Weight is the exact opposite of a grade point average. GPAs drop lightning fast, but they're really difficult to bring back up. Weight, on the other hand, is quite easy to gain and not-so-easy to lose. Divine Caroline counts down four reasons why weight is so finicky:

• Simple math. To maintain your weight, you need to burn as many calories as you take in. Consuming extra calories will result in weight gain. It's easy enough to exceed your calorie needs on a day-to-day basis, it's especially easy to do so when your routine is altered (like during a vacation).
• A pound is a pound is a pound. To gain a pound you need to consume 3,500 extra calories. Over the course of a special dinner out, an extra serving of dessert, and some extra large portion sizes you can reach that 3,500 calorie mark quite easily. To lose a pound, you need a deficit of 3,500 calories. Reducing the calories you eat and burning extra calories through exercise can give you the deficit you need -- but it takes commitment and effort on your part.

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The old weight-loss-in-a-pill wish. I think most of us who have a few pounds to lose have wished it could be that easy from time to time. And when you watch the commercials on TV, they certainly make it seem like magic. Think about it -- one second an overweight person is pictured and the next second -- BAM! -- that very same person is thin and somehow tanner and more smiley. What a miracle, right? Not only do the pills help you lose weight, they must also make you tanner, happier and give you better hair. Who wouldn't want some of that magic?

Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Weight loss requires work and a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. And, while some weight loss pills undoubtedly do help, there are associated risks. Jacki recently told us about the risks with some of the more popular weight-loss medications, most of which are available by prescription only. But a lot of the lesser known medications can be risky, too.

The FDA listed 28 weight loss products that contain hidden -- and potentially harmful -- ingredients. No, thank you. Check out the gallery for more tried and true ways to shed pounds.

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Here's a tongue twister for you. Say N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines. Can't pronounce it? Yeah, neither can I. But this unpronounceable family of hormones -- which, thankfully, are nicknamed NAPEs -- might prove to be a good friend in fighting obesity.

NAPEs are natural substances released in the body which help us to feel full. New research indicates that varieties of this hormone might one day be effective in controlling appetite, which would make it an important soldier in the fight against obesity.

Research is still in its early stages -- tests have only been conducted on rats and mice at this point -- but researchers are cautiously optimistic. In the study, rats who were given NAPEs consistently ate less and lost weight. Though results aren't firm, research indicates that some people may have abnormal releases of NAPEs in their systems, which could potentially contribute to obesity.

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Everybody wants to hear that weight loss is easy. Just think of all the commercials you see for miracles pills or diet plans -- all the smiling, happy people talking about how quick and easy it was. I have two words to say to that: Yeah, right.

The fact of the matter is that losing weight is challenging. Changing any lifestyle habit is a challenge and diet and exercise are no exceptions to that. And, since many people who are overweight have emotional reasons for eating, there's sometimes even more to tackle than simply cutting calories and exercising more.

Divine Caroline counts through nine cold, hard truths about weight loss. For example, while you might have heard that 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week is enough, if you want to lose weight, you're better off doing more than that. But don't let the facts discourage you. Yes, changing lifestyle habits is hard ... but the effort is so worth it. Not only will losing weight improve your overall health and appearance, you'll find that you feel better, more positive and energized. The results are well worth the effort you put in.

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Most people play to win. Otherwise, what's the point of the game? And whether we admit it or not, there's always a part of us that wants to be number one. But each of us has also had to contend with not winning, too. And that's OK.

In fact, it's more than OK -- in a moving article in The New York Times, losing is praised as a necessary and important life lesson. Losing not only teaches us humility but earning our victories the hard way teaches us how valuable it is to dedicate ourselves to something. As columnist John Scwartz points out: "Americans tend to frame things in terms of contests and wars that must be won or lost. Many challenges, however, are about hanging in there and managing a bad situation. Losing prepares you for the slog that is life. The world doesn't give us many finish lines, but it does give us the long run." To read more, click here.

I couldn't agree more. Your thoughts?

(via Well Blog)

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When it comes to weight loss, slow and steady wins the race. But what do you do if you only have a week to squeeze into your thin jeans?

