Keep Weight off with This Kid Pastime

Many of us haven't done it since our skinned-knee playground days. But research shows it may help keep you slim. Hint: It involves two wheels.

We're talking about riding a bike. And the women in a 16-year study who remembered how to do it -- and did it every week -- had an easier time keeping weight off than the non-pedal-pushers in the group.

Pedals Against the Pounds
In the study, even adding just 5 minutes of biking to each day made a difference in weight management. Of course, more biking is probably better for your body. Women who biked about 4 hours a week had some of the most impressive weight-management numbers. And the best news? Biking seemed to be even more effective at stanching weight creep in women who were overweight or obese. During the study period, the odds of packing on 5 percent of their starting body weight were slashed nearly in half by just 2 to 3 hours of cycling a week.

Steady As She Goes
If you have any health conditions, talk to your doctor before hopping in the saddle. For healthy individuals who practice good road safety, cycling offers not only a low-impact way to burn calories but also an eco-friendly way to run errands and get around. If biking just isn't in your future, here are a few other effective ways to avoid unwanted pounds:

• Eat up. Eating meals at regular intervals helps you get a handle on hunger, so you don't overeat.
• Don't let the weekends derail you. Get the YOU Docs' advice for preventing weekend weight gain.
• Rework your walk. Learn the four secrets to leaving more pounds on the pavement.