A Quick Look at Some of Today’s Most Effective Diets

The idiot-proof diet is all about calorie shifting. That is, in this diet, you shift your food intake throughout the day instead of eating just 3 meals a day. The diet is popular because it’s actually very easy to follow and there are hardly any restrictions when it comes to the types of food you can eat.

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The Idiot-Proof Diet

The idiot-proof diet is all about calorie shifting. That is, in this diet, you shift your food intake throughout the day instead of eating just 3 meals a day. The diet is popular because it’s actually very easy to follow and there are hardly any restrictions when it comes to the types of food you can eat.

The ‘calorie shifting’ model takes place because you eat every two and half hours. The theory is that because your body is consuming calories (energy) constantly throughout the day, it’s always in ‘burning calories’ mode instead of the ‘saving calories’ mode.

When you sign up for the diet, you get access to a diet handbook, an 11-day diet-plan and a diet calculator. You get to pick what foods you like to eat so don’t think that you’ll be tarving in this diet!

NutriSystem

The NutriSystem way of dieting is all about proper meal planning. People love this diet because it takes away the burden of trying to figure out what to eat during their dieting phase. You see, a lot of people actually get confused as to what they can eat when they want to lose weight. That’s not really surprising because there’s so much information out there and for every yay sayer, there is a nay sayer so it’s really tough to know what to eat.

However, with NurtiSystem, they do all the meal planning and portion controlling for you. You just need to sign up to any of their diet programs (e.g., Women’s Program, Men’s Program, Vegetarian Program, etc.) and order a multi-day (usually for 28 days) diet program.

After you choose your diet program, a menu is presented to you and you simply choose what you want to eat. The meals are then delivered to your doorstep at various intervals during your diet program.

The South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet is popular because the name alone conjures bikini-clad bodies! Add to that the fact that it was founded by a cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston, then you have a sort of ‘doctor recommended, doctor approved’ seal on the diet as well.

At first glance, the South Beach Diet looks a lot like the Atkins Diet in the sense that it restricts carbohydrates during the initial phase of the program (there are 3 phases). The first phase (14 days) encourages ‘normal eating’ in the sense that you can pretty much eat whatever you want but you must NOT eat bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, or baked goods. Fruit is also not allowed. No sugar. No alcohol.

The second phase allows you to SLOWLY introduce these items back into your diet but at lesser levels that you consumed them before of course. The third phase is more about general maintenance.

Weight Watchers

Probably one of the longest running diet programs out there is Weight Watchers. It believes in the overall approach where food, exercise, behavior and support are addressed.

Weight Watchers is known for advocating a point system for foods. Using this system, one calculates the calorie intake of the foods he or she eats. The number of points you can have in a day varies depending on your weight. The beauty of the program is that there are no gut-wrenching food restrictions so you never feel deprived of anything. However, the point system teaches you how to balance your meals so that even if you indulge on one food item, you don’t go overboard and consume too much in a day.

Diet Diary Your way to Double the Weight Loss

Big news related to a study on dieting that you will in fact double your weight loss by keeping a food diary as well as just a few additional added tasks. Fairly simple concept that is quite obvious to me as to why you would achieve a much increased better weight loss.Accountability raises the bar when addressing success with weight loss and for that matter most tasks. You merely need to read about the most successful programs for dieting and up pops Weight Watchers every time. Makes complete sense to me that when someone has to weigh in weekly and then attend a meeting in a crowded room with everyone trying to achieve the same objective that the natural conversation is something like; How much weight did you lose this week? Yikes! Such accountability… You cannot deny that it is a huge piece of the widly chosen program for weight loss called Weight Watchers .The new study conducted by Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Health research recommends a weight loss diary as well as a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low to non- fat dairy products and 30 minutes of daily exercise to double your weight loss. In the diary, they would write down what they ate, and also estimate the portion sizes to help keep track of calories. Sounds pretty much like the Weight Watchers concept for a healthy weight loss program. It is just very simple accountability that elevates the speed in achieving the desired end result. Nothing like feeling accomplished at the end of the day. The more in depth detail you write in your food diary will directly correlate to the bottom line of your end result.Here is my recommended list of questions that you should answer in your diet diary only after you purchase a small notebook that will be able to travel with you daily.1. At the top of the page write down the date and don’t be shy about using as many pages as you deem necessary daily. Do this every day until you have reached your desired weight.2. Write down every morsel of food you put in your mouth as well as the number and or estimated size. (Just that task alone will make you put less food in your mouth to avoid picking up your pen)3. Write down each the time you ate it and estimate calories.4. Write down your how you feel when you ate? Was it satisfying?5. Write down each time you exercise even if it’s only 2 push ups and 8 crunches.6. Write down how you feel at the end of each day.Are you looking to lose weight? Something like 20 pounds in the time it takes to lose 10? It just doesn’t get any simpler than this technique and I am not surprised at all that it is proven that you will double your weight loss.

HCG Injections: The Lowdown

HCG injections for weight loss, you’ve probably run across some information on the internet, if your a avid user. But like many of the new dieting trends, you probably don’t know what it is or how it works. There is much controversy surrounding HCG injections and a surge in interest over their ability to help people lose weight fast. Here are the basics behind the latest weight loss regime to hit the market.

What are HCG injections?

HCG injections are derived from human chorionic gonadotropin, which is a hormone developed during a woman’s pregnancy. This hormone helps to maintain the health of the ovary as well as produce progesterone during the nine months. This progesterone is crucial in the development of a healthy baby. It helps build up the uterus in order to protect the budding embryo. In fact, HCG is such an integral part of the human life cycle that the levels are what is used to detect pregnancy. It can be used to force a woman to ovulate, which is a method used by many fertility clinics.

How do they aid weight loss?

Although there are still tests being performed, some people have come to believe that the injections are viable weight loss methods. Some companies and health stores offer oral pills, but these are often thought to be ineffective. HCG injections are generally administered by a health professional or nutritional organization. A small amount is injected into the body and a strict, low-calorie diet must be followed in order to achieve the best results possible. Some individuals who stick to their regular HCG injections and maintain the diet find that they can lose one to two pounds a day.

What is the cost of HCG injections?

This can vary greatly depending on brand, supplier and insurance coverage. Some insurance companies do cover the injections or offer discounts. You’ll have to contact your carrier for more information. Without insurance, a month’s supply of HCG injections could run you a few hundred dollars.

How long does treatment last?

It is most often recommended to be treated through cycles to ensure the best results. The initial treatment will be a month, with most days requiring a HCG injection. Afterwards, another month may be taken or if the desired amount of weight is lost the treatment can be stopped. After two treatments, most professionals recommend taking a month or longer break as it is thought that continual usage can lead to immunity or less desirable results. Only four total cycles are recommended.

Is it safe?

There are always potential side effects and risks, so it is important to discuss any new diet plan with your doctor beforehand. Headaches, nausea, blood clots, depression, and pregnant-like symptoms have all been reported after using the injections. Many people, due to costs involved, choose to perform injections themselves which can also present certain risks if not done carefully. Be sure to research and understand the diet fully before committing to a cycle.