Hormonal birth control methods use female hormones to prevent ovulation (egg production) or to thicken natural mucus inside cervix making it difficult for sperm to travel through cervical canal to reach uterus. Such methods include--The Pill, skin patch, injectable hormones, vaginal rings, and implants (like Norplant).

Emergency Contraception is birth control that is given shortly after, rather than before, sexual intercourse. It is used when other forms of birth control were not used, used improperly, or used correctly but failed (broken condom), and a pregnancy is not wanted. Mistakenly referred to as "Morning After Pill," it is not same as an abortion pill used in Europe. It is actually a series of two pills taken 12 hours apart and within 72 hours of sexual activity.

As with nearly every human endeavor, when choosing a birth control method it is certainly not a "one-size-fits-all" situation. Every individual has their own distinctive habits and circumstances and they should be taken into consideration when adopting a method of contraception. Take your time, do some research to find out what is available and base your contraceptive decision upon knowledge you have obtained.

Make sure your eating plan contains appropriate calorie level--your plan should let you lose about 1 pound a week. This means eating about 300 to 500 fewer calories per day than you do now. BY losing weight slowly there is a much better chance that it will stay off.

Be sure you get enough vitamins and minerals. If you eat less than 1,600 calories, you may want to add fortified foods such as breakfast cereal to your plan, or take a daily vitamin and mineral supplement.

Everyone, including dieters, need protein. If you are a woman 19 years of age or older, you should get about 46 grams of protein each day. If you a man same age, you should get 56 grams a day. Protein is important to make repairs to body and prevent muscle breakdown.

Despite recent "fad" diets, about 55 percent of your daily calories should come from carbohydrates. However, this does not mean cake and cookies. Your carb calories should come from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. If you eat 1,500 calories a day, that means about 200 grams of carbohydrates. You need at least 130 grams of carbs each day to prevent fatigue and nausea.

Lastly, you should limit your daily intake of fat calories to NO more than 30 percent of your total diet. If you are eating 1,500 calories a day, you should consume no more than 50 grams of fat. Limiting fat consumption usually allows you to reduce caloric intake, which in turn, may help you lose weight.

It is not always easy to change a lifetime of eating and physical activity habits. You may have setbacks and frustration along way. But keep trying--YOU CAN DO IT! The results will be a happier, healthier, more satisfied you.