If you are currently, or ever have been, on a weight loss plan, then you probably know all about the many foods you need to avoid. It’s easy to become so obsessed with all the “forbidden” foods that you may forget about what you can and should be eating to help you lose weight. Luckily, you have many food choices which not only taste good and fill you up, but also contribute directly to losing weight. Lean protein, which is low in fat, makes an excellent choice to include in your diet plans for weight loss.

It's perfectly normal to eat when we're physically hungry. Emotional eating, on the other hand, doesn't work the same way. It's human nature to crave and turn to food during hard times in our lives. We all like to believe that food helps us feel better during stressful situations by providing the comfort we seek. All too often though, we end up feeling worse than before after we overeat. This is mainly because eating hasn't solved the underlying problem after all. As well, if you're prone to emotional eating while trying to stay on diet plans for weight loss, you may end up feeling even guiltier after "falling off the wagon," so to speak.

Many of us know about the benefits of stretching for our bodies. These benefits include increased flexibility, improved range of motion, stress relief, increased blood flow and circulation, and better posture. These all contribute to your body's overall health and wellness. Did you know that some stretches can also help you lose weight as well as get in better shape?

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed an updated version of the "nutrition facts" labels on all food products. Current concerns about Americans' eating habits and health concerns have prompted the FDA to take action. Obesity, and its related health and medical issues, have become widespread. The FDA's proposal promises benefits for millions of Americans who want to learn how to make better food choices, how to lose weight, and how to improve their overall health.

When thinking of easy ways to eat healthy and/or how to lose weight fast, many people mistakenly believe eating fat-free foods is going to help them. However, this is a potentially dangerous myth. Removing most or all the fats from your diet in order to lose weight simply doesn't work. In fact, eating fat-free foods may actually cause you to gain weight. As well, these foods turn out to be rather unhealthy. Let's debunk this myth and look at the reasons why eating fat-free foods isn't a very good idea for weight loss, or at all.

Hollywood's awards season has started in full force and some of us may envy the fit and trim celebrities. Some of us wonder how to lose weight fast and are tempted by trendy "Hollywood" diets, especially since they often promise quick results with little effort. The ladies may look glamorous and slender in their gowns as they walk along the "Red Carpet," but who knows whether their diets are actually healthy or effective for long-term weight loss.

Although winter in the southern states tends to be milder than winter in the northern states, we all have unpleasant weather days. Those days make it difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy a cardio workout outside. Luckily, there are plenty of convenient and effective indoor alternatives, no matter where you live or how the weather is. One great example is by exercising on a stationary bike. This is one way to accomplish a fun and effective cardio workout to help with your weight loss plan. Stationary bike workouts burn fat and calories, which can also help you lose weight fast. Even better, you don't even have to know how to ride an outdoor bike. You don't need to wear a helmet or worry about losing your balance. Just hop on a stationary bike and start pedaling away the pounds.

The holiday season is upon us, along with all the food, festivities and fun. Although the average weight gain during the holidays is only 1-2 pounds, it still adds up over time. If losing weight is one of your New Year's resolutions for 2014, you may consider choosing a low-carb diet. There are plenty of diet naysayers who believe the myths out there about low-carb diets so they may try to talk you out of this plan. But, when you know the facts about losing weight through low-carb diets, you will be armed with the knowledge that this is a very healthy and effective way to not only lose weight, but to also keep it off.

Many people on diet plans worry about sticking to them during holidays such as Thanksgiving. You may even be worried about trying to lose weight around Thanksgiving. Doing so may sound dreadful to you - maybe even impossible - but this really doesn't have to be the case. Instead, think about taking this time to reflect upon the things for which you have to be thankful and let yourself appreciate the season. It's also good to know that you have many good options for celebrating this holiday without sabotaging your weight loss.

When it comes to sugar, you may be thinking things such as, "Just a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee isn't going to hurt," or "A little piece of candy doesn't have too many calories." Well, this may be partly true. However, when you take into account that most Americans on average eat an additional 475 calories, or almost 1/2 a cup, of added sugars every day, it really does make a difference. Is it any wonder so many of us continue gaining weight or have trouble losing weight? Or worse - Americans, and women specifically, are contracting life-threatening conditions such as diabetes and heart disease in record numbers.