Mary Beth,
If you don't eat vegetables you are at a much higher risk for many diseases, including stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and dementia. Recent news items highlight the role plant nutrients such as folic acid and carbohydrates have in fostering good health, but the benefit of just taking supplements is not well proven. The best way to maintain a healthy weight is to limit the intake of calorie-dense animal products while increasing the number of servings of vegetables.
See http://www.webmd.com /content/pages/7/306... or Google "Dean Ornish" for a good diet alternative.

Hi Mary Beth,Lifting weights is good because it is "resistence" training and good for the general health of the muscles. Losing weight however, is another story. Lifting weights with strengthen the muscles and muscle weighs more than fat, so if you have lost weight and then start lifting weights it will appear that you put on more weight (and the scale will say so too) because you are building muscle.Becoming a rabbit, crash and yoyo diets do not work. Even Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig are a "gimmick" in that they do not teach a person how or what to eat. They give you portion control, what I call "plastic foods" made from artificial ingredients with LOTS of SALT and are not good for your body.Being able to learn how to eat smaller portions of food, keeping your appetite in check and some moderate exercise are the best and most efficient way to lose and maintain weight loss. One way that I have successfully found to do this is to eat Appetizer Diet Cookies. I eat two a day. I don't like to eat breakfast IN THE MORNING, :-) so I have a yummy Oatmeal Raising Appetizer Diet Cookie (sometimes I smear some Apple butter or Peanut butter on a toasted one) with my tea. That holds me until about 1-2pm and then I eat 1/2 cookie before my lunch. I notice that when I eat 1/2 a cookie before a meal that I am not as hungry and do NOT eat the entire meal. In other words, my appetite has REDUCED NATURALLY simply because I am eating dessert first !My friend Sheryl in Plainview NY is an Avon lady and delivers her stuff to the ladies at lunch. She gained 20lbs from eating lunch out 5 days a week. NOW she eats a cookie at the restaurant while they are waiting for their orders and Sheryl has lost about 14 lbs in 3 weeks. She told me that she cannot finish her whole lunch and winds up bringing home 1/2 sandwhich or salad (it doesn't go to waste, she has teenagers at home, lol) Being able to Diet Responsibly, lose and maintain  a weight loss and be happy with what you eat is the REAL way to health :-) Don't feel like you should do what other people are doing. I yo yo dieted for years and got sick from losing and gaining. Weight watchers doesn't work because when you fall off you fall off HARD and then gain back more than you started with. Jenny Craig and the others have loads of SODIUM and are very hard on your body and organs. I prefer eating Dark Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin Cookies to lose and maintain my weight loss. They are Gluten Free, Diabetic Friendly and yummy. My favorite is the Oatmeal Raisin but my friends who are chocoholics prefer the chocolate chip. If you have any questions let me know. I am glad to help. May your day be a treasure bringing Increase and Plenty to your door.Practicing  Abundance, Prosperity & Kindness EVERY DAY,RSRandiSusan MalloryCompassiona te Marketing512.472.2604 Country Code 001SKYPE: rsmalloryBE a Mentor  with A Servant's Heart      Practicing Abundance, Prosperity & Kindness EVERY DAY, RS RandiSusan Mallory Compassionate Marketing 512.472.2604 Country Code 001 SKYPE: rsmallory BE a Mentor with A Servant's Heart

Lifting weights should increase muscle mass. Increased muscle mass leads to a higher caloric burn rate. So weight lifting burns calories to produce the muscles and continues to burn after.

"Now I'm hearing I should lift weights more." That is true......why cardio such as a tredmill burns calories....it does not burn as many fat calories as lifting weights.