Diet, Diets, Dieting and Weight Loss

A new study was released today that rated some of the most popular diets. Coming in first was Weight Watchers, second was Slim Fast and third was the Zone Diet. These were followed by other low carb diets like Atkins. In this group we could probably also include the Southbeach Diet, Protein Power, the GI Diet, etc. Not doing too well, in this study was the ultra low fat Dean Ornish Diet.

Interestingly, the results and rankings of the diets were not based on weight loss, at least not on weight loss alone. If they were, the high protein, low carb diets would have finished first as people lost the most weight on these and lost weight the fastest too. People on the Slim Fast Diet actually lost more than the number one rated Weight Watchers plan.

Weight Watchers was rated number one because people did lose weight and had a higher retention rate after one year on the program. The study blended overall weight loss with retention and nutrition to arrive at their ranking. I would have to say its ideas on nutrition do not match with scientific findings. They still felt the Atkins and other low carb diets had too much fat even though all the science shows fat is not a problem, it does not raise cholesterol or make you fat. Likewise eating more protein does not cause kidney stones or any kidney problems at all.

If the study had been based on science rather than commonly held dietary myth the low carb diets would have placed first. These diets consistently show the fastest and greatest weight loss. This may be one reason the retention rates are not as high as Weight Watchers… people dropped the 10 or 20 pounds they wanted to lose and stopped doing the diet.

Other, recent studies have shown very good weight loss based on the TV Dinner Diet. That’s right, eating frozen TV dinners as a diet plan. Pretty much any diet out there can help with weight loss. This tells us or normal eating habits are really, really bad and we’ll benefit from any structured eating program.

The bottom line would be for you to choose a diet plan you can live with. Weight Watchers works for many because of its regular meetings and the support system it offers.

For those of you that like the convenience of a meal replacement using a nutritional shake Symmetry offers our Premium Plus. Mixing the Premium Plus with Ultra Vitality Drink gives you a smooth orange cream drink that packs an unbeatable nutritional punch. You can use this mix once or twice a day as a meal replacement for quick and healthy weight loss. Mixing the new Genesis in the Premium Plus also tastes great!

The TV Diet works through portion control and Symmetry has its own portion control in the Simply Perfect Diet Plan. This plan uses plates divided into compartments to give you quick and easy portion control. The plates come with a number of meal options, templates that fit under the clear plates that tell you just what to put into each area.

No matter which diet plan fits your lifestyle Symmetry offers supplements to speed up your success. SimplySlym is great for killing your appetite and boosting your energy. ThermoBalance helps you burn more calories and detoxify. LipoSorb is a great way to slow your absorption of fat and sugar while boosting digestion. CarbLess inhibits the digestion, breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates and the calories they contain.

Which products will work best for you? I think the studies indicate that we are all different and will respond better to one approach or another based on many factors. I generally suggest people try one of our packaged systems the Utra SlymPack, the Slym Pack or the Simply Perfect Diet System. I think it makes the most sense to try one and the next month, try a different one. Only after you’ve tried all the products will you know which ones fit your lifestyle and works best for you.

Keep in mind that healthy weight loss for a woman is 1-4 pounds a week. For a many it’s a bit higher, 3-5 pounds per week. The studies do show greater weight loss the first few weeks if you are following a low carb diet though and our products work great with all of those eating plans.

Being overweight is associated with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, asthma, gall stones and some types of cancer. Dropping a few inches off your waistline can reduce your risk of diabetes by 50%! Getting back to your ideal weight will not only make you healthier (and probably happier) but increase your life-span by 13%.