How to Evaluate Popular Diet Programs
According to Dr. Michael Dansinger, nutrition doctor for NBC's The Biggest Loser, the idea that there's only one best diet plan is false. Instead, several diet plans exist that can produce successful weight loss and improve your health. The key is to pick the one best diet plan for you. Maybe it's a vegetarian diet, one that recommends high amounts of fish or a plan that sets a daily calorie goal but gives you flexibility in choosing foods. Evaluating today's most popular diet programs is the first step toward choosing the best one for you.
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Instructions
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Shop around and make a list of popular diet programs you're interested in. Your best source for diet program information will be the Internet, but also talk to people you know who've successfully lost weight and ask how they did it. Many popular diet programs have physical locations, so call and speak to the counselors, too.
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Ask for information on the specific foods you'll eat and how they'll need to be prepared. Consider whether the diet program is realistic for your lifestyle or will require too much adjustment.
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Ensure that the diet program requires some form of exercise. Not only does exercise combined with health eating give you the most efficient weight loss, but exercise provides further health benefits, like disease prevention and a higher quality of life.
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Ask about the cost of the diet program, including membership fees, the cost of food and the cost of any supplements or pills that are included in the program. Get an idea of the cost of the entire program, along with an estimate of how long you'll need to be on the program in order to lose the weight you want.
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Ask whether the program includes support from counselors and inquire about their qualifications or certifications. Does the program require group meetings or one-on-one counseling?
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Require that any diet program you choose provides you with an estimate of your projected weight loss depending on your current weight, your goal weight and the average weight loss for the diet program per week. According to HealthyDay News, any diet program that promises average weight loss of more than one to two pounds per week may be unrealistic.
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Ask to see testimonials from successful clients of the diet program.
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Tips & Warnings
Check with your doctor before starting any diet program, especially if the program includes pills or other supplements.
Avoid fad diets that promise outrageous amounts of weight loss too quickly, which can be dangerous to your health. According to HealthDay News, fad diets can also focus on one type of food rather than a balanced diet (like the grapefuit or cabbage soup diet) or require you to spend too much money on diet pills, which are often unhealthy.
