Calorie counters looking to turn the tables on weight gain have just two days left to phone the free Daily News Diet Hotline.

Our diet and fitness experts are taking a bite out of the Big Apple's obesity epidemic, one call at a time.

"People are suffering from information overload," says dietitian Keri Glassman, founder and president of Keri Glassman, Nutritious Life. "Weight Watchers says this, Jenny Craig says that, people read one thing one day and another thing the next, so no wonder they are still confused about what they can or cannot eat."

No diet is one-size-fits-all, so New Yorkers need to customize a plan to fit their lifestyle.

"What they should do is take advantage of the fact that there are options, and figure out what works best for them," says dietitian Lisa Moskovitz of the F-Factor Diet. "People want to be told exactly what to eat, but what they need to learn is how to make choices for themselves."

The Diet Hotline is helping confused callers become educated eaters. Dial (212) 210-2044 or email your questions to DietHotline@nydailynews.com.

The first step is forgetting the diet and fitness myths you've always believed. Start with this one: There's no such thing as targeting weight loss to a specific area.

"The only way to spot-reduce is a thing called liposuction," says trainer Jeff Halevy, CEO of Halevy Life. "That's the only way to suck fat out of just one area."

You've got to work the whole body to shed that stubborn belly fat. "You can't target, but when you lose weight overall, it will also leave your belly," says dietitian Anne Ammons from New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. "There are little things you can do to help, however, like focus on building core strength or cutting out carbonated beverages, which can make you bloated and puffy."

Next, say our experts: Don't believe the baked-chip hype. Baked Lays aren't better for you than the original fat trap, says dietitian Melissa Rifkin from Montefiore Medical Center Weiler Division. "They're both bad. And Baked Lays actually have more sodium than the regular kind."

For snackers struggling to kick salty cravings, try a healthy take on fries: Make your own "potato chips" by sprinkling thin sweet-potato slices with a salt substitute, like Mrs. Dash or Nu-Salt, and baking them in the oven.

Whatever you do, eat. Starvation diets are never a quick fix. "Missing meals hurts your metabolism. It slows it down," says June Levine, a dietitian and certified diabetes educator. "Eat small meals throughout the day to boost your metabolism." You'll also be less likely to binge when your appetite kicks in.

Eating right doesn't have to mean giving up your favorite local foodie spot. "One caller who needs to cut his daily bagel and cream cheese habit didn't want to give up going to his regular breakfast place," says Allison Fishman, author of the upcoming "You Can Trust a Skinny Cook."

"We went over the menu together and amped up his breakfast to an egg-white omelet with vegetables on rye toast," she explains, "so he can still say hi to his peeps every day, and he doesn't have to leave
his spot."

The experts available on the Daily News Diet Hotline cannot give you medical advice or diagnosis. Any information about nutrition and weight control they offer is not intended as, and is not a substitute for, medical advice, counseling or diagnosis. You should consult your doctor before beginning any weight-loss program. The Daily News makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to information given by the hotline experts and under no circumstances will it be liable to any caller or other person for damages of any nature arising in any way from the use of such information.

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Weight Watchers has overhauled its points system. And not everyone is happy about it.

The new system's 'PointsPlus' values has stunned the many devoted members who have sworn by the old points method for weight loss since it was introduced 13 year ago.

For the 750,000 Americans on Weight Watchers, the new program will require some adjustment in how they choose their foods.

One reason people adored the program was because it allowed room for sweets and alcohol. Just budget the points for it out of your daily allowance and you were able to keep your weight down.

Using the old 'Points', an apple had the same Points value as a small bag of pretzels. Even though the program leaders urged dieters to eat a healthy balance of fruits and vegetables, there was little incentive to choose the apple.

"Before, we considered a calorie as a calorie," Stephanie Rost, Weight Watchers' corporate program development director told the News. "You are automatically guided toward foods that have a higher satiety value, that will help you keep fuller longer."


Weight Watchers' Idol: Actress and singer Jennifer Hudson reportedly used the new PointsPlus system to transform her body.
Vegetables and fruits are now zero "Points Plus" but processed foods as well as alcohol and sugar are higher. That two-point glass of wine is now four points.

While many are praising the new plan, many are wishing Weight Watchers would bury it.

"I love my carbs and have lost 121 lbs on the old system," one member wrote on the company's Facebook page. "I don't wanna change what I am doing and I feel that Weight Watchers should have given us a choice whether or not we wanted to try the new Points Plus."

