Successful dieters buddy-up for results

Veteran workout buddies share their tips for pairing up. from the Lansing State Journal

• Get a buddy. You might be more successful at losing weight, keeping it off and exercising regularly when meeting with a group or partner.
• Eat fewer calories. You lose weight when you consume fewer calories than you burn through regular activity and exercise.
• Exercise regularly. More than 90 percent of the people in the National Weight Control Registry who have kept their weight off use physical activity as part of their weight-control program.
• Weigh yourself daily. Plan for how to get back on track if your weight begins to creep up.
• Eat a healthy breakfast. You'll be less likely to snack all day or binge at lunch and dinner. Try low-fat yogurt sprinkled with low-fat granola, low-sugar cereal with low-fat, skim or soy milk, or fruit smoothies.
• Watch the fast food. People in the registry eat fast food less than once a week and eat out no more than three times a week.
• Don't be a couch potato. Most people successful at keeping off the weight watch less than 10 hours of TV a week, far less than the 28-hour average. If you do watch TV, try to exercise instead of eating while you watch.
• Stay consistent. Going off your diet on special occasions, weekends or holidays makes it tougher to truly change your lifestyle and keep weight off.