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Read This-Lose Weight

WebMD Feature from "Esquire" Magazine

By Chris Carmichael

Esquire Magazine Logo We like the idea of losing weight, but we don't want to make a bunch of painful sacrifices to get there. That's why we asked Lance Armstrong's coach, Chris Carmichael, to help us generate this list of dietary adjustments that seem minor.

THE OLD WAY: Coke (one per day)
THE NEW WAY: Diet Coke (or any other zero-calorie soft drink)
CALORIES SAVED: 51,100
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 14.5

THE OLD WAY: deep-dish cheese pizza (two slices per week)
THE NEW WAY: thin-crust cheese pizza
CALORIES SAVED: 8,320
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 2.5

THE OLD WAY: butter on your bagel (three bagels per week)
THE NEW WAY: fruit preserves on your bagel
CALORIES SAVED: 14,976
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 4

THE OLD WAY: mayo (on three sandwiches per week)
THE NEW WAY: mustard
CALORIES SAVED: 13,260
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 4

THE OLD WAY: omelettes (two per week, two eggs each)
THE NEW WAY: egg-white omelettes
CALORIES SAVED: 12,272
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 3.5

THE OLD WAY: bacon (three slices per week)
THE NEW WAY: turkey bacon
CALORIES SAVED: 15,756
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 4.5

THE OLD WAY: regular domestic beer (six per week)
THE NEW WAY: light domestic beer
CALORIES SAVED: 14,664
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 4

THE OLD WAY: Burgers (two per week)
THE NEW WAY: Turkey Burgers
CALORIES SAVED: 10,816
ANNUAL LBS LOST: 3

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS IN A YEAR: 40

For more advice one eating smart, check out Chris Carmichael's Fitness Cookbook (Penguin, $24).

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