Diets
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Popular, mainstream diets and my thoughts about each:
Atkins Diet
Promises: Dieter's won't be
hungry, and will be on the way to better health and memory function.
Plan: The Atkins theory is that
overweight people have eaten too many carbohydrates. Our bodies burn both
fat and carbohydrates for energy, but carbs are used first. By drastically
reducing carbs and eating more protein and fat, our bodies naturally lose
weight by burning stored body fat more efficiently.
My Thoughts: Stay away.
Studies have shown that severely restricting carbohydrates leads to liver
problems and other health issues. Always maintain a balance of
carbohydrates, fats, and protein.
Weight Watchers
Promises: A healthy body that has
resulted from a healthy lifestyle. Mental, emotional, and physical health.
Plan: People will be able to make
good decisions regarding food and exercise by following a good-health
outline. This is a plan that is done for the long term - truly a "lifestyle
change" rather than a short term diet.
My Thoughts: This is the best diet
plan that I know of. It is not perfect by any means, but I would recommend
it for someone who is just starting out with trying to lose weight. It
teaches how to make better food choices and also acknowledges the mental and
emotion aspects involved with weight loss. Dieters can attend meetings or
follow the plan online.
Jenny Craig
Promises: Lose weight and keep it
off.
Plan: This method uses a
three-level food-mind-body plan to help people lose weight and keep it off.
At the first level, the program teaches clients how to eat the foods they
want -- in small, frequent portions. At the second level, the program
teaches clients how to increase their energy levels via simple activity. At
the third level, the program teaches clients how to build more balance into
their lives in order to maintain weight loss and healthy diet.
My Thoughts: I have known some
people who were very successful with Jenny Craig. The pre-packages foods are
convenient and a good way to enforce portion control. My only concern is
whether a person would end the program with the tools to cook their own
healthy meals in the future. In addition, very limited vegetarian options
are offered.
South Beach Diet
Promises: Dieters can lose weight
by cutting carbs and upping protein.
Plan: Similar to Atkins, the South
Beach diet emphasizes restricting carbs, while eating more protein. "Good
carbs" are allowed on this plan, but South Beach dieters leave out potatoes,
fruit, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, beets, carrots, and corn for the first
two weeks.
My Thoughts: If you're interested
in a low-carb diet, I'd recommend this one over Atkins because it seems less
extreme. Remember that there are some good carbs, such as fruit and whole
grains. Sugar and refined grains are the ones to limit.
Slim-Fast
Promises: Cutting portions will
cut down your weight 10% in six months.
Plan: Diet shakes, meal bars, and
snacks help dieters cut down their portion sizes. The new 3-2-1 plan
promotes 3 snacks per day (snack bars, fruit, or veggies), 2 Slim Fast meal
bars or shakes, and 1 balanced meal of about 500 calories. The total calorie
count of the day adds up to 1200.
My Thoughts: This plan can work if drinking the shakes
and eating the bars will actually be a reduction in calories for you. It can
be very convenient because two of your meals can just be grabbed with no
thought or prior planning, and not even any heating.
My only real concern is long-term
maintenance. If you've only ever done Slim Fast as a weight loss plan, you
won't be learning many tools for eating healthy meals on your own. If you
follow their suggestions for the "balanced" dinner each day, you might learn
enough, but that's up to you.
Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss Solution
Promises: You can lose weight by
taking stock of your personal thoughts and goals.
Plan: Dr. Phil outlines seven key
points to understanding and facing your "personal truth" - how you view
yourself and your weight. Then you must replace these toxic messages with
positive thoughts, says Dr. Phil.
My Thoughts: It is good to see
that a well-known diet plan is focusing on the emotional aspect of weight
loss. It has been my experience that it is very important to examine your
mental habits when trying to make such a large lifestyle change. The
physical part - food and exercise - is important, too, of course, but one
will not work without the other.
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