Nutrisystem is a meal replacement diet program.  By ordering all your meals through Nutrisystem you will have the convenience of your meals being already made for you as well as portion control.  Each meal has been created using the Glycemic Index.  The program promotes variety in the food choices, nutrition, hunger control and value as well as continuing to eat the foods you love.

Since all your meals are ordered via the program there is no need to count calories, carbs or points. There are a variety of programs to choose from depending on your gender, personal needs (such as vegetarian or over age 65) and food preferences (such as gourmet).  Some programs have meals as low as $3.  The program states that you can expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week.

In addition to receiving 3 meals and a dessert per day, the program will provide tools and counseling to help dieters learn what, when and how to eat as well as a dining out guide and daily meal planner. On Nutrisystem the dieter is responsible to add in fresh grocery items. The plan contributes dieting success to having meals with a low GI (Glycemic Index), portion control and eating frequently.

The Best Diets That Work Overview

High cost –$352-430 for a 28 day package for women. $352-463 for a 28 day package for men. There also is a Family plan that helps to save family dieters money on their plans.

Low time – All you need to do is order your meals online.  You can spend time on the Nutrisystem support online tool.

Self discipline – You will need to make sure you order your meals before you run out, although you can sign up for automatic shipments.  You will need to stick with the foods you order through the program and not deviate to other food or snack choices.

Weight loss – This diet is suitable to lose many pounds over a short to long period of time.  Results tend be steady with many people losing 1-2 lbs per week.

Long term – As long as meal replacements are ordered and consumed appropriately long term weight loss is attainable.  However, when transitioning off of the plan dieters will need to eat healthy.  It would be helpful to develop or find a diet guide that will help you watch what you eat to maintain the weight loss that is similar to the Nutrisystem concepts.

Other – Exercise along with the diet plan will greatly increase weight loss results.

The Zone Diet uses the concept of obtaining calories from a ratio of carbohydrates, protein and fats; specifically 40:30:30.  By using this ratio to for your daily meals it promotes balance to your hormones and insulin levels.  A benefit claimed by this diet besides weight loss is that this hormone balance is a natural anti-inflammatory that is good for your heart and health.

Carbohydrates—you should focus on eating fruit and vegetables for your carbohydrate portion of your meal and not the “traditional” meal carbohydrates that we think of such as starches, rice, pastas and grains due to the high fat content.  This should fill up 2/3 of your plate.

Proteins—these should be about the size of a small chicken breast or the palm of your hand (size and width).  This should fill up 1/3 of your plate.

Fats—such as olive oil, slivered almonds, walnuts, peanuts and avocado. This would be an addition or dash to your plate.

The Best Diets That Work Overview

Low to High cost – you can do this diet for a low investment by adjusting your meal planning and grocery shopping; you can research diet details online or buy a book.  Or if you prefer to order some Zone diet foods, snacks and a prepackaged meal plan you can order through the Zone website which would be a Medium to High cost.

Low time – Your time invested is in learning what you should be eating and prep towards all of your meals.

Self discipline – You will need to keep track of what you are eating to ensure that you are following the ratio guidelines.

Weight loss – This diet is suitable to lose a few to a lot of pounds over a period of time.  Also, this diet plan will aid in maintaining weight lost.

Long term – Once you are familiar and develop eating habits for this diet plan it is an easy diet that works.

Other – For some people this diet can be difficult since it requires that you give up carbohydrates such as pasta, rice and potatoes.

After spending time researching your dieting options if you are still unsure of the right diet for you there are online diet program websites that will help to find a diet that is right for you.  eDiets.com is one of the largest online diet programs that exists today.

eDiets.com offers a short personal survey that they will base their diet recommendations on for you personally.  These diet options range from access to dieting tools via their website such as personalized meal plans, support from dieticians, numerous support boards, personal fitness trainers, community support, expert’s advice and meal delivery services.  The eDiets.com site offers support in all areas of your dieting program to aid in your dieting success.

The Best Diets That Work Overview

Medium to High cost – depending on the plan you decide to go with the costs can be medium to high.

Low to Medium time – depending on the plan you decide to go with you might have very low time invested, although it is in your best interest to invest time on the eDiets.com website using the dieting tools you will have access to.  Also, spending time working out per your personalized fitness plan will greatly expedite the success of your diet plan.

Self discipline – if on an ordered meal replacement plan very low self discipline is needed, although you will need to stay away from eating foods and snacks that are not part of the meal plan.  If on a plan where you are responsible to make the meals you will need to stick to the meal plan designed for you.

