Do Free Online Diet Plans Work?

You have seen those free diet plans online. You sign up and they give you diet advice and information and encouragement. But I bet you’re wondering if they work. Dieting is a multi-billion dollar industry, so how could something for free work? How can you know if it is a good diet plan or not?

Evaluation of free diet plans online

Just like any other diet plan, some work and some don’t. To be perfectly honest, most will work if you work. However, as you well know, there are all kinds of scams and scary diets on the Internet. Here are some things to look for when you’re evaluating a free online diet plan:

Is it nutritionally healthy? The plan should give you all the nutrients, and enough calories, to keep you healthy. It should be rich in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and low in fat. Emphasis should be placed on using the right fats and having enough protein for good health.

Does it include exercise? We all have different metabolisms, and some of us lose weight more easily than others. Still, there is a formula for losing weight: You must take in fewer calories than you expend. Since you need a certain number of calories to meet your nutritional needs, you must expend more energy to lose weight. Exercise also keeps your body toned and increases your metabolism, so you burn more calories even when you’re not exercising.

What kind of support do you receive? It is almost impossible to lose weight without support. Most of your support will come from family and friends, but an online diet plan can give you daily email encouragement, diet advice, a forum, and other support.

Does it have an educational component? Do you receive information about nutrition, exercise and general health?

Does it have a behavioral component? Are you encouraged and given tools to track your eating so you can figure out why you eat, when you eat, etc. and begin to modify their eating behavior?

These tips will help you evaluate any diet plan, whether it’s a free online program or you pay good money for it. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to find a good diet plan. Many of the free diet plans you find online are fine and will help you lose weight if you want it bad enough to do so.