Society has grown radical about their weight loss programs. The desire for fitness has clouded the fact that weight loss should also include a healthy diet plan to achieve the long term weight loss benefits. As a result, many weight loss programs have sprung up on the internet, in gyms, spas and weight loss programs all over.

You may not have to go to the gym, spa or any weight loss program center and spend much just to slim down or obtain that longed for sexy body. There are many books available in the bookstore, which offer weight loss programs that are convenient and for free, of course the books are not a complete solution. These weight loss programs, or diet plans are gaining immense popularity through publicity, testimonials and reviews.

Before choosing which weight loss programs to follow, read these summaries about the most popular diet plans. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution; by Dr. Atkins: This weight loss program encourages high protein diet and a trim down on the carbohydrates. You can feast on vegetables and meat but should fast on bread and pasta. You are not restricted against fat intake so you can pour on the salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. After the diet plan, you may find yourself lacking in fiber and calcium yet high in fat. Intake of grains and fruits are also limited.

Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet; by Drs. Heller: This diet plan advocates low carbohydrate consumption. The weight loss program depends on eating meats, vegetables and fruits, dairy and grain products. However, warns against taking in too many carbohydrates. Your meals are too high on fats.

Choose to Lose; by Dr. Goor: The weight loss program restrains fat intake. You are given a “fat” budget. The weight loss program does not pressure you to watch your carbohydrate intake. Dr. Goor encourages eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafood. An approval is also given on eating vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss program is fairly healthy with good amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats. Watch triglyceride levels though; if high, trim down the carbohydrates and eliminate more of the fats.

The DASH Diet: A diet plan that suggests moderate amounts of fat and protein intake and high on carbohydrates. Primarily designed to lower blood pressure, the diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Some dieters think the diet plan advocates too much eating to procure significant weight loss.

Eat More, Weigh Less; by Dr. Ornish: This weight loss program suggests primarily vegetarian and strictly low-fat. Gives the approval of “glow” foods but warns against non-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet plan is poor in calcium and restricts consumption of healthy foods like seafood and lean poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type: Weight loss program that is based on your blood type, recommends plenty of meat for people with the blood type O. Diet plans for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and too low in calories. For the record, there is no documented proof that blood type affects dietary needs.

The Pritkin Principle: Focused on trimming the calorie density in eating by suggesting watery foods that make you feel full. Eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy is okay. The diet plan limits protein sources to lean meat, seafood and poultry. Although it is healthy by providing low amounts of saturated fat and rich amounts of vegetables and fruits, it is also low on calcium and limits lean protein sources.

Volumetrics: For low-density calorie eating. The weight loss program recommends the same foodstuff as Pritkin but restricts fatty or dry foods like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This diet plan is reasonably healthy given the high amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as being low in calorie density and saturated fats.

The Zone: Weight loss program that is moderately low on the carbohydrates yet moderately high on the proteins. The diet plan encourages low-fat protein foods like fish and chicken plus veggies, fruits and grains. It is also healthy but lacking in grains and calcium.

Weight Watchers: Weight loss program that is high in carbohydrates and suggests moderation on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan, unless you are a diabetic. However, it allows the dieter to plan his own meal rather than give him a set diet plan to follow.

I recently completed months of research to compile a list of the top ten diets that work. I put together the list at the request of MANY personal training clients. In performing my research, I not only uncovered key aspects of successful diets, I also found shared characteristics of unsuccessful diets.

1) Starvation Is NEVER Successful

Never means NEVER!
I discovered one diet, for example, that limited individuals to 500 calories a day. The diet was developed by an Italian doctor, and combines the 500 calorie diet with injections of HCG, which is a growth hormone found in young boys. Despite a lack of creditable evidence that the combination “aids” weight loss, the diet has been around for years.

Individuals do, in fact, lose weight rapidly on the diet. However, common sense tells us that ANYONE would lose weight on 500 calories a day!

H-E-L-L-O!

I discovered that individuals tend to feel tired and weak on the diet, and gaining back the lost weight is the general rule. Frequent periods of no weight loss,(plateaus), are common due to a profound metabolic slowdown. Plateaus were far less common in the top ten diets that work.

2) The Diet Has Little Variety

Diets that offer little variety can be boring and unsafe. If a diet focuses on one food group, for example, such as protein, it lacks essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. Each of these has an important role in an individual’s health and well being

The monotony of eating too much of one kind of food can make sticking to the diet long term, very difficult. Also, if an individual manages to lose some weight, the chances are great that the weight will return when they return to their previous eating preferences.

3) The Plan Has No “Exit” Strategy
For a weight loss program to be truly succesful. a maintenance plan must be included. The top ten diets that work, for example, all had a maintenance plan to hep individuals keep the weight off