Weight Loss Programs

There are numbers and numbers of weight loss programs, supplements and gurus to pick from when you decide that you must take off those excess pounds. You won’t have to look far to get the motivation, the meal planning, the tips, tricks and tools to help you. The hard part is getting started and finding the right weight loss program that fits your lifestyle and your work habits.

Your success rate is also related to your reasons to lose weight. Your reasons will increase motivation or leave you high and dry when the ice cream is calling at 10 pm. Gurus aren’t there at 10:30 am when your boss brings in donuts and you can’t call a friend when the brownie mix in the cabinet is begging to be baked at 2 am.

Do you need some external motivation from your weight loss program? Or just have the whole thing laid out? Or are you pumped, motivated and can’t wait to see some pounds drop off while you are sweating and pumping iron? Read below – there is a weight loss program waiting just for you!

DietWatch is an extremely customizable program that uses a straight forward approach and a 12 week program that addresses the needs of people who are emotional eaters. This is a diet that is more than just meal plans and it isn’t influenced by some of the newer fad diets.

The Sonoma weight loss program is a new Mediterranean diet that brings balance and good food with a gourmet flair into cooking for weight loss. If you aren’t a cook or don’t enjoy being in the kitchen this is definitely not for you. The standard Mediterranean diet is high in fiber, vegetables and good nutrition. For centuries people in Mediterranean countries have enjoyed long lives and good health. The diet has very few restrictions and depends upon satisfying your palate and your stomach without blowing your calories.

Burn the Fat is a popular weight loss and training program with men. It addresses the three core principles of fat loss – nutrition, cardiovascular exercise and weight training. The author, Tom Venuto, gives a 100% money back guarantee on his product. Unfortunately you must be exceptionally motivated since it is not center based but rather a book that outlines the program. If you want to gain muscle mass while losing fat this is the program for you.

Weight Watchers is a popular center based program that has gone through a metamorphosis in recent years, much like their current spokes model Kirstie Alley. Originally a calorie counting program it now revolves around points – which equal calories. It is center based, doesn’t sell you foods, provides good support with their counselors and the participants. Your motivation must be internal but they provide a bit of external motivation with public weights. The cost is extra for the meetings but the program, proven over time with thousands of people who post successful weight loss, is free.

Diet.com is a unique online weight loss program that combines a nutritional base and behavioral approach. Internet based, they have a free newsletter delivered weekly to your email. The site is interactive and encourages dieters to post to blogs, take quizzes, watch video’s, participate on forums and add recipes. There is a free side to the program that provides recipes, online support, weight loss challenges, diet tools and trackers, special diet offers from other companies and weekly advice.

Meal replacement programs are popular weight loss programs because they take the guess work out of ‘how big is a portion’ and ‘when should I eat’. It’s a bit like being at the spa but at home.

Nutrisystem is a popular weight loss program that appears to be cost effective for the foods they provide. Obviously they are unable to box and mail produce and perishable foods but they provide a list of what is appropriate for each meal. It is based on the glycemic index and is about portion controlled meal plans. Fortunately they control the portions, which are mailed to you. If you can resist eating other foods this program teaches you the correct amounts of food and helps to streamline your efforts. There is no cooking time, no counting calories and no meal planning. The price comes out to approximately $9.00 per day for the food they provide. If you can’t stand the taste of prepackaged food forget this plan.

Medifast is a meal replacement plan for people who have 75 pounds or more to lose. Although they are a meal replacement program that sends the food to your home they also have centers in Florida and Texas, They have a minimal website compared to other Internet based programs but they do provide live chat to their customers and potential customers. There is a 30 day money back guarantee on their products. They advertise a loss of 20 pounds in the first month – no shopping, no cooking, portion control and customized to men, women and diabetics.

Weight loss programs are popular because they work. They provide the participant with the motivation, the structure and the support that is needed depending upon your own unique circumstances.

Resources:

USA News: Best Weight Loss Diets

http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-weight-loss-diets

NutriSystem: Lose Weight and Have it All this Fall

http://www.nutrisystem.com/jsps_hmr/home/index.jsp

Jillian Michaels: Custom Weight Loss

http://www.jillianmichaels.com/free-custom-weight-loss.aspx

HelpGuide: Choosing a Weight-Loss Program

http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/weight_loss_programs.htm

Fitness Magazine: Weight Loss Plans

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/plans/

WeightControl Information Network: Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight Loss Program