"All the Points values in my cookbook are wrong now," one member moaned. "I guess I'll just have to get new ones for my computer."

Members were also irritated that the new ontime tools and products to measure the Points Plus were not given to them for free since the old ones that they paid for are now worthless.

Weight Watchers' move away from processed foods and putting more emphasis on fruits and vegetables is more in line with the trends of today. Nutritionists have long dismissed low-fat, high-sugar foods as a bad way to lose weight. People are paying more attention to the chemicals and additives in packaged foods than ever before.

Under the new system, the 40,000 foods in the Weight Watchers database (it includes both branded foods and generic foods) have been recalculated, taking into account not just how many calories they contain, but what else they contain. All the packaged foods will be recalculated and relabeled, and should be available in the new version within a month, Rost says.

So is the plan better for consumers?

Having a higher point allotment could potentially slow weight loss in some people, says Roberta Anding, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "As you increase points, you increase total calories, maybe by 100 or 200 calories a day," she says. "But calories or points always count. That subtle increase in points may make a difference in weight loss."

But, she adds, "This is the first time there has been an emphasis on whole foods from Weight Watchers, the first time they recognized that a 100 calorie apple and a 100 calorie cookie aren't metabolized the same way. The concept of getting away from processed foods is a good one."

While members are fretting over the changes and added costs to the new program, others are already disovering free versions of the online tools and sharing new tricks and tips with the skeptics.

"I think it will be fun when all the naysayers who quit come back 50 lbs heavier while the rest of us are healthier and thinner," a member wrote on Facebook. "Love the health-ified new plan."

nydailynews.com

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Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Rachel Weisz are among the celebs who reportedly stick to a gluten-free diet. But though proponents of the trendy regime say it can boost energy and make it easier to lose weight, some health experts claim it causes a variety of health problems.

A gluten-free diet is advisable for those with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the body triggers gluten to attack the lining of the small intestine. Celiac disease usually is diagnosed with blood tests and a biopsy of the intestines.

But people who follow the diet when they don’t need to may not be doing themselves a favor. Weight gain, headaches and fatigue can be the consequences of eating gluten-free when there’s no medical reason to do so.

Going gluten-free involves cutting out wheat, rye and barley, all of which contain the protein called gluten, and replacing these with carbs like rice, cornmeal and buckwheat flour. In the long run, the switch may actually cause weight gain.

“People assume that by cutting out gluten they are going to lose weight,” dietitian Tanya Thomas told the Daily Mail. “It’s a myth.”

Also, many products that are gluten-free pack in the sugar, fat and salt, according to the Daily Mail.

When wheat flour is fortified with vitamins and iron, it boosts the nutrient content of the diet. When it’s a whole grain, it also adds fiber. But eliminating wheat flour, which means forgoing pasta, bread, and cereals, can cause flagging energy levels and those low-blood-sugar induced headaches that occur when not enough carbs are eaten.

“So many people are needlessly avoiding gluten and spending a small fortune on doing so,” Thomas said. “Not only is it a waste of time and money when there’s no real problem, it can make your attempts to lose weight and get healthier backfire.”

nydailynews.com

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KFC's move to team up with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure to fight breast cancer has some folks clucking in outrage. The fried chicken chain, purveyor of a food that may contribute to obesity, partnering with the world’s largest breast cancer organization?

"A lot of folks are questioning just how appropriate it is for a fast-food chain that sells, well, not exactly the most healthful food, to partner with a group known globally for helping save women's lives," wrote Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The chicken chain is changing the traditional red color of its buckets to pink until the end of May and donating 50 cents for every bucket sold in what’s being billed as the "Buckets for the Cure" campaign. So far, about $1.9 million has been raised, and KFC has set a goal of more than $8 million, according to the Buckets for the Cure Web site.

It’s not, as the San Francisco Chronicle points out, the first time that "junk food" purveyors and organizations that promote wellness have collaborated. Pepsi is financing a program in obesity studies at Yale, McDonald’s is a long-term sponsor of the Olympics, and a program to promote heart and lung health that partnered with Coke earlier this year drew criticism, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

With the KFC and Susan G. Komen collaboration, as blogger Yoni Freedhoff of Weighty Matters points out, consumers who buy the buckets of chicken are likely to also buy fries, gravy and soda, too. "So, in effect, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is helping to sell deep-fried fast food and, in so doing, help fuel unhealthy diet and obesity across America, an odd plan given that diet and obesity certainly impact on both the incidence and recurrence of breast cancer," Freedhoff wrote. And suggested that a possible alternative would have been for KFC to just hand over a check for breast cancer research to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

nydailynews.com

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Many successful dieters get stuck near the end of their weight loss journey, but nutritionists and trainers say there are ways to move past the frustration:

Reconsider your weight goal. You may have set your target too low. Think more about health and fitness level, as well as body fat percentage.

