Diet Guide

As a feature writer covering the topic of weight loss, I've reviewed a lot of diets and weight loss programs over the last several years. I know that finding a weight loss plan that gets results can be an overwhelming task.

Some weight loss plans are purely diet scams to get you to spend your money on a book or product, some are intended for short term weight loss and some are sensible, healthy weight loss plans that can actually help you reach your weight loss goals.

In general, weight loss pills and drinks are a dime a dozen. Some weight loss products claim to raise your metabolism (like Hydroxycut), some block or absorb your fat intake (like Alli diet pills) and other claim they can suppress your appetite (like Meridia).

Always question, research and read before starting a program. And, hopefully this guide will give you a head start.

Now, let's get you smart and fit- the 411 on Weight Loss Programs
Do you want to lose weight and create a healthier lifestyle? You could spend endless amounts of time searching the Internet for the latest diet research or through mountains of books written about weight loss. Reading and processing all of the weight loss information available can make your head spin. Let me introduce you to the best weight loss programs and save you time and aggravation learning about the rest. I've sifted through these diet programs and will advise you on which are the best weight loss plans.

Different Approaches to Weight Loss: Popular Weight Loss Programs
There are many types of weight loss programs available. There are low-fat diets, low carb diets, detox diets, low calorie/restrictive diets, replacement diets, mind-body solutions and weight loss plans based on support. Let's learn about each:

• Low-Fat Diets. It is a natural way of thinking that if you are fat; you can lose weight by cutting out the fat from your diet. Low-fat diets work to some extent because they remove high calorie foods from your meal plan. It isn't the fat in your diet that is making you fat though. Consuming too many calories and not moving enough to burn them off cause excess fat storage. The problems with foods that are labeled low-fat are that they add sugar to make up for the lost taste.
  
• Low-Carb Diets. Low carb diets have been a craze for quite some diet. Atkins Diet (not Adkins diet) and The South Beach Diet are two popular forms of the low-carb diet. There is still a lot of controversy over the idea of cutting carbs out of your diet and in consuming too much fat. Though users achieve higher weight loss success in the beginning of the diet, it is difficult to follow long term and it may do damage to your body in the process.
  
• Low-Calorie/Restrictive Diets. Most doctors and dieticians recommend that you don't consume fewer than 1200 per day. Anything less than 1200 calories per day and it is considered a restrictive diet. It is not uncommon to find low-calorie programs through hospitals with close supervision or through weight loss products that claim quick weight loss results. The fact is you can lose weight quickly in the beginning of a restrictive diet. The problem is that your body will readjust, think you are starving and hold onto every bit of fat you have to stay alive.
  
• Detox Diets. Detox diets rant and rave about the parasite living in your body and how to get rid of them. Detox diets often include very little food (if any) and a strict regimen of drinking a special tonic. Most detox diets are simple scams to make money off of people who are desperate to lose weight quickly. I compare this type of dieting to getting the flu. You are sick for a few days and can barely function. You are able to shed a few pounds, but the minute you put a real peace of food in your mouth again, it all comes back.
  
• Replacement Diets. Replacements diets come in several forms. One of the most popular weight loss plans that are a replacement diet is Slim Fast. You swap 1-2 of your meals for a shake that is low in calories and eat sensibly at other meals to lose weight.
  
• Support Based Diets. Support based diets are more social than other weight loss programs. They require meetings to weight in, discuss progress, learn new things about losing weight and reward those who have done well. Weight Watchers and TOPs Diet are examples of support based diets.
  
• Mind-Body Solutions. Mind-body solutions are often the most sensible weight loss programs because they involve changing your body on the inside as well as the outside. Bob Greene's The Best Life Diet and Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution are examples of this. The weight loss plans show you how to change you're thinking about food and about your body to create a healthy attitude and lifestyle to support weight loss and maintenance.
  

Now that you are aware of the popular weight loss plans, think about the weight loss plan that fits your personal needs.

• Strict dieting. Are you able to follow a strict diet?
  
• Including your family. Will your family follow the weight loss plan along with you? Some programs aren't healthy for kids to follow. Also consider if you are willing to cook separate meals for everyone to accommodate your weight loss plan and serve what everyone else likes to eat too.
  
• Emotional eating. Are you an emotional eater? Do you need help breaking the pattern of eating to feed your emotions instead of eating to satisfy hunger and fuel your body?
  
• Health problems. Do you have pre-existing health problems that require a specific diet? For example, if you have high cholesterol, it wouldn't be healthy to follow the Atkins Diet.
  
• Weight loss goals. How much weight do you want to lose? Losing 10 or 100 pounds will require a different weight loss plan.
  
