Let's kick this off with THE TRUTHS about how challenging it is to keep lost pounds, just that, lost. It’s a tough job, in fact tougher than taking off those unwanted pounds in the first place.

Research shows that the most weight people lose, even with pretty constant expert support, is about 6 to 10% from your starting weight. Example: 200 pounds that's 12 to 20 pounds. Doesn’t sound like much compared to those triple digit losses touted on Biggest Loser or from for-profit diet plans. Research also shows people lose these pounds by about 6 months to 1 year max. It’s simply tough to lose more weight.  For sure there are exceptions. Read Weight Loss, Control: Expectations vs. Research-based Realities.

Want to know the carbohydrate count for vegetarian lasagna, the saturated fat grams for prime rib? Or trying to trim a few pounds and think recording your food intake and getting a daily nudges (reminders) will aid your efforts? Apps with these features and more have multiplied. And they're available for use online and for one and/or as apps for one or more smart phones (eg iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, etc.) Check out my picks from the litter. They’re listed alphabetically within two groups – Apps-For-Free and Apps-For-a-Fee.

What’s vtrim and what have I experienced first-hand?

Vtrim is a researched-based weight management program that’s home-grown on the campus of University of Vermont (my alma mater).

In the era of the Biggest Loser, the ante for pounds to expect to loose per week has gone up, not that the number ever approached realistic, even before Biggest Loser. People have long had unrealistic expectations for weekly loss - 3, 5, 10 pounds - feed by overpromising diets. Simply AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN if you’re following a sane and sensible weight loss plan!

Check out my guest blog posted on skinnyandthecity.com on 11/18/09 Take Action to Beat Type 2. Please read the comments - already some heartwarming stories of people's efforts and challenges to Beat Diabetes.

Let me begin where I left off discussing the study which asked: What's the Diet is Best?, published in the 2/27/09 issue of New England Journal of Medicine. In closing I noted that this study reinforces that people need continual and continued support to achieve and maintain weight loss.

There’s no shortage of nutrition advice—that’s for sure! The near daily headlines encouraging you to eat more of this and less of that, to advertisements that promote more dietary supplements to prevent or cure myriad medical conditions are enough to make your head spin and make it a challenge to separate fact from fiction when it comes to nutrition and healthy eating.

Oh yes, it’s that time of year to once again commit to losing weight for good. And the headlines from myriad media outlets are ready to provide you with umpteen quick weight loss schemes and promises to make this simpler than ever. The problem is that the only way to lose weight and - the hardest part - keep it off for good, is to make slow and steady positive changes over time. Yes it’s hard work that takes diligence and perseverance!

For starters be honest with yourself about your for better or worse food habits.

A key, yet woefully underreported, conclusion to many health behavior change studies in the areas of weight, diabetes and/or blood pressure management; point to the importance of consistent and continuous support over time. This has evolved to be an essential component to help people achieve their health goals and support their efforts to continue practicing new found healthy lifestyle behaviors.