POPULAR DIETS

TopConsumerReviews.com is committed to saving you time and money by reviewing and ranking the most popular and well-known diet plans. While all dieters should consult their doctor for advice on specific health needs, we hope this information will assist in finding a plan that brings you success.

When evaluating diet plans, we believe some of the most important details to consider are:

•  Cost.  Does the diet involve a one-time charge, food costs, weekly or monthly fees?

•  Website Functionality.  What services does the website offer? Are there online consultants available?

•  Diet Complexity.  How difficult or time-consuming is the plan to follow?

•  Rate of Weight Loss.  Should the dieter anticipate quick weight loss or slower results?

•  Weight Management.  Is the program focused on short-term results, or does it prepare you to maintain weight loss for years to come?

We hope you find these reviews helpful in deciding which diet plan is right for you!

Cost:  $5 per week

Cost:  $275 per month (includes all food)

The exciting news about Medifast is that it's by far the quickest weight loss plan of all of our diets reviewed within this category. This diet option receives high scores because of the impressive weight loss, convenience, and support.

The company boasts average losses of up to 20 pounds in one month and an average of 2-5 pounds per week. Rapid weight loss without the hunger. What you may not know is that Medifast has been around for 25 years, has been used by over a million dieters, and is often recommended by doctors. Medifast works by allowing the dieter to choose five prepackaged, convenient products per day, and one meal of their own consisting of lean meat or poultry, and vegetables. The five prepackaged choices include shakes, pudding, bars, drinks, oatmeal, chili, and so on. Medifast meal replacement foods are clinically proven and designed for safe rapid weight loss with all the daily nutrients required to remain healthy and energetic.

We'll also point out the usefulness of the Medifast interactive website, which provides tips for holiday success, daily food charts, and information for diabetics. This online support group allows dieters to ask questions of the experts and their peers, and to share success stories. The plan specifically takes you through the maintenance phase to ensure that the body is prepared for increased calories, and to allow for long term success.

At first the cost of the program seems high. But when we compared the cost of the other weight loss plans in our review, we found that you actually save money. With good tasting meals delivered to your door you avoid the costs of store-bought food, not to mention the time savings in planning and preparation.

If you are looking for a jump start, find frequent smaller meals acceptable, and don't have the patience or time for a slower weight loss regimen, then Medifast is an excellent choice.

Cost:  $275 per month (includes all food)

Nutrisystem ranks as a solid choice due to overwhelming convenience, results and the focus on nutrition and exercise. This weight management system was developed in 1972 and has a well-documented history of success. More recently, Nutrisystem was selected as the official weight loss plan for the TV series "The Swan". The basis of the diet is to provide an easy to follow and convenient diet program using prepackaged, calorie controlled meals. With over 100 different meal choices,variety is not an issue.

We liked that the food is created using carb-conscious selections, with the appropriate portions of protein, fiber and fat. The program also provides online and phone counseling support at no extra charge. Counselors are personable, helpful and supportive.

At what rate can you anticipate losing those extra pounds? While numerous success stories exist with exciting information we found that 1-3 pounds each week was typical. A reason for the significant results is that portion control is a big piece of the education Nutrisystem provides. The prepackaged meals get you eating and looking smaller. Furthermore, Nutrisystem is committed to health in a broader fashion, providing education on exercise, stress reduction and methods of visualizing success in hopes of better long-term weight management.

As with Medifast, at first the cost of the program seems high. But the plan includes the prepackaged meals delivered to your home; we found that you actually save money when compared with the cost of the other weight loss plans in our review.

For its track record of success, convenience, and overall healthy approach, Nutrisystem earns high marks.

Cost:  $5 per week plus food

The South Beach online diet plan gets a high score from us because it controls hunger and makes good health sense. The South Beach online tool, created to assist in managing your weight loss, did a great job of providing everything needed to successfully start and follow the diet. The online tool is a great helper; with it you can track your weight loss, find recipes, plan meals, conveniently make a grocery list, and ask questions of the cardiologist that created the diet. The online version even allows members to communicate with each other and share experiences and ideas.

Like other low-carb plans, South Beach is geared toward improving cholesterol and insulin levels. But unlike other low-carb or no-carb diets, South Beach allows a well-balanced diet of fruit, whole grains, nuts, and vegetables. Some say the diet is a lower-fat, better nutritionally sound plan than that of Atkins.

