Evaluating Weight Loss Programs

You’ve decided to lose weight. Great. And you might even be using GoalTribe to help you find allies to support your goal. Even better. But, what method are you going to use to actually lose the weight? There are a variety of commercial programs to help with weight loss. Here are some criteria to consider when selecting a weight loss program.

Special Foods

Several well-known programs, such as NutriSystem™ and Jenny Craig™ not only provide the food, but in some cases, ship it right to you. The plus side is that you don’t have to cook or figure out what to eat. The down side is that you are no longer selecting your foods, but eating based on weight loss. For a short-term solution, this might be helpful. Long term, it will get costly and you will not have learned to manage your own diet. So ask yourself, do I need a jump start, and am I willing to let someone else be in charge of my nutrition for the short term?

Group Support

One of the keys to meeting any goal is having allies who support you. Many of the longest-running weight loss programs thrive on this principle. WeightWatchers ™ for example, may vary the way they help you watch your weight, however the one constant is the weekly check-in meeting. At the meeting you are with other people who are also trying to lose weight. You get tips and encouragement to keep going, as well as rewards for each plateau. The question to ask yourself is, Am I willing to go to a meeting every week, and are they are convenient times and places for me?

On-line Programs

If you are someone who wants more control over your weight loss program, and you love technology and the Internet, you might consider one of the on-line weight loss programs. For example, Diet.com lets you tailor your menus to your own preferences, has a buddy system, and guides you all via your own Internet connection. However, it is a little less supportive than meeting with people in person for an hour once a week. The question to ask yourself is, Am I a self-starter, able to motivate myself and love working on the computer?

Medical Supervision

Some programs are medically supervised and offered by doctors. In these programs they both support your weight loss as well as educate you in long-term nutrition issues. An example is the Medi-WeightLoss clinic. Again, they provide face-to-face support, but not with a peer group but rather with medical practitioners. Ask yourself, Am I more comfortable working with a medical practitioner?