50 million Americans try to lose weight each year, and if you're one of them, you'll be glad to know you don't have to drop a lot of money on gym memberships or special weight loss foods in order to shed pounds. If you have access to computer with an Internet connection, you've got access to all the information you need to lose weight.
Calorie Calculators
Weight loss comes down to one thing: consuming fewer calories than your body uses. To do that, you need to keep track of how many calories you eat, as well as how many you expend through your normal daily activities and through exercise. FitDay.com offers a free all-in-one calorie calculating software package. You can also use the Mayo Clinic's calorie calculator to figure out your target calorie range.
Health and Fitness Tools
If you're including exercise as part of your weight loss strategy -- as most health experts recommend -- you want to make sure you're making the most of your time. The American Heart Association recommends staying in your target heart rate. Doing this ensures you're not working too light or too hard. You can find your target heart rate with online tools such as the Mayo Clinic's target heart rate calculator.
Exercises and Workout Routines
If you'd like to add variety to your exercise routine, you can find a wide variety of exercise on the web. The American Council on Exercise offers a exercise database you can search by your ability level, target area, and even by the type of fitness equipment you have available for use. There are also workout videos you can use to guide you in your workouts.
Healthy Recipes
Cooking at home makes it easier to keep track of what you're eating; fortunately, the web abounds with healthy, delicious recipes. While there are entire websites devoted to healthy cooking, you can also find recipes on some sites you might not expect. FoodTV, the website of the Food Network, allows you to search for recipes based on a variety of health needs, including those that are low-calorie, low-fat, low sodium, and low-cholesterol.
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