Weight Watchers is a commercial plan in which dieters monitor their food intake with "points."
SparkPeople is a diet tracking website with an additional online support community.
CR Reader Score: 60
Typical Weight Loss (Men): 10 to 25 lbs
Typical Weight Loss (Women): 5 to 21 lbs
Pros: SparkPeople is free and readily-accessible, and enables you to easily track your weight loss journey. The site also has a user community that you can rely on for encouragement and shared tips.
Cons: The premise is mainly a low-carb, high-protein diet, which isn't best for everyone, and there can be a wait to get advice or answers from physicians on the site when you need help.
Nutrisystem is a commercial plan with many easy-to-make meal choices.
The South Beach Diet is a DIY plan that guarantees weight loss in the first two weeks.
CR Reader Score: 70
Typical Weight Loss (Men): 11 to 27 lbs
Typical Weight Loss (Women): 8 to 23 lbs
Pros: One of the perks of the South Beach diet is the allowance of snacks and dessert, and the brand claims you can lose up to 13 pounds in the first two weeks.
Cons: Many people say planning and preparing the meals can be time-consuming, and the first two weeks in which the most weight is typically lost can feel very restrictive.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdMedifast is a commercial plan with no calorie or point counting.
CR Reader Score: 70
Typical Weight Loss (Men): 20 to 43 lbs
Typical Weight Loss (Women): 14 to 40 lbs
Pros: Dieters on Medifast are relieved of counting calories, carbs or points on this plan, and stay full from a diet of mostly protein and fiber.
Cons: Medifast is a lot more rigorous than other diets, on which adults typically consume between 800 and 1,000 calories, which has associated health risks for some individuals.
Slim Fast is a DIY plan that is perfectly portioned.
CR Reader Score: 71
Typical Weight Loss (Men): 10 to 25 lbs
Typical Weight Loss (Women): 5 to 22 lbs
Pros: Slim Fast is convenient with its many grab-and-go products, and the plan ensures that you get the right portions and calories throughout the day.
Cons: Two out of your three meals have to be "meal replacements," like their meal bars or shakes, which can become boring and routine after a while.
The Paleo Diet is a DIY plan is perfect for carnivores.
CR Reader Score: 71
Typical Weight Loss (Men): 10 to 32 lbs
Typical Weight Loss (Women): 6 to 20 lbs
Pros: The mostly protein Paleo diet is based on the premise that we could eliminate all the modern day health ailments if we reverted back to eating like our Paleolithic ancestors, namely, primarily meat and plants. This diet is also low in sodium.
Cons: The Paleo diet does not approve most grains and dairy, so the diet lacks many of the nutrients, especially calcium, that our bodies need.
MyFitnessPal is a free app and website that tracks your calories and exercise.
Jenny Craig is a commercial plan that many celebs have had success with.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe Mediterranean Diet is a DIY plan that allows the good fats of foods like olives.
A Low-Carb Diet (non-Atkins) is a DIY plan in which users reduce the caloric consumption of carbs.
The Glycemic Index Diet is a DIY plan focused on the consumption of more low-carb foods like whole grains, and fewer high-carb foods like white bread.
The Atkins Diet is a DIY plan based on cutting carbs and finding more balanced nutrients from other sources.
CR Reader Score: 83
Typical Weight Loss (Men): 15 to 30 lbs
Typical Weight Loss (Women): 8 to 25 lbs
Pros: Many people adhering to the Atkins diet see results quickly, and the brand makes low-carb snacks and other ready-made food products.
Cons: The carb-eliminating diet can feel restricting, and some people on the diet find themselves gaining back some of the lost weight if/when they return to eating carbs.
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