Weight-loss surgery is an attractive idea for many: Simply go under the surgeon's knife and all your extra pounds are gone. In reality, of course, surgery is never that simple. Here are the factors to consider before opting for weight loss surgery.

1. How overweight are you? If you are at less than 80 pounds overweight (for women) or 100 pounds overweight (for men), then you should probably think about other ways to lose weight. Those at or above those weight limits have Body Mass Indexes (BMIs) above 40, which adds additional health risks, such as diabetes, heart problems or sleep apnea.

2. What other options have you tried? Have you sincerely tried other sensible diet and exercise programs? Did they work at all? Or did you just give up after you didn't achieve the body of a supermodel in the first week?

3. Why do you want to lose weight? Do you think your life will be perfect once you fit into a size 2? Or do you realize that you will be same person, just wearing smaller-sized clothing? If you have severe health problems, the surgery can help to alleviate them. (However, be aware that your doctor may say those problems add too much risk to the surgery.)

4. Are you committed to making the lifestyle changes you will need to make after the surgery? Surgery is no magic bullet. You will still need to make significant lifestyle changes to keep the pounds off and to lose additional weight. You will have to eat smaller portions of healthier food and get more active. These are life-long changes: You can never go back to your old habits.

5. Are you aware of the potential risks? All surgery carries some risk. In this case, post-surgical complications include, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea and gallstones. In addition, your body has to relearn how to absorb nutrients, causing some people to become anemic or develop other problems. Some people must have further surgeries to correct infections and hernias.

6. Do you have the time for surgery? Depending on the procedure, plan on a recovery period of about one to three months, during which your body will be healing and you will be learning new eating and exercise habits. If this is a particularly stressful time in your life, you may want to postpone surgery a while.

6. What does the surgery cost? Depending on the type of procedure and other factors, weight-loss surgery can cost between $18,000 and $35,000. At least part of those costs may be covered by medical insurance if your doctor can convince the insurance company that the procedure is medically necessary. Those estimates do not count post-surgical costs such as visits to a dietician or for an exercise program. These and other post-surgical costs are generally not covered by insurance. Many providers do have payment plans, but be aware of the expense first.

Weight-loss surgery can be helpful, but it is vital that you know the risks. Get all your facts together before making such a crucial decision.

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When thinking about heart disease, we know that a change in diet is needed. In today's world of fast and convenient foods, people think more of saving time than saving calories and fat. If we can be just a little bit more conscious about what we are eating, then we can greatly reduce our risk of heart disease in the future.

One of the best ways we can change up our diet is by restricting our use of solid fats like butter, bacon, and gravies. These are known as Saturated and Trans fats. We often use these fats to help prepare the food we cook. Some great low-fat alternatives are olive oil, yogurt, and fresh fruit. Try to also be label-conscious and read the contents. Look for ingredients like polyunsaturated fats ñ found in nuts and seeds ñ and monounsaturated fats ñ found in canola and olive oil. Be wary of the boxes labeled reduced fat though as they often still contain the bad fats.

Something else we can do is to choose meats that are lower in fat. Fish is always a healthy choice and most even contain the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids our bodies need. These omega-3 fatty acids can actually reduce our levels of triglycerides. Lean cuts of pork, beef, chicken breast and turkey are also great choices. Beans and other legumes are a wonderful meat alternative, while still providing our bodies with needed protein. Soy and tofu have become popular in recent years also adding to the meat alternatives list.

The largest dietary change we can make is adding more fruits and vegetables. Many Americans do not even eat half of the servings the food guide recommends as it is not convenient. Fruits and vegetables are chock full of vitamins and minerals, the things we need each and every day.

Soluble fiber is often found in fruits and vegetables and is an excellent source for reducing our cholesterol levels. Fruits and vegetables have also been proven to help reduce heart disease. By snacking on these tasty treats, we are less likely to snack on something higher in fat.

It is easy to keep fruits and vegetables in the fridge ready for snacking as most just need a quick rinse in water and we can munch away. Sometimes even keeping vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower already cut up in the fridge or a bowl of fruit on the counter makes it easier for us to grab and go if we are in a rush.

Whole grains, as found in bread and pasta, are another great dietary change we can make to help our heart. Choosing 100% whole wheat breads and pastas gives us the nutrients we need that we cannot get from other foods. We also need to be aware of our salt intake. Salt is a huge heart enemy resulting in higher cholesterol levels. Processed foods often have added salt, so by choosing fresher foods, we are cutting our salt intake.

By adding more of these foods to our diets on a daily basis, not only are we reducing our risk of heart disease, but an added side effect is weight loss.

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1. Fast Weight Loss the Easy Way: Pen Power

It seems too simple to be true. Can you really lose weight faster with a food journal? Yes you can. When you write down everything you eat and drink each day, you'll find that you're motivated and that you cut down on what you eat automatically.

You can keep a food journal in a paper notebook, on your computer, or on your iPhone. Computer journals make it easy: they have calorie and carb counters, which make it easy to see when you're at or over your limit for the day.

Just write down everything you eat and drink, even the "tastes" you have of food when you're cooking. You'll be surprised at how the calories mount up. When you see how many calories you're wasting on sweets and sodas, you'll cut down.

In addition to writing down what you're consuming, make a note of your moods, especially at snack times. If you find that you need a sweet snack in the middle of the morning or in the afternoon, you develop a different strategy for those times.

2. Add Photos to Your Food Diary

Adding photos to your journal can inspire you. If you have camera on your phone, snap a photo of yourself every few days. You'll see that your body is changing. This will inspire you on those days that losing weight seems too much trouble.

3. A Food Diary on Your Iphone: Check the App Store for Weight Loss Journals

If you have an iPhone, keeping a food diary can be fun. There are several iPhone apps which cost less than a dollar: they're fun to use, and they let you track your daily calorie and carb count.

Since you always have your phone with you, you can easily enter your meals. The small apps contain a food database, so entering that slice of pizza takes just a couple of taps.

Start using a food journal today; you'll be amazed at the difference it makes to your weight loss.

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