Slim Away Everyday

– A balanced diet

Originator: Richard Simmons is a television, infomercial and video star who wrote an autobiography.

Claims: A diet that that is updated and repackaged regularly with “Simmons supplements” providing the energy and motivation to keep dieters going. Simmons has been extremely overweight himself, so he can empathize with anyone who’s unhappy about his or her weight. Simmons provides the cheer leading and motivational tools you need to get with the program and stick to it.

Sustainability: The diet lays out a well-balanced and varied diet that admirably includes a minimum of seven servings of fruits and vegetables and two servings of low-fat dairy. He wisely recommends not going below 1,200 calories and consuming eight glasses of water daily. The diet could run a little low on calcium and vitamin D, even though it includes more dairy than other programs.

Additionally, he places considerable emphasis on physical activity. This is the one trait of the program that stands out a notch above the rest.

Weight loss: By following the recommended calorie intakes, expect 1 to 2 lbs per week. It’s a diet and exercise plan designed for long-term success.

Research: The program makes sense and is not extreme.

Quick take: A well-balanced diet that offers flexibility, variety, physical activity, energy and motivation that can be followed indefinitely and altered to maintain weight loss.

 Weight Watchers

– A balanced diet

Originator: In 1963, founder Jean Nidetch began inviting neighborhood people into her Queens, NY home to discuss strategies and ideas for weight loss.

Claim: The most organized and recognized program offering guidance, support, a balanced diet, while encouraging exercise. Based on a simple, straightforward point system ranging from 18 to 35, the diet has helped millions of people lose weight with its no-frills plan and support system.

Sustainability: The program offers considerable guidance for choosing a healthy and nutritious diet. The program’s success can also be attributed to its insistence on record keeping. Support is essential to the Weight Watchers approach by offering weekly meetings, confidential weigh-in and strategies. Most weight loss experts regard the program as the standard against which all other weight-loss programs are measured.

Weight loss: By following the recommended point system, expect 1 to 2 lbs per week.

Research: Research out of the University of Colorado and Saint Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York City has found that more than half of the lifetime members had still kept the weight off two years after completing the program.

Quick take: A mainstream diet of at least 1,200 calories a day that encourages regular exercise with weekly meetings, support groups and a food journal to tally your daily points.

Scott Josephson, M.S., R.D. is the Director of Operations at Hippocrates Health Institute. Scott is a international level conference speaker throughout the United States and Canada, a recipient of numerous awards and is frequently published covering a wide range of industry topics. In addition to several certifications, he holds a degree from the University of Miami and is on the advisory board of the American Fitness Professionals and Associates. His work portfolio includes includes many celebrities such as Geraldo Rivera, Tennis Champion Chris Evert, as well as members of the New York Giants and New York Mets.