Whether they want to fit into a wedding dress or to overcome a serious health condition, millions of Americans vow to lose weight every year. No matter what your reason for trying, there are things you can do to help make your resolution stick. Read up on some interesting facts about foods, exercise and obesity. Then get some more information on ways to shed those extra pounds.

Facts:

• Roughly 45 million Americans are dieting right now, and most of them will not make it three days. 
  
  
• Five cups of cooked pasta equals 1,000 calories. 
  
  
• Eating burns 80 calories an hour. 
  
  
• Healthy blood sugar ranges from 120 to 140. 
  
  
• The average American woman is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weights 153 pounds, and is 32 pounds overweight. 
  
  
• More than 75% of obese people claim their diets are healthy. 
  
  
• Muscles can keep burning fat up to 15 hours after a workout.
   
  
• Normal blood pressure is 120 over 80. 
  
  
• Type II diabetes can typically be cured by weight loss. 
  
  
• Weight-lifting raises your blood pressure to more than three times the normal rate (always get a doctor's clearance before beginning any new workout routine). 
  
  
• An extra tablespoon of mayonnaise each day can add up to 10 pounds a year. 
  
  
• Drinking halts weight loss. The body cannot burn fat until it burns off all available alcohol. 
  
  
• It would take seven minutes of walking to burn off one cookie.
   
  
• The body does not burn fat until 20 minutes into a workout. 
  
  
• Eating a small meal every two hours keeps your metabolism at its highest. 
  
  
• Over 5 million Americans have hypothyroidism (low thyroid). Experts estimate that another 9 million Americans are undiagnosed.

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