Weight loss - This diet is suitable to lose a few to a lot of pounds over a period of time.  Also, this diet plan will aid in maintaining weight lost.  There is flexibility to be on the most appropriate diet plan for whatever stage of life you are in.  If you are looking for a ton of help or a way to kick start your weight loss plan you might want to start with the meal replacement program that is sent to your home.  Then transition to the diet plan where you make your own meals to.

Long term – Once you are familiar and develop eating habits according to the diet that is best for you this is an easy diet that works.

Other – This type of diet program offers professional advice and guidance regarding a diet plan that would work best for your needs and lifestyle.  There is support from experts as well as a community of fellow dieters.  Advice from fitness professionals helps to round out this diet plan.

To learn more about how eDiets.com can help you go to their website.

Disclosure: The Best Diets That Work is a publisher of eDiets.com

Body-for-LIFE is a diet plan that combines an eating plan with an exercise regime.  For the eating plan it is recommended that the dieter should consume 6 meals per day, about every 3 hours to help keep metabolism and energy levels up.  Also, a lean protein and carbohydrate should be combined during each of these meals.

Here are some tips that this diet promotes:
1.    Eat 6 meals/day
2.    Combine carbohydrates and protein at every meal
3.    Choose “appropriate” portion sizes
4.    Plan meals ahead of time
5.    Drink 10 glasses of water every day
6.    Use high-quality supplements
7.    Find your “emotional reason” for staying on track
8.    Strive for consistency, not perfection

For the exercise component of the Body-for-LIFE diet plan the focus is on high-intensity training which is believed to burn more fat than low-intensity activity.  This exercise plan includes both cardio and upper/lower body weight training.  Here is a suggested 2 week schedule:

Day 1  Upper Body Weight Training        Day 8    Lower Body Weight Training
Day 2  20 Minute cardio                               Day 9    20 Minute cardio
Day 3  Lower Body Weight Training       Day 10  Upper Body Weight Training
Day 4  20 Minute cardio                               Day 11  20 Minute cardio
Day 5  Upper Body Weight Training       Day 12   Lower Body Weight Training
Day 6  20 Minute cardio                              Day 13  20 Minute cardio
Day 7  Free Day                                               Day 14      Free Day

The Best Diets That Work Overview

Medium to high cost – you can do this diet for a moderate investment depending on what your current grocery shopping expenses are and if you decide to join a gym for the exercise component of this diet plan.  Also, there are books and journals that can be purchased to help with following this diet plan.

Medium to high time – Your time investment is in learning what you should be eating and prep towards all of your meals throughout the day as well as the time dedicated to the workout part of the diet plan.

Self discipline – You will need to keep track of what you are eating and ensuring that you are doing the exercise component of the diet plan.  There is a website that you can sign up with for help regarding the accountability of staying on track with the diet; however most of the accountability is with yourself.

Weight loss – This diet is suitable to lose a few to a lot of pounds over a period of time.  Also, this diet plan will aid in maintaining weight lost.  Those who commit to this diet plan see incredible results that can be maintained as long as they continue with the lifestyle.

Long term – Once you are familiar and develop eating habits for this diet plan as well as an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle this is an easy diet that works.

Other – You have the flexibility to eat whatever you want during your “free” day which helps to forgo the craving for a few days and then rewarding yourself by indulging.  It is not like other diets that will forbid specific foods for the life of the diet.  Also, the diet encourages you to set a number of goals to help motivate yourself during each day.

]]> http://thebestdietsthatwork.com/body-for-life/body-for-life/feed/ 0 http://thebestdietsthatwork.com/calorie-counting/calorie-counting/ http://thebestdietsthatwork.com/calorie-counting/calorie-counting/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 01:13:06 +0000 admin http://thebestdietsthatwork.com/?p=43

Calorie Counting is a diet plan that has been around for a long time and has been used by many dieters.  The concept is easy, consume fewer calories than your body uses and you will lose weight.  Although in practice you need some self discipline and determination to make the right food choices to help you succeed.

To lose a pound you must create a shortage of 3,500 calories for your calorie needs.  You can do this through exercise, a reduced calorie diet or a combination of both.  If you reduce your daily calorie consumption by 500 calories or exercise to burn off 500 calories a day you should lose 1 lb. a week.  You can also reduce calorie consumption by 250 and exercise to burn another 250 to achieve the same results.

