Evaluating Weight Loss Programs And Diet Books

Consumer Reports recently evaluated eight clinical diet programs and came up with a list of the top eight programs that showed clients achieving the most success. Let's take a look at the top five:

1. The diet book  Volumetrics Eating Plan by Barbara Rolls, Ph.D
2. Weight Watchers
3. Jenny Craig
4. Slim Fast
5. Atkins Diet

Volumetrics Eating Plan- Barbara Rolls in first book, The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan was so widely sought after from health care professionals that she followed it up with Volumetrics Eating Plan,  Hailed as being down to earth, sensible and motivational, the book geared toward the regular dieter is being gobbled up off the bookshelves. In her book, she talks about eating behaviors and offers solid alternatives to traditional snack food and meals. Using what she calls energy density foods to make up the meals, she offers no boring routines or one-food diet plans to follow. She writes straight from her heart in an effort to save those headed for cardio-vascular disease and other health issues.

Weight Watchers- What started as a "Chick Only Day" in the home of Jean Nidetch who was living in Queens, NY at the time, has expanded (no pun intended) into a company that employs over 50,000 people, reaching over 30 countries worldwide. Over 37 million people have enrolled in Weight Watchers since its modest beginning.

The success of Weight Watchers lies in the support that the members offer to each other. Weight Watchers doesn't just present you with a sheet of foods you need to eat, but you meet life coaches, motivational speakers and other memorial people who encourage and support you to succeed.

Jenny Craig- This program involves meeting not with a group, but with a diet consultant as well as talking to a diet centre. Meals are shipped to you pre-packaged in dry ice via Fed Ex once you pay for the program
you desire. Their Exclusive Premium Package costs $299.00 to join plus $80.00 a week for food. The Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program also offers each member (at added cost) a body makeover plan.

Slim Fast- Slim Fast offers diet shakes and snack bars claiming they have helped thousands to lose weight. They don't say anything about keeping the weight off. They also offer the consumer an exercise and activity program to follow while on the Slim Fast Plan. They offer you specific meal choices to accompany your beverage- Slim Fast Optima Shakes.

The Atkins Diet- Following in the footsteps of Slim Fast, The Atkins Diet was developed by Dr. Robert C. Atkins and offers shakes and snack bars along with an eating and exercise program. The Atkins Diet is a high-protein, low carbohydrate diet which can prove risky to certain types of people. The American Heart Association, the American Kidney Fund and the American Dietetic Association all warn about the risks of following a high-protein, low carbohydrate diet.

Popular Diet Books

There are as many diet books on bookshelves as there are calories in Serendipity 3's dessert Grand Opulence Sundae, served up to New York's finest in a crystal goblet. Nestled inside the goblet is the finest vanilla ice-cream topped with imported chocolates, caviar and real gold. The price might be a good weight deterrent though at $1,000.00 per serving.

Some of the more popular diet books popping off the shelves are:

Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink Ph.D.
This book explores the emotional reasons behind why we eat what we do, and why we eat as much as we do. Written with wit and wisdom, it allows the readers to see food for what it really is, for the first time in their lives. Written in a user-friendly style, it is also available on CD.

The Paleo Diet- by Loren Cordain, Ph.D.
The author reminds us that our Paleolithic ancestors thousands of years ago, subsisted on the earth's bounty for their food. This bounty included lean meats, seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and nuts and berries. He returns us to this healthy eating program within the pages of this insightful book dedicated to wiping out most food-related health issues we now suffer from.

The Zone A Dietary Road Map by Barry Sears and Bill Lawren-
Designed to keep your blood sugar and hormones in balance, The Zone offers you an eating program that can be difficult to follow based on its restrictions of what you CANNOT eat. Eating in The Zone means that each meal is allowed 30% protein. 30% fat and 40% good carbs.  The only grain allowed is oatmeal. Although the prepared meals in the book are nutritious the difficulty comes in following the plans and staying on point. Regardless, the book seems to be flying off the shelves. The Zone reinforces the importance of planned home cooking and besides being good for the waist, it can also help a family unite around a dining room table for meals.

Foods that Cause You to Lose Weight: The Negative Calorie Effect by Neal Barnard
Definitely a book geared toward the vegan lifestyle. The recipes in the back of the book are tasty and easy to prepare. The book depends on density eating, eating lots of vegetables instead of piling roast beef on your plate. If you are a meat eater, this book is not your cup of tea.

The Ultimate Weight Solution- The Seven Keys to Weight Loss by Dr. Phil McGraw
Charismatic Dr. Phil takes the jump from television to this diet book. He's no Richard Simmons who went from fat to thin by exercising, and watching what he ate. He lost over 123 pounds. Dr. Phil talks your ear off in this book. But he does give you good pointers and reminds you of facts about food you might have forgotten. 

His keys are:

1. Thinking about food correctly
2. Healing your hurts not eating them away
3. Setting up your environment so you won't fail your diet.
4. Becoming Master over Your Food
5. Knowing the difference between high caloric and highly nutritional foods
6. The benefits of exercise
7. Surrounding yourself with support.

Most diet books will repeat the same thing over and over. If you need an extra push to remember what common sense should already be saying to you, then some diet books are good guidebooks to own.