There are so many different diets and weight-management projects on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to pick the right one for you.
Here we look at six diet programs so that you can make the best decision for your lifestyle.
Weight Watchers
The Weight Watchers ProPoints Plan gives you an easy way to plan and track your food intake, training you to make healthier decisions. Weight Watchers assigns all foods a scientifically-developed ProPoints value to make them easy to compare. You are given a daily allowance of ProPoints for eating and drinking, plus an extra weekly allowance to ‘spend’ however you choose. As a Weight Watchers member you will have access weekly meetings, where you’ll be weighed in and supported
in your weight loss aims, or you can choose to follow the plan online.
How much can I lose?
Weight loss expectations are always different for each individual, but most people can expect to lose up to one kilogram per week on this program, which Weight Watchers believes is the key to keep it off long term.
How long will it take?
Weight Watchers is not a quick-fix diet, but a lifestyle change based on an eating plan and exercise to suit your needs. It encourages you to reach your goal weight, after which you become a Lifetime Member and meetings are free.
Will it fit my lifestyle?
Once you sign up to the program, you are allocated your ProPoints budget based on gender, age, height and weight. This gives you a framework to plan your meals and exercise, making it flexible and simple to fit in with your lifestyle.
What support will I have?
Weight Watchers’ strength lies in its support network, achieved through meetings, the website, weightwatchers.com.au (which includes an online tracker, tips, ideas, recipes and more), and the smartphone app. These options allow you to choose the type and level of support that suits you.
Conclusion
Weight Watchers is a good option if you are looking for a lifestyle change and a new approach to eating, rather than a way to lose weight quickly.
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Weight Watchers Food You’ll Love Cookbook
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Weight Watchers Online Starter Kit
Weight Watchers is available at selected National Pharmacies stores. SA: Adelaide, Elizabeth, Findon, Golden Grove, Modbury, Salisbury, Ascot Park, Glenunga, Mitcham, Morphett Vale, Norwood, Port Lincoln.
Not Available NSW: Kellyville. Available Vic Only: Glen Waverley
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Optimal Essentials
Optimal Essentials Healthy Weight is a meal-replacement program designed to help you reach a healthy weight by keeping your blood sugar levels at an optimal level. One to two main meals a day can be replaced with an all-natural, highprotein
powder formula containing beta glucan (a soluble fibre that helps control blood sugar), which is mixed into a smoothie. Combine this with regular exercise, and follow the dietary guidelines and suggested recipes provided in the free, downloadable Healthy Weight Lifestyle booklet.
How much can I lose?
Replacing one main meal a day with an Optimal Essentials smoothie will reduce your calorie intake by around 500 calories, which equates to a weight loss of just over half a kilo per week.
How long will it take?
Optimal Essentials’ philosophy is that it is not a diet but a lifestyle change. As it is a natural food with health benefits, you can use it for as long as you want or need to.
Will it fit my lifestyle?
Making a smoothie is easy to fit into a busy lifestyle, and as many people skip breakfast, a Healthy Weight smoothie is a good alternative.
What support will I have?
You can find tips, recipes, dietary guidelines, menus and exercises at optimalessentials.com. The website also encourages users to send an email through if they have any questions, which will be answered within 48 hours.
Conclusion
Optimal Essentials Healthy Weight is a useful supplement to help guide you on your healthy living path, especially because it is made from natural ingredients.
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Optimal Essentials Healthy Weight Chocolate Delight, Vanilla Cream or Cafe Latte
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Optimal Essentials Healthy Weight Chocolate Delight, Vanilla Cream or Cafe Latte
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Optimal Essentials Blender Shaker
Optimal Essentials range is available at all National Pharmacies stores except NOT available SA: Ingle Farm. Vic: Ferntree Gully or Ringwood East.
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Optifast
The Optifast® VLCD™ (Very Low Calorie Diet) program is suitable for people with a BMI of 30 or higher, or who have a BMI of 27 or higher and also suffer from conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other health problems that are associated with excess weight. Weight loss is achieved by restricting carbohydrates and decreasing total energy intake to less than 800 calories a day. The program is structured into four phases. Depending on which phase you are in, you will replace up to three meals a day with an Optifast product.
How much can I lose?
These very low calorie diets have been shown to be effective in the management of obesity, with weight losses averaging two kilograms per week in the first four to six weeks. This will differ depending on the person and gender.
How long will it take?
If you want to lose a lot of weight, you can replace three meals a day on the intensive phase for up to 12 weeks.
Will it fit my lifestyle?
Even on the intensive phase of Optifast (replacing three meals a day) you are required to eat some vegetables, which means that you can still eat with your family.
What support will I have?
Online support at optifast.com.au includes videos from a dietician and exercise physiologist, exercise plans, a community forum, recipes and a weight-loss progress tracker.
What’s in the range?
Shakes, desserts, bars and soups.
Conclusion
Optifast is a good option for those with a lot of weight to lose and who need to improve their health.
