It's hard not to notice all the different weight loss/diet programs that have flooded the Internet/TV/Print Ads. There are plenty of gimicks, pills, devices, surgerys, non invasive surgerys, all with the idea of helping you
lose weight, and looking better almost instantly.

If you want to lose weight there is always the natural way. Eat less, exercise more. Simple but effective. The end result is this, how many calories did you take in vs how many calories did you burn during your day?

Anything above your normal calorie maintenance means you will tip the scale a little heavier. Less calorie intake and you may even smile when standing on the scale. But most of the time the scale is going to show nearly the same weight within about +- 3 lb. range.

The best diet you can choose is the one you can stick to. What's the point of restricting yourself and losing weight when you find that it has taken a lot of the pleasure of eating away from you. And typically once the weight is off then it's time to reward oneself by indulging in all the goodies formerly sacraficed. This is what the mean by the yo-yo diet.

A diet that works is one where you're taught to eat in moderation and understand that there will be small sacrafices that is so worth it to get the results you desire.

The mirror will be the result of your efforts. You are more likely to be happy by what you see when you make smart choices like skipping that piece of german chocoloate cake.

Most diets do the same thing, teach you to reduce calories, in one way or another with the emphasis on the combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat.

You can lose weight by doing a few simple things.

1. Stop calling it a diet and start thinking of it as a life style change.
2. Reduce portions but add a meal. Eating frequently (good stuff) will keep the metabloism burning calories and reduce insulin spikes.
3. Eat healthy snacks between meals. This is like priming the pump. Keep the metabolism working by eating a good snack between those 4 smaller meals. Or eat a snack between every meal spaced out about every 2 hours.
4. Always eat breakfast. It starts your metabolism and this is when you can eat the majority of your carbs for the day.
5. Do not starve yourself by trying to reduce calories. This leads to binge eating and is counter productive to your metabloism.
6. Do some form of exercise. Dedictate 60 minutes out of your day to work up a sweat with some physical activity.

Popular Weight Loss Plans and Products Reviewed

Ediets (Jams)

Ediets is a an online diet and fitness plan dating back to 1997.
It offers over 20 plans including, the Atkins Nutritional approach, The Glycemic Impact Diet, The Slim-Fast Optima Diet and a range of healthy living plans for those with special dietary needs.

In addition to the online plans is a meal delivery service that ships freshly-prepared, nutritionally balanced meals, snacks and desserts directly to your door. It makes it convenient way to eat well and lose weight without the effort needed for meal shopping and cooking.

The program is designed around your goals and is customizable. You determine the weight you want to lose taking into consideration the foods you enjoy, the time you will afford to the program, your level of activity, and other variables.

The program provides a good support program with the community forums, professional trainers,and nutritionist to help you succeed.

For what it's worth they offer you professional support, peer motivation, customized workout plans, and meals you can either prepare or have delivered. They really made this system easy, you just need to get involved and make a commitment to yourself. 

Medifast (Jams)
Medifast is a clinically proven portion controlled nutritionally balanced program that has helped people lose weight faster than traditional diet plans.

The program is well designed in that they have you eat 6 meals a day keeping your metabolism efficiently burning the calories. The meals are smaller in portion and actually create a calorie deficit. The frequency helps with the craving of food from dieters feeling deprived.

I like the fact the meals are nutritionally balanced. It is also well suited for the busy lifestyle who don't have the time to prepare and eat healthy.

Typical weight loss is between 2-5lbs per week. Results will obviously vary with people and their commitment to the program.

Medifast has been clinically proven through a number of controlled studies. More than 20,000 physicians nationwide have recommended Medifast programs to their patients -– and more than one million customers have safely used Medifast for over 25 years.

Mediterranean Diet(jams)
The Mediterranean Diet is based on eating fresh foods from grains, fruits, vegetables, seafoods, legumes, yougurt, olive oil. The seasonal foods are grown locally and processed foods are avoided. So no bleached, or enriched flours or sugars. Wine is also a part of the diet although limited to 2, 3oz glasses with dinner. Some lean meats are ok, but are used less in this diet and replaced with vegetables.

The danger in this diet is eating too much fat. The other thing that aids this diet is that the Mediterranean people tend to do a lot of walking in their day as opposed to us westerners typically tied to a desk a good 8 hours followed by a commute home usually followed by a seat on the couch.

