Having trouble maintaining your weight loss? Phone a friend -- or better yet, a counselor, says one recent study. Reports detailed in this article showed that of 200 obese women who lost weight through a diet program, those who participated in telephone or counseling kept the weight off for longer than those who went at it alone. These findings are exciting for researchers because telephone counseling is more cost-effective than traditional counseling.

Still can't afford the cost of phone counseling? Create your own support group of friends, or even just one friend who knows your goals and weaknesses. When you feel the urge to binge on something you know you shouldn't, when you need the motivation to get your butt to the gym, when you just need someone to talk out your feelings with, have someone on speed dial. And be sure to return the favour.

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It seems like every time I turn around, there's a cool new app out for iPhone. Go ahead, turn around -- there's a brand new one out now that you just might love, and, for a limited time, it's free!

iSPINNING tracks your heart rate as well as other cardio and cycling data, such as speed and cadence, so you can use it both in a spinning class or on the road or trail. Right now, you can download it for free by logging into the App Store from an iPhone or iPod Touch and searching under the Healthcare & Fitness category. You'll be able to checkout how it works before committing, although, since it's free, what's there to lose?

This new application is perfect for spinning fanatics as well as anyone interested in trying out the newest fitness technology. Give it a go and let us know how you liked it in the comments!

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If you had to cut back on expenses and were forced to choose between cutting back on your cell phone minutes and cutting back on food, which would you choose? Virgin Mobile is hoping you choose to cut back on food, which, according to a recent survey of their customers, is what most people prefer.

In the survey, 88 percent of the respondents said they'd be dining out less frequently, while 41 percent planned to buy fewer groceries to combat the weak economy. However, just 32 percent planned to cut back where cell phones were concerned. So, in essence, they're willing to give up food before giving up a chance to chat.

I call shenanigans. Here's what I think: People responded this way with good intentions -- maybe, by cutting back on eating out and groceries, they figure they'll eat less junk and consume fewer calories. However, when push comes to shove, and someone's craving ice cream, they're still going to run out to Coldstone and buy that five dollar sundae. But, it raises a good question -- how is the economy affecting your diet?

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Kids sometimes look as if they're glued to their cell phones. If they could only complete their homework as quickly as they can send text messages, they'd really be set. Even better: Maybe text messaging could also help them lose weight.

Researchers are actually questioning if text messaging could become a weight management tool. We already know that keeping a journal of weight loss or other health-related goals is a tried and true method. However, many people can't stick to journaling for the long-term because it can become tedious. A recent study followed three groups -- one that monitored health goals through text messaging, one that kept a paper journal, and one that didn't self-monitor progress at all. The study included children (ages 5-13) and their parents. The group reporting progress via text message had a lower attrition rate and had significantly greater adherence to self-monitoring.

I think keeping track of weight loss progress through text messaging is a great idea -- it's convenient and it could offer instant feedback. However, I question whether it's a good idea for children and teens. Weight loss is obviously the primary goal when a child or teen is obese, but another goal must be protecting/correcting the child's relationship with food and bolstering their self-esteem. Will reporting their progress through text messaging be motivating or demeaning? What do you think?

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I recently interviewed Erin Andrews, the very pretty and fit sideline reporter for ESPN. While we spoke, Erin told me her secret to staying really fit and trim. After gaining 10 pounds "eating like a guy" with the College GameDay crew, Erin was mortified to see her much larger bum showcased all over the internet.

I was like "Oh my God!" she said. "What happened to my butt?!!!" And with that ... Erin hired a trainer, changed the way she was eating and made sure she didn't try to keep up with her male coworkers at the bar. Can you imagine having the world document each and every pound you gained each day of your life?

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Think of your cell phone as a diet coach, your quit-smoking partner, your own personal health manager. Really. Just sign up with these three companies and your cell phone will help you stay well.

INTELECARE
For $5 a month, text messages, e-mails, or voice mail reminders will alert you about prescriptions and appointments.

QUITEXT
If you wish to kick your smoking habit and have a spare $20, supportive tips and advice will come your way for six weeks.

SENSEI
You log your weight-loss goals and fitness habits and you'll get daily meal recommendations and weekly grocery shopping lists. Motivational notes too. All for $6 per week.

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As I have mentioned before, I'm not a fan of carrying anything with me on a run. However, there are certain things I need -- house key, iPod, maybe my phone if I'm going a long distance, even money for really long runs that take me past a gas station. But seriously, there is no way I'm holding on to all that, and I'm pretty sure nobody wants to accept a dollar from my sweaty sock at mile five.

My friends at gracie's gear were kind enough to send some samples of their Power Pouch sports bra and top, and I am sold. Number one, and most importantly, the bra provided excellent support -- throughout a long, intense workout, there was no bouncing or chafing, and if felt phenomenal.

Secondly, the bra is cute -- I have black with pink, but it comes in a bunch of other colors. And it's not low-cut in the front, so it's perfect for those of you who are self-conscious about showing cleavage while you work out. But these aren't the things that set gracie's gear apart from other sports bras.

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Mississippi takes top honors once again in the fattest-state contest, according to the results of a 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The state has had the highest obesity rates every year since 2004.

While Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Louisiana are not far behind, Mississippi is the one with 30 percent of its adults tipping the scales at obese levels. Perhaps it's because the South has a lot of rural residents and black women -- both groups tend to have higher rates of obesity -- or because the typical Southern diet is rich in fatty and fried foods. Perhaps the results of this study are not entirely accurate -- it was conducted over the phone and not with actual weigh-ins.

