| |
Atkins |
The Zone |
Weight
Watchers |
NutriSystem |
Jenny Craig |
eDiets |
|
Best for |
Meat lovers |
Anyone who prefers a higher protein diet but wants to eat more
carbs than those allowed on the Atkins Diet. |
Anyone who is serious about long-term weight loss and thrives on
peer support and encouragement. |
Perfect if you don't want to prepare meals or weigh portions.
One online or phone counseling session per week is included |
Great if you don't want to prepare meals, weigh portions, etc.
Visits to Jenny Craig centers are encouraged. |
Flexible and convenient fitness and nutrition programs designed
to suit different lifestyles. Prepare your own delicious meals |
|
Risks |
Some who try Atkins may experience constipation, fatigue, and/or
headaches. There are voices in the medical and nutrition
communities that fear the short and long-term effects of a diet
so high in fat and cholesterol, the jury is still out on whether
these fears are substantiated. |
The prescribed calorie consumption guidelines associated wth
this diet may be too low for some, and this may result in
feeling low in energy and/or weak. That said, calorie
consumption can be increased while still following The Zone's
guidelines for food distribution, thereby adressing this risk. |
None noted
|
None that are health related. However, unless you plan on buying
Nutri System foods for the rest of your life, you shoudl give
some thought to the dfficulty transitioning from not having to
think at all about your meal contents and preparation, to
actually having to do it yourself. THis transition can be
extremely challenging and can set you back in your long-term
weight loss goals. |
No identified health risks. However, although the program
advocates starting out on 100% Jenny Craig prepared meals and
snacks and slowly migrating over to your own cooking, it is
unclear how this is supposed to happen once you've gotten used
to and lost weight on their food. |
None noted
|
|
Basic philosophy /
approach |
Portion control? No way! The diet strictly limits—but does NOT
forbid as some have suggested—carb intake. It allows unlimited
amounts of many allowed foods, such as meats and cheeses. |
Eat a balanced diet, BUT balanced is defined differently from
the well-known Food Pyramid. Limit portions to a reasonable
size. |
Teaches the fundamentals of sound nutrition and basic fitness.
Emphasizes group support at regular weigh-ins. Uses a point
system to help you manage what you're eating and your portion
sizes. |
The ultimate turn-key diet solution. All meals are prepared with
appropriate nutritional and caloric needs taken into account.
Easy preparation. Also provides online counseling and resources. |
Minimal effort, maximum choices. Program emphasizes counselor
support (either in person or on-line) and use of prepared meals
. |
Maximum flexibility and customization: diet and fitness routines
customized to match your lifestyle and food preferences. Online
support from both peers and fitness and nutrition experts.
|
|
Foods that are / aren't
allowed |
Carbs, bad. Protein, good. Fat in all its delicious forms, no
problem. |
The basic idea is to increase protein, reduce simple carbs and
processed sugar. |
Nothing is strictly restricted. The focus is on dietary
awareness and portion size reduction and overall dietary
balance. |
Diet consists of Nutri/system meals supplemented by fresh fruits
and vegetables. |
Diet is limited to Jenny Craig prepared meals. All restrictions
are factored in to these meals. |
Restrictions are calorie-based, and determined by your goals,
starting weight, and preferences. |
|
How much work involved |
I can’t imagine a simpler approach. There is virtually no
measuring or weighing or record-keeping involved. And when you
eat out you simply have to tell the waiter "save the shrubs for
a rabbit—I only want the MEAT". |
Once you understand the basic approach, the diet is flexible and
quite simple to follow. |
Highly flexible. You can eat Weight Watchers prepared meals,
cook your own or do a combination. Weekly weigh-ins at Weight
Watcher centers. |
Virtually none. As long as you use the Nutri System products,
following this diet is a no-brainer. All you need to provide is
the will power! |
At first, almost none. Pre-packaged meals take care ofthe work
for you at the outset. And although the idea is that you slowly
transition to regular food once you've established better eating
habits, you can choose to keep eating the prepared meals - no
hassle, no time investment. |
Depends largely on personal approcah and goals. E-diets offers
tool, information and support, but does not prescribe a detailed
"one size fits all" approach. |
|
Costs |
Generally speaking, meat and cheese are more expensive than
fruits, veggies and bread. That said, the Atkins Diet does not
require that you buy more costly prepared meals. |
While you can purchase some snacks from The Zone's web site, you
can follow the diet without buying any prepared foods and/or
special equipment. |
Register for Weight Watchers online for just $14.95 per month
for plan, plus a $29.95 registration fee (on-line option). |
$54.95 per week (includes meals and snacks). Save 15% by signing
up for the Auto Ship plan. |
According to the folks at J.C., average cost is approximately
$65/week. However, there are different membership options which
afford different benefits, and one can spend as much as $400 in
the first month. |
$35 for 9 weeks or $99 for one full year. |
|
Speed to results |
Here is where Atkins draws much of its popularity. If you follow
the diet, you will lose weight. Many will lose weight
dramatically at the outset, and continue at a steady clip after
that. One reminder: a weight loss rate of 1 to 1.5 lbs. per week
over a period of time beyond two weeks (the initial drop not
uncommon to many diets) is considered healthy, and anything
above that is considered unhealthy. |
If you follow the basic plan (800-1,220 calories per day) you
may lose weight at a rate significantly faster than the 1-2 lbs.
per week average that is generally viewed as a healthy rate. |
You can expect to lose between 1 and 2 lbs. per week, with a
potential initial drop greater than that in the first week or
two |
Aside from a potential initial drop that is greter, you can
expect to lose 1-2 lbs. per week following this program. |
Barring any initial dramatic loss due mostly to losing water
weight, you can expect to lose between 1 and 2 lbs. per week on
the Jenny Craig program - a nice, healthy, sustainable rate of
weight loss. |
Once again, it depends on individual approach and goals. Despite
the site's name, e-diets is useful to anyone, whether his/her
goals are weight loss, general fitness or increased athletic
performance. |