The plan is made up of three phases. In the initial induction phase, 8-13 pounds of weight loss can be anticipated. In subsequent phases, this settles down to an average of 1-2 pounds per week. Some feel the induction phase, consisting mainly of lean meats and specific vegetables, is too restrictive to maintain. With South Beach you're not counting carbs; instead, you learn which carbs are better choices. This information is conveniently provided through the online service. The diet is geared toward eating healthy fat, and bans the unhealthy choices. Education for long term success gets a plus!

Another important characteristic of South Beach is the approach to keep off the extra pounds. Long term studies of the success of this diet are not yet available, but its focus on teaching weight management is a big positive. This stress on education, combined with the plan effectiveness, sets South Beach above many other diets that allow you to walk away with nothing learned.

Cost:  $15.96 per month plus food

We were pleased with Slim Fast's convenient meals and long term record of success. The diet plan emphasizes nutritious eating, portion control, regular exercise, and weight management support from registered dieticians. Contrary to the product name, this plan is not the quickest option with a weight loss rate of 1-2 pounds per week, or 10% of your body weight in the first six months. However, this program is geared toward a healthy weight loss over time. The regimen involves eating Slim Fast products, which replaces two meals per day. A Slim Fast meal may include a single shake or meal replacement bar. The third meal involves your own nutritionally balanced creation, following their guidelines of course..

How healthy is this diet? Overall there should be no problems as long as fruits and vegetables are eaten together with other balanced choices. We really liked how Slim Fast simplifies portion control and emphasizes exercise and group support. Expert dieticians are also available via the website to answer specific questions. This plan is a good fit for people who like to work online, who are short on time, and want a simple plan to follow. This is not the diet for those who enjoy variety with their meals.

As far as long term success goes, our research found that people who used Slim-Fast products for weight loss management over a ten year period were on average 33 pounds lighter than those who didn't use the meal replacement products.

Cost:  $3.99 per week plus food

Powered by eDiets.com the Atkins online plan gets two and a half stars. We're impressed overall with the thorough diet resources available online - including such things as assistance with determining a healthy weight based on BMI, sample menus, recipes, and nutritional articles on up-to-date research. However, we're concerned with the restrictive nature of the plan and it's potential long term success. The question is, can the common dieter can successfully stick to the plan?

For those not familiar, this well known diet is marketed as a low sugar, high fiber plan that teaches a savvy approach to ingesting carbs. Theoretically, Atkins says our bodies burn carbohydrates first before other products; by reducing our carb intake we switch the body to burning stored fat instead of carbs. However, skeptics say that Atkins doesn't create a better fat burning body but simply allows the dieter to take in fewer calories by eating dense foods that make them feel fuller longer. The diet generally consists of meat, eggs, and some vegetables until the maintenance phase kicks in.

Studies of long term success are marginal and this diet may be too restrictive for success. Debates also rage on whether the plan is ultimately healthy for the dieter. Unlike The South Beach plan, Atkins steers clear of many fruits and nearly all grains. For those meat lovers out there, and those wanting to focus on controlling hunger, you may find success but the overall nutrition of the diet is in question.

Cost:  $4 per week plus food

The Zone diet was created in 1995 and is now making a come back with a twist - an online diet management tool. Thank goodness, we say, that something was created to help dieters with this complex program. Not only are you restricted to certain foods, but you have to eat them at certain times of the day. How many people can fit that into their busy schedule? None of us here at TopConsumerReviews.com thought we could do so easily.

For those of you not familiar with this popular diet, the focus of the plan is to eat the right amount of protein and carbs at the right time of the day, in order to get your body into a state where you burn fat, lose weight, and control hunger - this is called "The Zone". Specifically, the diet involves a three- step program to assist with getting into that fat burning state. Furthermore, the plan preaches that increased insulin levels is the cause for storing fat. The diet's formula of 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat assists in eliminating these insulin issues.

Anticipated weight loss is 1 to 1.5 pounds per week. The online tool explains how to eat the right balance of food, burn fat, and maintain energy levels. You'll find recipes, meal plans, and 24 hour support.

Is the plan safe? While some have questioned the overall health benefits of the program, others think it does a good job promoting healthy fats, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. However, the daily food limit is small and might increase chances of cheating and eventual failure.