1)    The Atkins Diet

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard about the Atkins Diet.  The overarching idea is that when you drastically reducing your carbohydrate intake, your body reacts by burning fat.  So you can lose weight while eating foods like steak, butter and cheese in large quantities.  Carbohydrates are gradually reintroduced to the diet, but at a very reduced amount.  The Atkins diet has its champions and naysayers.  But the overarching truth about it is that it does work, and has helped millions of people lose weight.  Common sense eventually should step in, and followers of this diet shouldn’t consider bacon and cream health foods.  But the idea that we can reduce our caloric intake and jump-start our bodies’ ability to burn fat by reducing carbs is absolutely valid.  So if you’ve struggled to lose weight and want the process to get going quickly, the Atkins Diet can be a great option.

2)    Suzanne Somers Get Skinny on Fabulous Food

This diet expands upon the low carb philosophy, theorizing that sugars, processed flours and other carbohydrates work in conjunction with preservatives, hydrogenated oils, chemicals and preservatives to keep us fat.  It’s an interesting philosophy that combines classic Atkins concepts with instructions to eat pure, fresh, non-processed foods.  In the book outlining the diet, Somers encourages people to indulge in rich foods, including recipes for dishes such as Ginger Crème Brulee, Beef Stroganoff and Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake.  Indeed, over half the book outlining the diet is comprised of tasty recipes, so it’s no wonder that the Get Skinny on Fabulous food diet is popular among food lovers.  But that doesn’t mean the science behind the diet isn’t solid.  Followers of this diet prove that it works.

3)    The Zone Diet

The Zone Diet is a fairly scientific weight loss plan where followers eat foods in the following proportionality:  40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat.  The idea behind the diet, created by Dr. Barry Sears, is that humans historically mostly meat, and that our bodies weren’t prepared for the introduction of large amounts of carbohydrates to our diet.  The end result was systemic weight gain.  Like the Atkins Diet, the Zone Diet encourages  major cutbacks in carbohydrate intake, but it sets itself apart by allowing the consumption of a reasonable amount of carbs in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  For the fat portion of the diet, Zone Diet followers are encouraged to choose healthy fats like olive oil and avocado.  The Zone Diet is a reasonable, scientifically derived weight loss plan that has helped thousands if not millions of people see real results.  If you’re ready and willing to closely examine your diet and choose the specific proportions, this can be an excellent way to lose weight and keep it off.

4)    Weight Watchers

The first blockbuster weight loss program, Weight Watchers has been a leading advocate for healthy eating for over 40 years, a philosophical giant that introduced the concept of calorie counting to the world.  Considering its longevity, it should be no wonder that Weight Watchers has helped millions of people get healthy, lose weight and keep it off.  With its basis on a diet of healthy, ordinary foods in controlled portions, exercise, and a positive attitude bolstered by weekly group support meetings.  The basis of the program is controlling caloric intake by assigning point values to different foods and only allowing yourself so many points every day.  The point system is fairly involved, and it takes a reasonable amount of effort to adhere to it.  But Weight Watchers offers excellent resources like online calorie counters and food databases, which make the process much easier.  If you’re looking for a comprehensive, proven weight loss plan with built-in support, you wont’ find a better option than Weight Watchers.

5)    Jenny Craig

Another classic weight loss program, Jenny Craig has existed for over 25 years.  Like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig is a subscription service where dieters receive written materials, meet with consultants, have access to a 24/7-telephone line, online support and regular peer group meetings.  Jenny Craig ups the ante by providing dieters with three meals a day, chosen according to dietary preferences and weight loss goals.  These meals are supplemented with whole grains, fruit and vegetables to form a complete nutritional spectrum.  One the best aspects of Jenny Craig is its focus on sustainable, balanced nutritional habits.  No food is taboo or banned altogether.  Dieters are encouraged to exercise, but not push themselves so hard they burn out.  Anyone looking for a comprehensive, easy to follow diet plan with careful portion control and good nutrition would do very well with Jenny Craig.