Weight Loss

Web Sites  Weight Watchers - The place to go for online tools and information, and to join the online program. WW Family Forum - Links to photos and stories from people who have lost 100 pounds or more.  Some sites include very open information about skin surgery. Dottie's - List of points for most restaurant chains. CDC BMI Calculator - Allows half-inch heights.  It doesn't give you the breakpoint between "obese" and "morbidly obese".  Morbidly obese starts at BMI = 40. Erica's abdominoplasty blog-  With pictures.  Also has links to other abdominoplasty web sites.  Anyone ready to get out their checkbook?  I'm gonna have a lot extra abdominal skin when I reach my goal weight! Overeater's Anonymous- Based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.   Look for a meeting that just does support.  Some meetings have food plans and the best food plan is at Weight Watchers. Books I Wish I Were Thin, I Wish I Were Fat - There are plenty of psychology of obesity books out there; this is one that I like.  I truly believe that a person does not accept the limitations of obesity unless they are getting something out of it.  For an obese person, obesity feels like it is solving more problems than it is creating.  This book helps you discover some of the reasons you might want to be obese.

Conditioning

Books A Woman's Book of Strength - A truly beautiful and inspirational book, plus lots of good information about weight training and conditioning.

Tools

9th Street Active Feet - Get shoes from an expert!  If you cannot go to this store, try Fleet Feet or another specialty exercise shoe provider (NOT the sportings goods store!). Polar F6 Heart Rate Monitor - Of the Polar products, the F6 seems to be the most popular for weight loss.  Polar products are well known, and a lot of cardio equipment at the gym is "Polar Ready" and will pick up your heart rate from the transmitter and show it on the screen in front of your face, which is nice.  A heart monitor is an important piece of equipment for someone on the Weight Watchers eating plan, because you use the information it gives you to determine the right amount to eat.