. http://www.thelitehome.com/ offers the highest quality indoor and outdoor appliances such as Miele Vacuum Cleaners. The Elite Home sells top quality products at affordable internet prices. Reproductions of this article must include a link pointing to http://www.thelitehome.com/.


Water, Water, You Want Water!
Copyright 2006 J Lance Curtis
If there was a substance that when consumed regularly can increase your workout performance by 15%-20%, would you take it?
Now wait, don't call the FDA or the DEA! I am not recommending that you take a drug or an illegal substance. This common substance is available almost anywhere, and even though some people pay 'big' money for it, it is available to most people for FREE.
You already know what it is because of the title of this chapter. And like a lot of very common and abundant things it is sometimes taken for granted. However, in the case of water this is especially true. Water is the essential substance, not only for life, but also for optimum performance.
Let's start with the basics. On average your body consists of 70% water. Different tissues in your body have varying amounts. Your blood is 90% water, your bones 20%, and your muscles 70%.
Not only is water essential as a major component of your body tissue, water performs other major functions. One of which is waste transport. Water collects the waste of cellular processes and transports those to the kidneys for excretion. This is of particular importance to you since exercise accelerates the creation of cellular wastes.
You may have experienced the common 'hangover' after consuming too much alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic and can cause semi-dehydration very quickly. The headache, dry mouth, and general lack of energy 'the morning after' are partly due to the dehydrated state of your body.
Most people don't drink alcohol everyday, but they do consume other diuretics like tea, coffee, and soft drinks. On top of that you may not drink enough water to meet your minimum needs. This can result in a permanent state of semi-dehydration.
How much is enough? You have probably heard the cliché of 8 glasses of water a day. Well that is a good place to start. But it is only a minimum. The National Research Council of the National Academies of Science recommends 1.0 – 1.5 ml per kcal of energy expended everyday. I do not doubt the scientific validity of this approach. However, you may not be willing to measure everything to this level of detail.
For the discussion below all measurements is U.S.
My 'personal-trainer-rule-of-thumb' is to drink a minimum of ½ ounce of water for every pound of bodyweight. So if you weigh 140 pounds, the least amount of water you should drink is 70 ounces. 8 – 8oz glasses equates to 64 ounces.
For my very serious clients, who are extremely active, my recommendation is a minimum of one gallon of water daily.
Whoa! Drink one gallon of water everyday? You may not believe this is possible. I can assure it is not only possible, but once you are drinking water at that level, for as little as a few days, you will find your body craving more. What you once thought impossible will now seem like 'old hat'.
How can you reach the proper hydration levels when you aren't used to drinking that amount of water? The same way you eat an elephant. . .one small bite at a time. Start out by having water with you all the time. Keep a bottle with you constantly.
Measure out your daily consumption ahead of time. I do that by filling a predetermined number of water bottles each morning and having those with me. If I am drinking three 1.5 liter bottles of water a day then I pace myself and drink a bottle every three hours.
The easiest way to do this is to constantly sip your water. Small sips over the course of the day add up to your minimum water intake. Just like eating the elephant (one bite at a time).
Should you drink anything besides water? While I believe you should drink pure water, I know that from time to time you may want other beverages for variety. Personally, on occasion, I drink a variety of teas, including herbal, and coffee. Should you want a little variety you can add some of these drinks, in addition to, your water.
A few 'no-nos' that you should avoid include carbonated beverages (soft drinks, energy drinks, etc.), and drinks with a high sugar (of any kind) content. Carbon dioxide is a waste product we expel and, in my opinion, it doesn't make sense to put it back into your body in a drink.
Drinks with sugar, whether added or natural, raise the blood sugar levels faster than other foods. Over time this can lead to insulin resistance and a host of other problems, including excessive fat gain.
I can tell you with confidence that all of my personal training clients have 'balked' at the idea of drinking the amount of water I advocate. But those that do follow this advice 'swear' that they can't get by without their water. Craving water like that is healthy and produces long lasting results.

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Lance Curtis is a personal trainer and author of "7 Keys to Unlock The Sexy Dream Body Inside You!"
To claim your free copy go to http://ThePersonalTrainingGuru.com

Monday, December 31, 2007