It is not Easy to Reduce Fat
and Lose
Weight Alone
It can be hard to start a weight loss program alone,
particularly if you are not used to exercising. Get
support by joining a Weight Loss Support Group. Ask
your family and friends for support. Make your physical
activity fun and social - go on a walk with a friend
or learn a new sport like tennis. We have compiled an
impartial list of popular weight loss support groups.
Shape Up America
Shape Up America is a high profile national
initiative to promote healthy weight control and increased
physical activity in America . It is a broad-based coalition
of industry, medical/health, nutrition, physical fitness,
and related organizations and experts. It focuses on
the health benefits of weight reduction and increased
activity, stressing those simple changes in dietary
choices and exercise habits that are readily available.
Shape Up America ! CyberKitchen takes your personal
information to determine a proper estimate of your calorie
needs and weight loss goals. The Shape Up America !
CyberKitchen helps you build delicious menu plans and
provides you with tasty recipes developed by a blue
ribbon chef (a top graduate of the Culinary Institute
of America). Their Fitness Center a ssesses your Readiness
for physical activity, your Activity Level, your Flexibility,
your Strength and Endurance, your Aerobic Fitness and
Designs an Improvement Program that suits your personal
goals and objectives. You will also learn what to eat
to maximize your workout. It has a Professional Center
- the health care professional's resource for tools
and state-of-the-art information on obesity
assessment, treatment, and monitoring.
Weight Watchers
Weight
Watchers was founded in the early 1960s by Jean
Nidetch. Weight Watchers is one of the most popular
worldwide weight loss programs and it has a proven 40
year track record of helping dieters to lose weight.
Weight Watchers has a global network of classes or meetings
involving 25 million people per week. This program never
resorts to fads or scams to sell its product. Even in
the height of the low-carbohydrate diet craze, which
is selling like mad, Weight Watchers continues to advocate
a sensible, long-term approach to weight loss. The basis
of the program is a reduced-calorie diet (with no restriction
of the types of foods you are allowed to eat), exercise,
and behavior modification. Most dieters follow the Weight
Watchers program by joining a weekly class, where they
meet other dieters, exchange ideas and receive support
and advice from the class organizer. However, Weight
Watchers also provides an online at-home program. The
program also includes group counseling sessions and
group support - two aspects that can be vital in maintaining
lost weight. Clinical psychologists, exercise physiologists,
and registered dietitians developed the Weight Watchers
program. It maintains a very integrated approach to
losing weight. The Weight Watchers program does not
offer fast weight loss, but it's predicted average weight
loss of about 2 pounds a week is the accepted maximum.
Go any faster and you'll regain it all.
TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly)
TOPS is the oldest non-profit, non-commercial
weight loss support group founded in 1948. It offers
a healthy, caring and supportive approach to weight
control, at an affordable price. There are almost 10,500
chapters of TOPS around the world. TOPS mission is to
support our members as they take and keep off pounds
sensibly. TOPS' philosophy is that desire to change
comes from within an individual and the most effective
way to sustain change is to provide a supporting environment.TOPS
is different from commercial weight-loss organizations
because members can get their food plan and exercise
plans from their personal physician or licensed health
care professional and TOPS provides the environment
to exchange ideas and support with others trying to
lose weight. A volunteer leader runs local chapters,
and health professionals often speak at the meetings.
TOPS does not endorse any commercial food product and
is non-profit. TOPS is affordable. TOPS is a leading
supporter of obesity
research.
Overeaters Anonymous
OA is not a weight loss program per se, but
rather, a volunteer support group for those who admit
to their inability to control their eating. Overeaters
Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through
shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering
from compulsive overeating . OA is a 12- step program
similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. It can be a great program
if you truly feel you cannot manage food binges, and
that food has taken over your life. No health care providers
are on the staff. The support of the group and the seeking
of a higher power and spiritual values and learning
life skills are the mainstays of the program. Many have
found OA to be the real answer to combating their food
addictions. |