Shake up your fitness routine. When your body gets too used to one type of exercise, you don't need to burn as many calories to get through a workout. Add 10 or 15 minutes on an exercise machine, alternate periods of high and low intensity, walk at a brisker pace — or try something new altogether.

Don't starve yourself. Your metabolism will slow, which could lead to future weight gain. To feel fuller, add healthy proteins to meals and snacks, such as a thin spread of peanut butter on whole-wheat bread or sliced turkey on a salad.

Look for little diet trims. Some examples: Eat one slice of bread on a sandwich instead of two, order a child-size scoop of ice cream rather than a small, use less oil when you cook and switch to lower-fat cheeses.

Beware high-calorie drinks. Many dieters sabotage their efforts with coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages and smoothies full of fat, calories and sugar. Drink plenty of water and get specialty drinks with non-fat milk and no syrup added.

Measure yourself differently. Instead of obsessing over numbers on the scale, look at inches lost from your waist and hips and drops in clothing sizes.

Get enough rest. Too little sleep triggers hormonal changes that increase hunger and fat storage.

Create a reward. Have an incentive to finally reach your goal, whether it's a new outfit or a mini-vacation.

— Alison Johnson, Special to Tribune Newspapers

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Hi Cecilia. This is a great question, as skipping breakfast has been linked to childhood obesity, diminished health and nutrition status and compromised school performance. Breakfast quality is just as important as consuming breakfast regularly. Research shows that eating a lower glycemic index breakfast (one that raises blood sugar levels more gradually), can improve school performance and may also help with blood sugar control throughout the day. Whole grains are generally lower glycemic, as they are higher in fiber and less processed. In addition, adding lean protein or healthy fat to a meal decreases the glycemic index, so there are lots of healthy options beyond cereal, oatmeal and eggs. Here are a few suggestions:

1. PB&J: Peanut butter (trans fat free) and jelly (no sugar added) sandwich on whole grain bread (if your child doesn't like whole wheat bread try whole wheat white bread instead)

2. Fruit smoothie: Combine fresh or frozen fruit with one-half cup low-fat milk and one-half cup yogurt for a creamy and healthy breakfast smoothie. You can also add a little juice (no more than 4 ounces) to increase sweetness.

3. Yogurt parfait: Combine low-fat yogurt (plain is best but vanilla is good, too; it is lower in sugar than fruit-flavored options), one-half cup fresh fruit, and 2 tablespoons of chopped or whole nuts.

4. Cottage cheese and fruit: Low fat cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein. Add your own fruit (pineapple and peaches work well) rather than buying products pre-packaged with fruit, which tend to have added sugar.

5. Grilled cheese: If you are looking for a hot breakfast option, you might want to try a grilled cheese sandwich on whole grain bread (or white wheat) for a healthy dose of calcium, protein and fiber. Add a side of fruit to boost nutrients even further.

Dr. Melina Jampolis Physician Nutrition Specialist - CNN

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Lose 4-9 pounds of belly fat each week without counting calories or doing a lick of exercise. It sounds too good to be true, even in a nation obsessed with finding an easy cure for belly fat. Yet that's just what celebrity fitness trainer Jorge Cruise proclaims in his new book, The Belly Fat Cure.

Cruise writes that you can eat all the foods you love -- including chips, ice cream, pizza, and cheeseburgers -- as long as you minimize your intake of sugar and processed carbohydrates through his "carb swap" system, and thus control your insulin levels.

The Latest Diets

This may sound contradictory to those who remember Cruise’s last diet book, The 3-Hour Diet: How Low-Carb Diets Make You Fat and Timing Makes You Thin. That book subscribed to the well-accepted portion control, calories in-calories out approach to weight loss.

But Cruise now says he was wrong. The latest science, he says, shows that "losing weight has nothing to do with calorie counting, eating less, or exercising more."

This theory, of course, is not embraced by most nutrition and diet experts.

"If you want to lose weight and keep it off, calories need to be controlled and regular physical activity is a prescription for a healthy heart, maintaining bones, muscle tissue, and more," says Elisa Zied, MS, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
The Belly Fat Cure: What You Can Eat

The Belly Fat Cure eating plan consists of protein, fats, and vegetables with small amounts of sugar and complex carbs. Processed foods with sweeteners (even artificial sweeteners) are out. Wine, beer, champagne, and dark chocolate are OK -- but not cocktails or candy bars.