First thing you need to determine is per your weight, height, age and sex how many calories your body needs a day to function.  This is your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).  You can find a number of BMR calculators online by doing a simple Google search.  Use a few of the calculators to help you determine your BMR calorie range as results vary from one BMR calculator to another.

BMR calculator links
www.caloriesperhour.com
www.fitwatch.com
www.bmi-calculator.net
www.health.discovery.com
www.internetfitness.com

Once you have determined how many calories you want to consume daily you need to track what you are actually eating.  Many people will keep a calorie counting journal to write down everything they eat and the calories for each item or meal.  To do this read the packages of the food you are eating and focus on the portions associated with the calories listed per serving.  Another tool is searching online for the calories in foods.  There are a number of calorie counting websites, however just typing “how many calories in ___________” into Google’s search engine will bring up a number of results.

Calorie Counting Websites
www.calorieking.com
www.caloriecount.about.com
www.nutritiondata.com
www.fitday.com
www.thecaloriecounter.com

The Best Diets That Work Overview

Low cost – you can do this diet for free, possible cost is investing in cookbooks with low calorie recipes.

Medium time – Your investment is in research regarding the calories your body needs, calories in the food you are eating as well as journaling everything you eat during the day.

Self discipline – You will need to keep track of the calories you are consuming daily and focus on staying within the calorie range needed for your body without formal accountability.

Weight loss – This diet is suitable to lose a few to a lot of pounds over a period of time.  Also, this diet plan will aid in maintaining weight lost.

Long term – Once you are familiar and develop eating habits for the calories you actually need this is an easy diet that works.

Other – You have the flexibility to eat whatever you want whenever you want.  However, you must stay in your calorie range to ensure weight loss.  Doing a combination of a calorie reducing diet and regular exercise is the best way for a health diet plan.

Weight Watchers is a weigh loss plan that has been around for 40+ years that helps dieters balance healthy eating with a healthy lifestyle.  This diet program includes group sessions, consultants and has online support.  This diet uses a point system to help you decide what to eat; the key is you must stay within the points allowed for the day and week.

Weight Watchers encourages exercise to increase weight loss in a shorter amount of time and to assist the dieter to have a healthier lifestyle.  Although many members still lose weight by adjusting eating habits without exercising.  The Weight Watchers four basic principles are: eating smarter, moving more, getting support and developing better habits.

Here are few foods with the corresponding Weight Watcher points:

Almonds (23 nuts)—4 pts
Apple (small)-1 pts
Bagel (small)—3 ptsBrownie (2″ square)-5 pts
Filet Mignon (4 oz)—-6 pts
Hot Dog on bun (1)-8 pts
Icecream regular (1 scoop)-4 pts
Milk Whole (½ cup)-4 pts
Pizza medium crust (1)—5 pts
Potato chips (1 oz)-4 pts
Chicken Noodle soup  (1 cup)—3 pts
Baby carrots (10)—0 pts
Orange (small)—0 pts

Here is Weight Watcher’s daily advice for their dieters.

Take a multivitamin
6 glasses of drinks
Reduce consumption of alcohol and sugar
Lean protein (1-2 times)
Healthy oils (2 tsp)
Fruit and Vegatables (5 servings)
Milk or Dairy products (2 servings)
Use Whole Grains instead of refined flour/grain products
Exercise 30 minutes (as many days during the week that you can)

The Best Diets That Work Overview

Medium cost – Weight Watchers on-line is $29.95 sign-up fee and then $16.95/month.  Weight Watchers Meetings costs vary by location, generally around $25 for first time registration and $15 meeting fee each week.  There are some Plans that you can choose from such as a 10 week commitment plan for $130 and a Monthly Pass that give access to online as well as unlimited meetings for $39.95.  However, once you master your weight loss techniques and reach your weight loss goal you will no longer be incurring the fees.

High time – Your investment is in learning the Weight Watcher point system, weekly meetings and recording of points during the day (usually by journaling).

Self discipline – You need to be able to keep track of the points for the foods consumed as well as follow the guidelines presented in this diet.  However, by attending the Weight Watchers meetings you will have a ton of accountability built into your diet as well as support.  The combination of both accountability and a support network are powerful motivators for many dieters and is why Weight Watchers has been successful.

Weight loss – This diet is suitable to lose a few to a lot of pounds over a period of time; also will aid in keeping off what you lost.

Long term – Once you are familiar with the point system and have adjusted your eating habits to focus on these types of food this is categorized as easy diets that work.

Other – Many foods list their Weight Watchers points on the package which will help with food decisions in this diet plan.