With so many weight loss diet plans out there an so many programs that offer you a fast and easy way to lose weight, it is easy to completely get lost. It's often difficult to tell which weight loss diets actually work and which ones are just a waste of your time and money. We have listed only the best diet programs available and make it easy for you to chose and lose weight.
- Sonoma Diet
The Sonoma Diet is a derivation of the Mediterranean diet. The diet plan consists of managing portion sizes and eating approved foods centered around 10 items known as the "power foods". According to the creator of the diet these foods were chosen for their nutritional value and intense flavors.
The power foods are:
Whole grains, Almonds, Bell peppers, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Grapes, Spinach , Blueberries, Strawberries, Olive oil
The Sonoma Diet has three distinct stages known as waves. The first phase which lasts 10 days is the most restrictive phase with the smallest number of foods allowed with the smallest portion sizes. During this stage sugar intake is greatly reduced. During the next wave a wider variety of foods are allowed and weight loss slows to a more gradual pace. Wave two continues until the target weight is reached. Wave three is known as the maintenance stage with a wider range of foods being allowed including the occasional dessert.
This diet is not classified as a low-carbohydrate diet or low sugar diet. People following the diet are allowed to eat whole grains, breads and cereals during all three stages of the diet. The plan does recommend avoiding white flour, saturated fats, and recipes with additional sugar. One of the tools used to teach portion management is plate size. For breakfast the diet recommends using an 18 cm (7 inch) plate and for lunch and dinner a 23 cm (9 inch) plate is recommended. - Diet Watch
DietWatch is an online weight loss program. It allows you to easily follow and track any of their plans offered or follow one of your own.
There are 4 mean plans
- No restrictions Plan
- Reduced Carbs Plan
- Heart Healthy-Mediterranean Plan
- Vegetarian Plan
Mastering Food Program
End emotional eating, lose weight for good. Bingeing, snacking, overeating and broken diets are all symptoms of emotional eating. DietWatch offers MASTERINGFood, which is your one-stop resource for free articles and assessments, as well as our innovative 12-week course, designed to help you overcome emotional eating and lose weight.
- Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers founded in the 1960s is a company offering various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. It started as a discussion group for how to best lose weight. It now operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under the name "Weight Watchers" translated into the local language.
- The Core Plan
In part as a response to the popularity of plans like Atkins and South Beach, Weight Watchers has recently developed a separate plan, known as the Core Plan. This plan classifies certain types of food as "core," and permits participants to eat core foods with the restriction that they should only eat these foods "until satisfied, not full." Core foods are a list of healthy foods from all the food groups, including fruits, vegetables, fat free dairy, lean meats, and whole grains. Non-core foods are assigned the usual point values, and participants are given an allotment of 35 non-core points that they can eat in a week.
- The Flex Plan
Under this plan, participants are assigned a set number of points they are allowed to consume per day based on their current weight. The number of points allowed may be increased with sufficient exercise, as in the Core Plan. Participants are given an allotment of 35 "flex" points, that they may use above and beyond the per-day points, that can be eaten in a week. As in 5 extra points per day, if need be.
- TurnAround
In August of 2004 the TurnAround Program (a registered trademark) was introduced which not only incorporated the Points and Core food plans but is intended to assist people with developing an overall healthy lifestyle. The program includes healthy food intake but also includes following 8 Good Health Guidelines, activity and member support. It is through all of the aspects of the program that members are able to not only reach their weight loss goals but to make permanent changes to support lifetime weight management.
In England, the plans are referred to collectively as the "Switch" program, and the two plans are called "The Points Plan" and "The Core Plan." They essentially correspond to the Flex and Core in America, except that in England there is no such thing as the 35 "flex" points allotted per week in the "Flex" plan, and the Core Plan UK members get only 21 points per week outside of their Core diet. In "The Points Plan," one may eat less points than has been calculated from their sex, weight, age, height, pregnancy status, and activity level and save these points up for a special occasion within the week. Interestingly, members in England know nothing of the American system while they could easily follow it. Dietary fiber is listed on almost every food item and allows an American member the ability to eat foods that are high in fiber and are filling, while using fewer points than they do on the UK system.
Once you have achieved your goal and lost the weight, it's time to learn how to keep weight off.