Health & Fitness

The march to health and fitness is raging and a lot of people are getting in on it. Some people do it in order to achieve a beautiful body, some people do it because they are embarrassed about their body as it is now, while others do it just to remain fit and healthy. Because of this, there are hundreds of fitness programs on the Internet, in gyms, spas and fitness centres all over the world. Some are very – so expensive that you will lose weight quickly, just because you have to work hard to earn the money to pursue these fitness programs.

One may not have to go to the gym or the spa or any fitness center and spend a fortune just to slim down and obtain that longed for sexy body. There are many books available in the bookshops offering weight loss programs which are convenient and free. However, the books are not though. These weight loss programs, or diet plans are gaining immense popularity due to their publicity, testimonials and reviews and you might be confused as to exactly which one to follow. So before choosing which weight loss plan to follow, try reading the following summaries of the most popular diet programs out today.

The Atkins’ New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins: This diet plan promotes a high protein diet with less carbohydrates. You can dine heartily on vegetables and meat, but must not eat bread, rice or pasta. You are not restricted on your fat intake so it is OK to pour on the (correct) salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. However, during the diet, some people may find themselves lacking fibre and high on fat and cholesterol. Grains and fruits are also strictly limited.

The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet by Drs. Heller. This diet plan also advocates a low carbohydrate diet. It recommends eating meat, vegetables and fruit, dairy and grain products. however, advises against taking in too many carbohydrates. So-called “Reward Meals” can be very high in fats and saturated fats.

Choose to Lose: by Dr. Goor. Restricts fat intake. You are given a “fat” budget and you are given free reign on how to use it. It does not pressure the individual to regulate his carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafood is OK. You may also eat vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss plan is quite healthy, because it recommends correct amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats. Watch your triglyceride levels though. If they are high, trim down on the carbohydrates and eat more unsaturated fats.

The DASH Diet. Advocates moderate amounts of fat and protein but lots of carbohydrates. Primarily designed to lower blood pressure, so the diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages a high consumption of whole wheat grains and fruit and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Some dieters think it advocates too much consumption to produce significant weight loss.

Eat More, Weigh Less: by Dr. Ornish. Primarily a vegetarian fare and low-fat diet. Advises to watch out for low-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet plan is poor in calcium and limits the consumption of healthy foods like seafood and lean poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type: This diet is really interesting because it bases its recommendations on your blood type. For instance, it advises plenty of meat for people with the blood type O. However, diet programs for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and very low in calories. Furthermore, just for the record, there is no proof that blood type can affect dietary requirements.

The Pritkin Principle: It focuses on cutting back on the amount of calories by eating ‘wet’ foods that make you feel full. It recommends eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy, which it says is OK, although it also restricts protein sources to lean meat, seafood and poultry. It is healthy since it allows low amounts of saturated fats and rather large amounts of vegetables and fruits. However, it is low on calcium and restricts lean protein sources.

Volumetrics: It provides for consuming fewer calories. It recommends about the same foodstuffs as Pritkin but limits fatty food and grain foodstuffs like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This plan is reasonably healthy given the high volume of fruit and vegetables. It also recommends eating fewer calories and saturated fats.

The Zone: It is fairly low on carbohydrates yet fairly high on proteins. It encourages low-fat protein foods such as fish and chicken plus vegetables, fruits and grains. It is also a healthy diet but short on grains and calcium.

Weight Watchers: High carbohydrates, but moderate on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan and very flexible too. It allows the dieter to plan his own meals rather than offering recipes, although there are WW TV dinners in the shops.