The reason I select jams for this diet is I like the fact that there is a majority of organic foods, and little processed foods or sugars. Removing the sugars and flour from the diet will have you losing weight easily and naturally.

The Lemonade Diet (scam)
The premise of this diet is to drink a mixture of lemon juice, purified water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. You drink this for 10 days without any food consumption. Will you lose weight? Certainly, because you have very little calories coming into your system. The difficult part of this is, it is not sustainable. It will help to detox your system but not in the healthiest of ways. It is not a long term solution and not really a diet program. It is a detox system. When the fast is over you body will begin to store what you eat in the form of fat due to it being in a starvation mode for so long.

The weight will then soon return. For that reason as a diet this is a scam.

South Beach Diet(jams)
Based on eating a low fat low carb diet. The diet is based on the premise to not deny carbs but to replace bad carbs with good carbs. It suggests eating more natural foods and eliminating the processed foods typically laden with white flour, and refined sugar which leads to spikes in blood sugar.

The diet also eliminates trans fats and saturated fats found in fatty portions of red meat and poultry. The replacement is lean meats, fish high in omega 3 and nuts. It is similar to the Atkins diet in that there are
phases to endure. It too eliminates fruits, some high glycemic vegetables and some grains in the beginning stages.

Fruit and vegetables are reintroduced in phase II as the weight loss is maintained.

The Mayo Clinic Diet (scam)
This diet has been around at least 30 years. It is based on the belief that grapefruit helps the body to burn fat. The plan allows for red meats, fried foods, and high fat foods. Grapefruit is the first food eaten with every meal and upon awakening in the morning.

The main foods in this diet to avoid are pastas, breads, fruits and vegetables other than grapefruit. Without a good portion of fresh fruits, vegetables and grains in the diet would cause a fiber deficiency. There could be some weight reduction but that would be attributed to a reduced calories.

This diet could not be maitained for a sustained period of time. Also eating fried foods, high fat foods and little fiber is reason enough we will call it a scam.

Atkins Diet (jams)
This is a 4 phase plan. Phase 1 is a intense reduction in carbs. 20 carbs or less per day causing the body to go into a state called ketosis. During ketosi calories are burned at a rapid rate. This phase lasts for two weeks.

Phase 2 - carbs are reintroduce at a slow rate of 5 extra grams per day until weight loss stops. Once again carbs are reduced as in phase 1 until weight begins to fall again.

Phase 3 - carbs are reintroduced when the weight loss goal is attained. The weight is then maintained with the limited but increase in carbs.

Phase 4 - The goal has been reached and cabs are consumed to maintain the weight.

I like the fact that it teaches you how to eat and as you go through the system you see exactly how your body responds to carbs. What I don't like is it seems a bit unhealthy in phase 1 limiting fruits and vegetables that provide needed fiber. The program works if followed and for that reason we rate it as jams.

The Zone Diet (jams)
The theory is based on creating an optimum insulin balance. That balance is created with a measured ratio of carbs to proteins to fats. The ideal ratio to achieve the body's zone is somewhere beteen a 30 - 40% ratio of protein to carbs.

The interesting thing about the Zone diet is that people did lose substantial weight while at the same time added muscle. Your specific ratio is based on lean body mass and activity level. The tough but doable part about this diet is the math. If your dedicated to losing weight then learning the system, it will be worth it. Some very famous actors, athletes, and actresses have been known to use the zone diet.

Fat Loss for Idiots (Jams)
Fat loss for idiots is a program that has had a sensational approval from
the internet community. The program can work for everyone when applied. There concept is really based on three main things.

1. Eat less carbs and more protein.

2. Calorie shifting - This concept has you changing your caloric intake on a daily basis to keep the body's metabloism on the move.

3. Eating 4 meals a day. Granted the meals are slightly smaller, but the idea is to keep your body in a steady state of calorie burning.

The good part is the food plan is great, no starving and no eating what you don't like. There are no foods to buy you will be taught how to design your own meals.

When you join the web based program you will get access to the helpful online generator as well access to their famous diet handbook. What it's lacking. There is no exercise component to this program. Check out www.exercisedvdsforall.com to get some ideas on how to accelerate your weight loss. It is a nice compliment to coincide with Fat Loss 4 Idiots.

What I like about these diet programs is that it teaches you how to eat. Once you learn the basics you don't have to stick to every letter of the law.

You will know how to improvise when you need to and make your eating decisions wisely. The real excitement comes not only when you notice the improvement  but when others praise you on your achievement.