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Several years ago I was in the process of losing some extra pounds. I was working out every evening and had gradually progressed to a relatively intense routine. And then I hit that dreaded point most people who are trying to lose weight hit at one time or another... a plateau.

I increased my exercise, I reduced my calorie intake a bit further, I did everything I could think of to shake myself out of that darn plateau. Then, at the suggestion of my boss at the time, I added a second workout session in the morning. That did the trick! Better yet, I found that I enjoyed the morning exercise and stuck with it for a long time.

I think we all have fitness frustrations from time to time. Whether you're trying to lose weight or training for a specific event or just trying to reach a personal fitness milestone -- as rewarding as fitness is, some amount of frustration is to be expected. But, like anything worth doing, if you stick with it, you'll get through the frustrating points and reap the rewards. Self Magazine asked readers for their fitness frustrations and then experts offered possible solutions.

What are some of your fitness frustrations?

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If you've faced weight loss and dieting before, my guess is that you've probably been discouraged when you reach that "plateau." You know, when you stop rapidly losing weight and the more realistic weight loss timeline sets in?

This alone discourages many from continuing weight loss diets, and old habits slip back into the picture. That's too bad, since a diet should be considered a lifestyle change more than a temporary goal. That's just not the case with many people.

But weight loss 'plateaus' are very common and are part of the weight loss process. In fact, some folks begin dieting and don't see that scale go down at all for a while -- which can be very distressing indeed. To see what do do when a plateau interrupts your dieting plan, consider this advice. It's not you -- or is it?

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Ninety-five percent of those who lose weight will regain it within a few years, according to Harvard Health Reports. WOW. Not such a hopeful scenario for those about to commit to a weight-loss plan. Unless you consider the secret of those five percent who are successful. It all boils down to maintenance.

A diet won't last for the long-run unless a maintenance plan is implemented. This means cutting out the junk food for a few months and dropping those dreaded pounds won't truly work if you head right back to the cookie jar once the weight is gone. Practicing healthy habits once you shed the pounds, on the other hand, will work.

Research shows that people who maintain weight loss are those who dedicate themselves to healthy, low-calorie eating and regular physical activity. While diet and exercise plans differ greatly, most have theses commonalities: they involve strategies an individual likes, they satisfy a personal goal, and they are easy to stick with. Maybe neighborhood walks are your thing. Or tennis with a friend. Perhaps grabbing a piece of fruit to curb your cravings works well while someone else might read a book for distraction. It doesn't matter what action you take. Just take it. And drop your membership in the 95 percent club once and for all.

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I don't think that anyone would be particularly happy to notice that their hair is thinning. It's got to be upsetting for men, but since it's a more common occurrence among that sex, I think that it would be even harder for a women who is losing her hair.

If you've found that your mane isn't as thick as it used to be, is patchy or even starting to show bald spots, you might want to check out this gallery, which offers 20 tips on how to deal with thinning hair. The first, and probably most important tip is to head to your doctor. There may be a reason why you're losing hair and a physician can help you find a remedy.

Additional advice includes improving your diet and taking vitamins to improve hair quality, experimenting with a new hair style that will disguise patches and trying out volumizing or other specialty products to improve the look of your hair. To see the rest of the tips, take a look here.

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Introducing kids to sports is a wise idea. It's steers them away from television and video games, channels their boundless energy, teaches lessons in cooperation and determination and well, it's just good for the body. Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, herself a life-long athlete, says sports are particularly good for girls.

"If you're a mother of daughters, encouraging them to participate in sports is the best gift you can give them," Roberts says. "Playing sports, feeling the competitive drive, winning and losing -- these experiences build self-esteem and character."

Roberts says even grown women become timid because they get stuck feeling they have to be liked by everyone. Sports shakes that out of you, she says. It's the best training ground for adult life.

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No matter what kind of fad diet you try, or crazy new exercise routine, losing weight (or maintaining your weight) is really just about the math. Calories in versus calories out. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts.

3500 calories equals one pound, so if you overeat by 3500 you've gained one pound and if you burn an extra 3500 you've lost one pound. The great news is that the fitter you are the more calories you burn, not just by being more active but because your metabolism moves faster. So even though you probably hate math in this situation it can really work in your favor.

Although it can work against you too, if sitting around eating fast food everyday is your thing...

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