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Optifast VLCD Milkshake Assorted 10-pack
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Optifast VLCD Bars
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Optifast VLCD (21-pack sachets)
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Optifast VLCD Soup (8-pack sachets)
Optifast is available at all National Pharmacies stores except NOT available SA: Ingle Farm, Vic: Ringwood East
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New Atkins
The New Atkins Nutritional Approach is an eating program that helps people lose and maintain weight, increase energy and be healthier. It trains the body to burn fat rather than carbohydrates by eating a range of nutrient-rich foods. It includes four phases: induction (for people with more than 12 kilos to lose or who want to lose weight quickly, e.g. six kilos in two weeks), ongoing weight loss (for people with six kilos or less to lose), pre-maintenance (for people four kilos or less from their
goal weight), and lifetime maintenance (for people who have reached and maintained their goal weight).
How much can I lose?
It’s up to the individual, and dependent on which phase you are in.
How long will it take?
Again, it is dependent on which phase you begin in, but it does promote a long-term lifestyle change.
Will it fit my lifestyle?
Atkins is an eating program that takes dedication to select and cook the right things, and to choose wisely when you eat out. The aim is that these will gradually become part of your routine.
What support will I have?
Along with the books, you can access recipes, blogs, calculators, videos, forums and more at atkins.com.
What’s in the range?
Shakes and bars.
Conclusion
Because Atkins has a range of phases to choose from, it is helpful for those at all different stages of their weightloss journey. It is a diet with restrictions, however, so may not be right for everyone.
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Atkins Advantage Shake Mix Chocolate or Vanilla
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Atkins Endulge Caramel Nut Chew Pack (5-pack)
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Atkins Endulge Bars
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Atkins Day Break Bars
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Atkins Advantage Bars
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Atkins Day Break Chocolate Chip Crisp Pack (5-pack )
Atkins range is available at selected National Pharmacies stores. Not Available SA: Hindmarsh, Ingle Farm, Port Adelaide, Semaphore, Cumberland Park, Henley Beach, Littlehampton, Morphett Vale, and Port Lincoln
Not Available NSW: Kellyville. Available Vic ONLY: Bentleigh
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IsoWhey
The IsoWhey Healthy Living Program makes use of a high-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate shake formulas and snack bars that contain probiotics and low-GI fibre. Depending on the program undertaken, you would replace one or two main meals each day with an IsoWhey Complete shake, and combine this with a calorie-controlled eating plan and regular exercise. Choose from a seven-day, 21-day, 28-day, or long-term maintenance program.
How much can I lose?
It depends on the individual, but users may lose one to two kilograms per week.
How long will it take?
The program aims to assist users in making long-term healthy lifestyle choices.
Will it fit my lifestyle?
IsoWhey is a convenient solution for people who may not have the time to prepare and cook nutrient-dense food at all meal times.
What support will I have?
The IsoWhey Healthy Living Program ebook is available for free from isowhey.com.au. It provides recipes and meal and workout plans. Online resources such as a blog, Facebook page and YouTube channel are also available.
What’s in the range?
Shakes and bars.
Conclusion
The number of products available provides flexibility. The formula is also high in protein, which is important for building lean muscle.
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Iso-Whey Complete Banana Smoothie, French Vanilla, Strawberries & Cream or Double Chocolate
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Iso-Whey Complete Banana Smoothie, French Vanilla, Strawberries & Cream or Double Chocolate
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Iso-Whey Bar Vanilla Yogurt & Apricot
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Iso-Whey Choc Mint, Chocolate or Vanilla Yogurt & Apricot
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Iso-Whey Pomegranate & Green Tea or Strawberry Probiotic
IsoWhey is available at all National Pharmacies stores except NOT available SA: Ingle Farm, Vic: Ringwood East
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TF2+
TF2+, brought to you by the team at Tony Ferguson, is a nutritionally balanced supplement range designed to aid in losing weight as part of a low-kilojoule eating plan. Each TF2+ product is scientifically formulated to help users lose excess weight fast. The range comprises shakes and bars which contain 16 vitamins and minerals.
How much can I lose?
TF2+ aims to help people who have between three and five kilograms to lose.
How long will it take?
TF2+ products may be used to supplement a low-kilojoule weight-loss plan for two to three weeks, using it twice a day.
Will it fit my lifestyle?
The products do make it easy to fit into a normal day, as does the daily checklist provided with it.
What support will I have?
Each TF2+ product comes with a daily checklist to help you plan a typical day. There are healthy low GI (glycaemic index) meal suggestions, portion sizes and a guide to what to eat when. For more information visit: tf2plus.com
What’s in the range?
Shakes and bars.
Conclusion
TF2+ is a good way to lose weight quickly, and jump start a more sustainable weight-loss program.
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Tf2+ Chocolate or Cappucino Bars
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Tf2+ Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, Cappucino or Strawberry Shakes (8 sachets)
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Tf2+ Variety Pack (14 sachets)
TF2+ range is available at selected National Pharmacies stores. Not Available SA: Hindmarsh, Ingle Farm, Port Adelaide, Semaphore, Cumberland Park, Henley Beach, Littlehampton, Morphett Vale, and Port Lincoln
Not Available NSW: Kellyville. Available Vic ONLY: Bentleigh
For futher information about any of these products listed speak to the staff at National Pharmacies.
**For your health and safety: Before starting any weight loss program, always consult your doctor or healthcare professional. This is particularly important if you have any pre-existing health conditions.**
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