Tag Archives: john mcgran

6 Ways to Supercharge Your Weight Loss Resolution

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

Starting a diet is easy. Heck, I’ve started at least two dozen diets over the past 30 years. You want tough? Try sticking to a diet through thick and thin! Oh, I see… you have tried sticking to a diet.

There are many reasons we fall off the diet wagon. I think the biggest reason has to be a lack of perceived progress. It could be a stuck scale needle or a dress or pants size that refuses to drop.

So here we are. It’s early in the New Year and we’re determined to make this the last diet we’ll ever need. So far, so good… right?

Consider these doable tips as belated holiday gifts from your pal Mr. Bad Food, the Santa Claus of Slimming! (more…)

Posted on January 18, 2024 by GuestBlogger

6 Stress-Free Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

No more yo-yo dieting in the New Year. In 2024 we’re going to key in on developing a long-term healthy lifestyle, not a short-term trendy weight loss episode. Once you make healthy living your way of life… well, you really don’t need diets anymore.

There are only six steps to a healthier lifestyle:

Step 1: Make a commitment… and stick with it!

You want to lose weight and be healthier, right? Of course. So let’s resolve to do it for real this year. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and start writing… (more…)

Posted on January 5, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Take a Break for Weight Loss Motivation

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

When you get to a point with your diet where you feel like screaming, “Gimme a break!”… well, that’s exactly what you may need to do: Stop your diet and take a break. The experts will tell you that stopping and restarting your diet is sometimes the best way to bust through a weight plateau or to simply recharge your motivation.

No one is telling you that a diet break is a free pass to start eating anything and everything you want. It’s more a chance to relax a little and stop counting points or calories. You should still eat smart and healthy, but you don’t have to think about it for a stretch of time. (more…)

Posted on December 10, 2023 by GuestBlogger

5 Proven Ways to Stop Yo-Yo Dieting

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

They call it the yo-yo effect – losing weight only to gain back the lost pounds and more. It’s one of the most frustrating occurrences for dieters. But if you follow five simple tactics, you will avoid regaining lost weight.

1. React quickly – It’s natural for your weight to fluctuate a few pounds, but if you see the scale needle jump five pounds, take action NOW! Don’t wait until you find yourself on that slippery slope back to your old weight. Simply renew your commitment and pick up the calorie-burning pace of your fitness plan and you’ll see the extra weight come off again. (more…)

Posted on November 17, 2024 by GuestBlogger

The 10 Worst Foods in Your Fridge

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

I bet you didn’t know that November 15 is “Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day” or that November 29 is “Throw Out Your Leftovers Day.” But I bet you do know that your refrigerator is crammed with foods that don’t fit well with your desire to eat healthy and lose weight.

So please join me, Mr. Bad Food, for our first annual “out with the old, in with the new” push for a healthier tomorrow – and an easier start to our next great weight loss attempt.

It’s time to turn a cold shoulder to the 10 worst foods in your fridge.

1. Mayo – If you’re like me, more is better when it comes to mayo. So while a little won’t hurt you, a lot will. A quarter-cup of mayo will make your sandwich savory, but at the cost of an extra 360 calories and 40 grams of fat. (more…)

Posted on November 12, 2024 by GuestBlogger

5 Ways We Fool Ourselves into Failing at Weight Loss

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

They say a fool and his money are soon parted. I say a dieting fool and his weight are doomed to stay together!

Today we’re turning our attention to the five ways we fool ourselves into failing at dieting.

1. I’ll start my diet Monday… or tomorrow.

The best time to start a diet is today… right now, in fact. I’m a procrastinator. I know how easy it is to set a future date to get started on a project or a diet.

But, by giving yourself extra days before getting serious, you’re simply allowing yourself to continue on with the bad habits that led you to being overweight in the first place. (more…)

Posted on September 24, 2024 by GuestBlogger

What Diet is Best for You?

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

When it comes to slimming down, there are countless diet plans out there, so how does a consumer decide what’s a great diet for long-lasting weight loss?

Well, you don’t jump into the latest, greatest trendy fad diet. Baby food anyone? You also don’t opt for a weight loss plan that isn’t sustainable. Yo-yo dieting (the loss, then regain of weight) is extremely prevalent for a good reason. We try to totally change our eating habits, but end up right back where we started – overweight and unhappy. (more…)

Posted on August 31, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Chill Out: Frozen Treats That Won’t Ice Your Diet

Fitness-friendly Slice Cream

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

As I sat in front of my TV enjoying my healthy lunch, I found myself suddenly craving ice cream or some other decadent frozen treat. Could it be the commercial for the Snicker’s ice cream bar that triggered the urge? Um… DUH… of course!

Okay, so I am so easily led astray. But, instead of hopping in my car and racing to the local market for an ice cream fix, I dragged myself back into my home office and started surfing the Web for healthier ice cream treats.

The first fact that caught my eye: Americans enjoy nearly 21 quarts per person, per year.

The second scoop on ice cream: August is National Ice Cream Month – and for good reason. Not only is August the hottest month of the year for most of us, but it’s also the month that hosts most of the ice cream holidays. (more…)

Posted on August 26, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Best Way to Beat Diabetes: A Healthy Diet

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

Since an estimated 300,000 deaths each year are associated with poor nutrition, obesity and the related illnesses of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, it should come as no surprise that your best weapon is a healthy diet.

According to WebMD.com, “Healthy eating is one of the best things you can do to prevent health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some types of cancer.”

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, can be prevented or delayed if you maintain a healthy body weight and make time for regular fitness. As simple as it sounds, a balanced diet and regular exercise have proven effective for many people suffering diabetes. (more…)

Posted on August 13, 2024 by GuestBlogger

7 Foods That Fire Up Your Passion

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

I’d much rather eat my way to health and happiness than pop a pill and attain the same results. So when it comes to dieting, I choose to eat my way slim rather than seek out a magic bullet for weight loss.

The same principle applies to perking up passion. Sure, there are plenty of ads for potions or pills that claim to magically transform you into a Casanova. But I’ve discovered that a fine meal with the proper ingredients can spark love and romance without the chemicals!

(more…)

Posted on July 23, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Stop Making Excuses and Start Losing Weight

John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

We’re good at making excuses.

We would have caught the ball, but the sun was in our eyes… We would have bought you a birthday gift, but we couldn’t get to the store… We would have lost weight, but we just couldn’t commit to a diet…

When it comes to losing weight and getting in shape, excuses are like snowflakes – they’re all different, but they all pile up to keep you fat and unhappy.

Let’s deconstruct five common excuses for not dieting or working out.

(more…)

Posted on July 14, 2024 by GuestBlogger