Several Crucial Questions You Want To Ask When Evaluating a Weight Loss Management Program

     Here are a few key questions you need to ask when evaluating a weight loss program.

How About the Program Itself - What's involved in following the program?

Ask for fine points about what foods and how many calories you鈥檒l eat each day, and whether the program includes expected physical activity such as cardio or weight training. A weight loss program that claims you can lose weight and keep it off without changing the foods you eat or increasing your physical activity is selling a fantasy and should be avoided.

Most people do best when they lessen their daily calorie intake or increase the calories they burn by about 500-1000 calories per day. This allows you to eat an adequate amount for good nutrition and, if followed every day, helps you lose about 1 to 2 pounds a week. For diets under 1500 calories, be sure to confirm with your health care giver to make sure you meet all your nutrient needs. Including low-calorie drinks in your meal plan may help stop you from becoming so famished that you end up overeating or binging.

Rational programs will encourage you to follow some straightforward dietary guidance such as eating at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and choosing whole grains, lean meats and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Watch out for programs that have immoderate diets. Some of the excessive programs result in remarkable losses initially due to fluid loss, but cannot maintain the loss over time. Stick to common sense here and the weight loss might come more gradually but will be more likely to remain for the future.

How about the Staff - What are their credentials

If a program includes help from staff members, inquire about their education, experience and credentials. Find out what type of consideration you鈥檒l get (for example, individual counseling or group support) and how often. Also find out the proportion of staff to members, because no matter how experienced the staff may be, if they do not have time to meet with you, it is of little usefulness. Some programs will advertise a big name personality, but good luck in finding an opening with them. Many times they only lend their name to the program.

About the risks - What are the risks of utilizing this weight loss plan?

Some methods for losing weight are more risky than others. Diets that involve severe food restriction should be under the supervision of a physician. Get details about side effects or risks that can occur from using the product or service. Check with your primary health care provider before you take medicine or over-the-counter weight loss drugs or new products that are part of the weight loss program. Steer clear of detrimental "self help" weight loss tactics, such as smoking, fasting, purging, or abusing laxatives.

How about the price tag - What is the full cost for this weight loss program

Ask for an itemized price listing that includes membership fees, fee for weekly visits, and costs for items such as diagnostic tests, food meal replacements, nutritional supplements, or other products in the program.

Many programs offer a money back guarantee. The downside is that is may take a few weeks to see results, so look for the longest evaluation period possible, 60 days if possible. Also look at the fine print to see if there are restrictions or other qualifications placed on the guarantee.

About the future - How do I improve my likelihood for keeping the weight off?

Reliable programs will give you information about difficulties that many dieters experience with keeping weight off and how you can improve your odds for lasting success. Ask whether the program can offer studies that verify its success. If so, ask what proportion of their customers have concluded the entire program, how much weight they lost in total, and how effectively they've kept the weight off during the next year or longer. You might not be able to get all of this information, but take what you can garner. Remember, information based on only some of the people in the program most likely reflects those who were the most successful at meeting their weight loss goals.

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