• Support. Do you have a solid support group in your friends and family? If not, you will do best if you can find a support-based weight loss plan or connect with a buddy on the Internet to take the journey with.
  

Let's look at my picks for the best diets. Take a look at them with the following in mind.

• Food. What kinds of foods are allowed on the weight loss plan? Are you expected to cut out an entire food group or not eat any foods for a few days? Will you need to buy pre-packaged or organic foods?
  
• Exercise. What does the weight loss plan say about exercise? Does it recommend a sensible amount of daily exercise, require that you spend a majority of your time at doing squats and running or does it completely avoid the subject of exercise?
  
• Emotional support. What does the weight loss plan advice you to do when you experience cravings, have setbacks or just need someone to cheer you on? Some programs have support built into them while others expect you to find the motivation from within to be strong and keep going.
  
• Body image. Pay attention to what the weight loss plan will do for your self esteem and body image? A solid weight loss plan will address this issue and help you deal with negative thoughts and build a positive body image.
  

Best Bests: Which are the Best Weight Loss Plans
My top picks for weight loss plans are those that pose the least health risks, promote a healthy lifestyle, address the when, where, why and how you eat and are proven to help overweight and obese people shed pounds and keep them off.

Overall Best Weight Loss Plan:

• Weight Watchers is still number one. Even though Weight Watchers is a weight loss plan that has been around since 1963, it is a sound program that provides information, recipes and support at weekly meetings. They have managed to stay competitive with newer programs by offering online memberships and changing their meals plans to include more choices. Weight Watchers is a motivational weight loss plan that encourages healthy eating and lifestyle change.
  

Best Weight Loss Plans for Families:

• You on a Diet is a healthy lifestyle weight loss plan by Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr, Mehmet Oz. Families can lose weight and get healthy together by learning how their bodies work, how to read hunger cues and healthy ways to fuel their bodies.
  
• The Best Life Diet is another family-friendly plan that is written by Bob Greene. There isn't any advice in this weight loss plan that can't be applied to children or teens. Use this book as a guide for a healthier lifestyle for everyone in your family.

Best Weight Loss Plans for People with Busy Lifestyles:

• eDiets is a popular choice for an online weight loss plan with support. Basically, you pay a small monthly fee to have menu plans emailed to you based on your answers to a series of questions. eDiets is a network of weight loss plans and their tests narrow down the field to the top two programs that would work best for your current lifestyle habits and your weight loss goals.
  
• Sparkpeople.com is another alternative for people on the run. Sparkpeople is an online site devotes to helping people lose weight and reach their goals one step at a time. The site offers recipes, support, and motivation, tracking tools and access to the experts. It is easy to keep track of your calories and exercise to keep yourself on track. Best of all, Sparkpeople is free!

Best Weight Loss Plans for the Severely Obese:
While many severely obese people are turning to medications and surgical options to get to a healthy weight, there are some resources that can help them lose weight on their own. Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution, Richard Simmon's Food Mover Diet and Medifast are a few program tailored to severely obese people.

• Dr. Phil launched a weight loss plan based on his book, The Ultimate Weight Solution with a weight loss challenge that kick started a lot of severely obese people into weight loss mode. The reason this plan works is because it doesn't just address what you eat or how much you exercise. It takes a look at the big picture and asks why, how and where you eat. It requires you to walk through seven doors of success to meet your weight loss goal and maintain it.
  
• Richard Simmons is probably the most recognized weight loss guru, but he has a passion for helped extremely obese people. He has a product called the food mover, in which you can track your daily foods, water and exercise to hold yourself accountable for your actions.
  
• Medifast is a weight loss clinic that also offers online memberships and support. It is a clinically proven weight loss plan that involves meal replacements. They sell packaged shakes, soups and other food replacement foods.

Best Weight Loss Plan for Vegetarians:

• Eat More, Weigh Less (a weight loss book by Dean Ornish) is our best pick for vegetarians. Though most weight loss plans can be adapted to a vegetarian's dietary needs, Eat More, Weight Less is written exclusively with vegetarians in mind.

Always keep in mind that choosing a weight loss plan is a personal decision and what works for one person won't automatically work for everyone. There is controversy around many weight loss plans because experts and diets feel strongly about each particular dieting strategy.

Sources
Articles and research studies from a wide variety of sources were read to bring you the best weight loss plans available. Specific details for these diets were found on the following websites: Webmd, Ediets, Suite101, medicinenet, thedietchannel.com, freedieting.com, life.familyeducation.com, medifst.com, about.com and all the consumer review sites!