Colorado wins for least obese state -- 19 percent of adults here are considered obese -- mostly because of its healthy and active communities. Skiing, biking, and hiking apparently keep Colorado folks moving.

Where does your state place? According to this CDC site, my state of Florida is 24.1 percent obese. Plug your state in here, choose the year '2007' and the category 'Overweight and Obesity (BMI)' and see how it compares.

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Hooray! Fellow blogger,Jacki Donaldson just brought up a great subject. Using your phone to help you stay motivated works! I use text messages to harass my personal training clients, and I always receive feedback that they've inspired and kept the recipients in line when tempted to go to the dark (not-so-healthy) side.

Having said that, my brilliant colleague, Tracy Benham, is the mastermind behind TxtVox's Get Fit text messages. The girl is a sharp exercise physiologist and fitness trainer (we met getting our Master's Degrees in Exercise and Sports Sciences). Let her in your mind a couple of times a week ... and sooner rather than later ... your body will rockin'! The texts come twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, and are really just there to motivate, educate, and harass you like a personal trainer would.

Go to TxtVox.com. Find the All About Me section, and then check off the box Get Fit! And did I mention that it's free? Oh yes! It is. If you're someone who could use a bit of consistent motivation from a REAL-DEAL professional ... TxtVox.com Get Fit messages are the way to go.

My husband wants me to get a phone with an alarm on it because he's tired of hearing me complain when I forget something. He uses one to prompt him on sorts of matters -- upcoming meetings, birthdays, and to-do list items. Clearly, it works better than my paper lists do, so I think I'll let him trade in my cell phone for one with more bells and whistles. I'll use it for all my important dates and deadlines -- and maybe for my exercise plans too.

A new Stanford study found that people who used gadgets like iPhones and BlackBerries to monitor their fitness routines were more likely to stick with their workouts. Check this out: 37 non-exercisers were put into two groups. The first group was prompted twice a day to log their activity levels and set exercise goals. Those who didn't respond received three more alerts. The second group, well, they got educational handouts on exercise. Any guesses on what happened? After eight weeks, the PDA users had exercised about five hours per week. The others: Only two hours per week.

Two reasons I need a spiffy new phone: I'll stay more organized, and I'll stay in shape too.

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There's something about cell phones that make medical alarm bells ring. Do you remember the reports of cell phones causing cancer? How about the dangers of exploding cell phone batteries? Now there's a new risk factor -- researchers are saying that cell phone usage during pregnancy can cause hyperactivity and emotional or behavioral issues in children.

Over 13,000 mothers in Denmark were surveyed -- some didn't use a cell phone at all, others used one sporadically, and a third group used their cells often during pregnancy. Their results indicate that using a cell phone as little as two to three times a day during pregnancy can cause health issues -- hyperactivity, conduct issues, emotional issues, or difficult with relationships -- for the children. What's more, if the children used cell phones themselves before age 7 they were 80% more likely to have behavioral issues.

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If you plan on getting vertical any time soon, you may want do a bit of online shopping before you go. Women's Health magazine compiled a list of must-haves to keep you comfy, protected, and looking sharp while you increase your elevation.

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Samsung came out last year with a phone geared toward the active person, and now they've stepped up their commitment to fitness by teaming up with Adidas.

The SGH-F110 miCoach mobile phone will be released sometime in April as a competitor to the Nike+ system. It is geared heavily toward more fitness-minded folks, implementing features like a beep to let you know when your pace slows and software to monitor your heartrate and distance. A pedometer, MP3 player/FM tuner, and camera will be included as well.

According to the New York Times, the price for the deluxe kit will be around $612 and will include phone, heart monitor, shoe sensor and more. This is quite a bit more than the cost of the Nike+ sport kit, but there is a major difference -- the Nike+ sport kit requires the runner to wear Nikes, while the Samsung/Adidas option fits on a runner's laces, regardless of the brand. This will be an interesting match up, and I can't wait to see who wins the race.

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The world today is full of all kinds of health and beauty hurdles like stressful schedules, unhealthy eating habits, and...cell phones?

Studies have shown that your cell phone may be the cause of some of your skin and complexion problems, including everything from breakouts to premature aging and wrinkles. In addition to having bacterial build-up that can cause breakouts when the phone is held up close to the skin, Artificial Electromagnetic Waves (or AEWs) emanate from the phone and could be speeding up the aging of your face by causing cellular damage and premature wrinkles.

The whole idea of cell phones and how they do or don't damage our health is constantly up for debate, so I'm not sure if I believe this or not (although it does make sense). What do you think?

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When it comes to our health, we're constantly hearing different things from different sources -- sometimes it's even contradictory information! It's hard to know what's real and what's false. But here's a little bit of help: This article from Reuters explains at least a few common health claims:

• Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes
• Shaving does not make hair grow back thicker
• Eating turkey does not make you drowsy
• We don't only use 10% of our brains
• Hair and nails do not keep growing after death
• There's no evidence to support that mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals
• There's also no evidence to support that you need 8 glasses of water a day.
  

Interesting, huh? As far as the last one goes, though, I do think you need lots of water, if only to supress your appetite from spinning out of control.

Want to know the reasons behind these? Click here.

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