Much of the book consists of colorful displays of more than 100 "belly bad" meals (mostly from fast food and casual restaurant chains) made over into "belly good" recipes that are featured in the meal plans. (However, the recipes contain no nutrition information other than the grams of sugar and servings of carbs they contain – not even a calorie count.)

Five different weeklong meal plans designed for various eating styles, from carb lovers to meat-eaters, provide a framework for the eating plan.
When in doubt, dieters can follow the "no-excuses day" plan:

* Breakfast: 3 eggs, 2 slices buttered toast
* Snack: Handful of walnuts
* Lunch: Tuna salad on one piece pita bread
* Snack: 1 cup cottage cheese with honey
* Dinner: Grilled chicken or steak, sautéed veggies and 1/2 cup brown rice

Dieters are advised to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Most fresh fruits, and beverages such as skim milk and 100% fruit juice, are depicted as "belly bad."

Because of their low sugar content, blackberries and blueberries are the only fruits allowed on The Belly Cure plan. Although fruits are generally considered healthy because of all the nutrients and fiber they contain, Cruise says you can get the same nutrients from vegetables without the (natural) sugar found in fruit. Once you reach your goal weight, you can add up to two pieces of fruit per day. The Belly Fat Cure is similar to the Atkins or South Beach diet with the addition of a carb-swap system.

Each day, dieters take in no more than 15 grams of sugar from six servings of "smart," fiber-rich carbs (one serving of carbs equals 5-20 grams of carbohydrate). You calculate the sugar/carb value by comparing the grams of sugar to the number of servings of carbs in the foods you're eating – information that's easily found on food labels.

Cruise's theory is that by using the "carb swap" system, you get your insulin levels under control. He says that diets high in sugar increase insulin levels – which, in turn pushes fat into fat cells -- and cause a host of other side effects like wrinkles, low energy levels, and cellular inflammation.

Because fat and protein don’t increase insulin levels, there's no need to limit or track these nutrients, Cruise says. "They are the most satisfying nutrients so it is unlikely you will overeat them," he says.

The book contends that exercise isn't necessary for weight loss, but has a few pages on toning your abs after you lose the belly fat. Cruise encourages doing an 8-minute daily abdominal strength workout and a 20-minute power walk as often as possible for toning and strength – but this is optional.

The Belly Fat Cure also recommends finding a support buddy or network. Studies show that you're more likely to succeed at weight loss when you've got support.

The Belly Fat Cure: What the Experts Say

This diet "is just another gimmick, not the cure," says Zied, author of Nutrition at Your Fingertips.

The book makes several references to scientific studies, yet the author’s interpretation of the research is inaccurate, she says.

Indeed, Cruise’s recommendations are not supported by the wealth of scientific evidence or national recommendations such as the U.S. government's 2005 Dietary Guidelines.

Experts say any diet that allows unlimited portions of meats, fats, and sodium isn't heart-healthy – and heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. And, they say, limiting fresh fruit and low-fat dairy isn't a good idea because these foods provide essential nutrients, especially fiber, calcium, and vitamin D.

Further, insulin’s role in the body is not quite as simple as portrayed in The Belly Fat Cure, says Yale University researcher David Katz, MD, MPH.

Zied and Katz agree that most people eat too many processed foods and too much sugar, and that everyone could benefit by reading food labels to learn where sugar lurks. But they also recommend checking labels for other nutrients, like fat, saturated fat, trans fats, sodium, calories, and fiber.

Katz says he supports the diet's basic approach, with limits.

"Focusing on sugar is an attempt to help people identify how they can improve their diets," he says. "But in general, we need to get Americans to focus on eating more whole foods, mostly plants and not too much."

Losing 4-9 pounds per week and achieving a flatter stomach in just one week is an unrealistic goal, Zied says.

"Depending on how much you have to lose, you may experience a one-time loss of several pounds -- but not every week," she says.

When a diet plan sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Becoming aware of where sugar lurks and eating more whole, less processed foods would improve most people’s diet. And reading food labels is an excellent way to learn what is in your favorite foods.

But any plan that green-lights foods like burgers, steak, bacon, and sausage, eliminates healthy foods like fruits and low-fat dairy, and gives you a pass on exercise and calorie control is cause for concern. Not only will it be hard to sustain long-term, but it could result in nutritional excesses and deficiencies.

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.

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