If you’re finding that you can’t shed those pounds, take a good, long look at your diet.

There is a good chance that it’s worst than you think. In fact, you might be eating far more calories (and far fewer vitamins and nutrients) then you realize.

For instance, as I write this, a gentlemen sitting near me on the train, is eating flavored popcorn. (I think it's caramel.) I’m sure it tastes great, but it’s a daily snack for him. And a high caloric snack at that.

Just the same, I constantly see people getting breakfast sandwiches, when a pot of oatmeal is sitting right behind them. I know this, because I eat oatmeal most mornings. Though not the lowest calorie meal, it is both filling and very healthy.

Or there is Subway, where people ask for cheese, oil and dressing. All of this adds up.

You don’t have to have a perfect diet to lose weight, just one that is better than you are eating now. Make a conscious effort to include more vegetables. Eat smaller portions. Go for whole grains. And look for healthier snacks.

I don’t have a perfect diet and you don’t have to either. Just one that is better than it is now. Small changes add up to big benefits over time.

If you feel like you would benefit from a diet plan, visit our diet books page at:
http://www.netsweat.com/weight_loss/weight_loss_book.html

Does your supplement or vitamin really contain the ingredients you think it does?

There is a real chance that it doesn't. An Associated Press article says that one-quarter of supplements tested over the last decade have some type of problem. At best, the claims made on the bottle are erroneous. At worst, the mislabeling, or down right fraud, could harm you.

The problem is that FDA cannot pull a supplement from the shelves unless there is a body of evidence to prove that agency should act. As a result, supplement manufacturers are essentially free to sell you whatever they want to.

So what do you do?

First, be careful about what you put into your body. Just because a commercial or a salesman tells you that a supplement is good, doesn't mean it is. Be skeptical.

Second, check out the supplement. ConsumerLab.com tests vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and generic drugs. The $29.95 you'll pay to access the site is a small price to pay to make sure that supplement is what it says it is.

Finally, remember there is no magic pill for losing weight. If you want to be slimmer and feel younger, eat more vegetables and exercise every day.

The AP is reporting that the Belgium bodybuilding championship was canceled after doping officials showed up. (Editors note: there is a more complete article on Yahoo.)

The sport, unfortunately, continues to be rampant with steroid abuse. Though there are natural bodybuilding contests that ban illegal use of drugs, there still continues to a be large contingent of competitors who rely on steroids and other pharmaceuticals to bulk up.

We'd like to see ALL sports and competitions do more to stop the illegal use of drugs. While there will always be some athletes seeking an artificial advantage, enforcing tough rules at the stop of sports will help to deter those at lower levels - especially teenagers - from using drugs.

The FDA is warning you to stop using Hydroxycut, now. The weight loss drug is associated with serious side effects.

In a press release issued today, the FDA stated that it "has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure."

The entire press release can be read on the FDA's web site.

Most supplements are not tested by the FDA, leaving consumers to trust that the manufacturers are creating safe products. There is often no way to know if the supplement is safe, or if there is any interference with other medicines or supplements.

In other words, every time you take a supplement, you are voluntarily making yourself a guinea pig. Tell your doctor and your pharmacist what supplements you are taking and what drugs you also take.

Or better yet, don't take supplements.

Need to lose weight? Eat more vegetables, keep a food journal and exercise. Not only are these effective, they are also much safer than taking an unknown supplement.

We Ski and Snowboard is a sequel to Namco's We Ski. We Ski, released last year, was one of the first non-Nintendo games to take advantage of the Wii Fit Balance Board.

We Ski & Snowboard adds snowboarding to the mix, some new mountains and new characters. The snowboarding element basically allows you turn the balance board perpendicular to the TV and that's about it. You still cannot control your speed.

If you've played We Ski and like it, you'll probably like We Ski & Snowboard, though it's more of an extension than an upgrade. If you've never played either, you might as well go for the newer game.

The nice thing about skiing games for the Wii is that they help improve your balance. Down correctly, balance games force you to move your hips and shift your weight - exercises that are not often done. You won't get buff playing these games, but you will move - and that's a positive. Plus, as it gets hot outside, who wouldn't want to think about snow and a cool breeze?

This game won't get you buff, but it will get you off the couch and can add to your fitness regime. If you do a lot of walking, running or cycling, a balance game such as this will help to use muscles in a different way then you currently are - and that's a positive.

We just updated our Yoga DVD page with popular titles for all levels - including beginner's yoga and power yoga.

You can view the page at: http://www.netsweat.com/Pilates_Yoga/yoga_DVD.html