Losing Weight: Gaining Confidence (NAPSA)—Theskinny to losing weight in a healthful way can be easier than many people realize. Here are three top tips from The American Heart Association: * Start slow. Do low to moderate-level activities, especially at first, then slowly increase the duration and intensity as you become morefit. * Remember the amount of total fat and cholesterol that should be included in your daily menu (your doctor can help you develop an eating plan). Total fat intake should be no more than 30 percent of your daily calories and your cholesterol intake should be less than 300 milligramsa day. * Choose activities that are fun, add variety and surround yourself with supportive people. Sticking to healthful eating can bedifficult for dieters on the go. Fast food is often tempting. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing for those watching their weight. Manyfast food restaurantsoffer lowfat choices on their menus—from salads to sandwiches. Onerestaurant in particular garnered national attention for helping one manlose 245 pounds. Jared Fogle becamean unofficial poster boy for weight loss and a hero among frustrated dieters. He incorporated Subway’s low-fat sandwiches into his meal routine. Pam Blakeman of Springfield, Illinois, was one of those people Fogle inspired. “Tm very determined never to get as big as I was before,” said Subway’s Jared and his friends are all smiles about maintaining a heart healthylifestyle. Blakeman, a mother of two, who boasted a 60-pound weightloss. Myra Jackson of Tallahassee, Florida, lost 30 pounds with help from Subway’s “7 under 6” sandwiches. The restaurant features seven different low-fat sandwiches, all under six gramsof fat each. “T used to get tired just from walking up the street,” she said. “Now I am able to run miles and enjoy doingit.” Former shoe-company executive Kenneth Sanford, of Franklin, Tennessee, lost 56 pounds and was so inspired by his accomplishment that he purchased his own Subwayrestaurant. As for Fogle, he still enjoys Subway sandwiches and has kept his weight at about 190 pounds— down from 425. More information on healthful eating is available on the Web site at www.subway.com or by calling toll-free 1-800-888-4848.
