Weight Loss Programs

I've tried so many weight loss programs in my attempts to lose weight. Some of these weight loss programs border on being plain ridiculous.

Slimming center weight loss program

I went to a slimming center to try their weight loss program. For that weight loss program, I had to submit myself to the embarrassment of lying down almost naked with the therapist using some kind of torture device to pinch and roll and knead my fat, as if I were a piece of dough.

At level 4, it was sheer agony. That program upon completion could go up to level 10. What that is like? I don't want to know.

I also had to watch what I eat. If I wanted to eat grapes, I had to count how many grapes I eat. To follow that diet would border on starvation for me, so I gave it up.

For that weight loss program, I lost 1 kg and several hundred dollars after about 6 sessions.

Fruit diet

This self imposed weight loss program works well for many people. They eat fruit for lunch. I like fruit, so I gave it a shot.

After 3 days on that fruit weight loss program, I caught a cold. Saw a doctor for it. Once I recovered, I went on that diet again. Fell sick again 3 days later.

When I told my doctor about my fruit for lunch diet, he gave me a lecture. Then he handed me the address and phone number of this shop that sells incredibly tender and delicious steaks.

Needless today, I back to having meaty meals again.

Fruit only diet works for some people but not for me.

Cambridge diet

Someone suggested I try the Cambridge diet. It is something I want to write about, so I went ahead, but tried just 1 meal first.

The salesgirl recommended the really delicious chocolate milk shake.

I happily added water to it, prepared myself for a yummy chocolate lunch and nearly threw up.

Another one of the many weight loss programs to strike of my list.

Works for others, but failed the taste test up front.

Protein diet

I've heard often enough about this one and seen some success stories too.

Problem is that the excessive ketones in your system, due to the excessive protein you eat can harm your kidneys. I gave that weight loss program a pass.

Diet pills

I was very tempted to try these. In fact, I planned to start on a bottle once I had weaned off my baby.

Then I read the newspapers. 1 woman had liver failure. The cause of that failure was traced back to the slimming pills she had been taking. These pills were supposedly natural, yet they contained a substance that can harm the liver. She lived as her fiance was able to donate part of his liver to her. Her body was able to accept it and she survived.

Days later, there was a report of another woman who had taken the pills and also had liver failure. There were no available donors this time and she died.

Needless to say, I gave those pills a pass.

Online weight loss program

I write about diets for this site. This caught my eye. Lose 10 lbs. in 5 weeks with eDiets I joined them with the intention of digging up some dirt about them.

As I live outside U.S., I joined them by entering the city as Florida, state as FL and zip code as 33442. Got in.

Of all the weight loss programs, this one tackled the root of the problem. The real reason why one cannot shed off the weight permanently.

You see, to lose weight, you really have to want to lose weight.

Once you sign up, every 3 days or so, when you login for your meal plan, work out or to join the forum, you will be prompted to complete a short quiz. Answer the questions honestly and you'll find something revealing about yourself. For my case, I found out what was holding me back. I need that extra weight to test out weight loss programs to write about on this site.

Taste test

Now for the ultimate test. The taste test.

I went on to get their meal plan. I could choose to

1. cook my own meals, following their recipes, using easily available ingredients.
2. eat out, but following the meal guide
3. make sandwiches and salad
4. eat frozen dinners (after heating them in a microwave oven)

I chose a combination.

Didn't really like what they chose for me, though it looked a lot better than some diets I tried.

Went and changed each meal to something a gourmet like me fancies.

3 meals a day with an afternoon snack. I could even have a portion of potato crisps or even cookies and milk for my snack.

The most amazing thing was that, I did not go hungry. The meals satisfied my grouchy stomach.

Exercise

Besides watching what you eat, in any good weight loss program, you have to exercise.

That was taken care of. There are so many aerobic exercises to choose from. As for toning exercises, you can pick those you like. There is an online virtual instructor who demonstrates all the exercises for you. You can watch her and follow her lead as you do your toning exercises.

Support

You may know exactly what to do to lose weight, but can you keep it up?

After a while, you may run out of steam and go back to your old unhealthy ways.

By joining the forums, you get support and motivation from others like yourself.

Every week, you key in your latest weight and the chart shows you your progress. If you gain weight, you can choose to have a counsellor contact you, or you could blame it on water retention whatever. Having to account for your weight gain sort of helps you stick to your new lifestyle.

I guess that is what it is all about. All the weight loss programs in the world would not help you if you do not switch to a healthier lifestyle.

The best way to do that is to follow Billy's BootCamp Elite and stick to it.

Everlast for Her Pilates Door Knob Rope Exerciser

Everlast for Her

Shop auto delivery for your favorite products and save on shipping! Ends 12-31-07.

The FIRM. Guaranteed visible results in 10 workouts!