How to Compare Volumetrics to Other Diets

Since the Volumetrics Eating Plan is really an overall lifelong strategy rather than a specific diet, it is difficult to compare it with diets that tell you just what to eat and when to eat it. You can also create your diet using the Volumetrics Eating Plan. Volumetrics allows you considerable flexibility but tends not to meet the goals of those choosing diets for a quick fix.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Determine Your Goals and Needs

1. Set a realistic goal for how much weight you want to lose and how long you have to lose it. If your goal is to lose 10 or 20 pounds in the next 2 to 4 weeks in order to look good on the beach or at your class reunion, you are looking for a short-term diet.
2. Review your personal history with dieting and weight issues and determine what kind of support you need to make a long-term difference in your overall health, fitness and eating habits.
3. Evaluate personal lifestyle issues that may affect the suitability of various diets or eating plans, such as whether you tend to prepare your food and dine alone or with other members of your household.

Compare Volumetrics to Other Diets

4. Read the annual Consumer Reports rating of diets to compare the pros and cons of Volumetrics and other popular diets including Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig (see Resources below). The Volumetrics diet was recently rated first by Consumer Reports, just ahead of the other diets mentioned above.
5. Give an edge to Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig if you tend to require the structure and personal support or accountability that can be associated with weekly weigh-ins, packaged food choices and supervision. However, such programs are much more expensive than Volumetrics, which only requires the purchase of a book.
6. Consider choosing among highly popularized, big-promise diets such as Atkins and South Beach if your diet goals are primarily targeted to lose a lot of weight in just a few weeks.
7. Choose Volumetrics if you trust yourself to follow a sensible weight control plan over a long period of time, without supervision, in order to lose weight gradually and keep it off.

Tips & Warnings

• Even among fad diets, there tends to be a certain amount of truth in advertising on the front covers of their respective diet books. Diet books that promise a significant amount of weight loss in the first 2 weeks tend to be good for about 2 weeks. Books that make no specific front cover weight loss promises often accomplish more in the long run.
• If your weight is more than 25 percent higher than it should be for your height, gender, age and body structure, it may be advisable to consult your doctor and explore the possibility of combining a weight control plan like Volumetrics with medical intervention in the form of medication or surgery.