Let’s face it, an embarrassingly small percentage of the population is at their optimal weight these days. Fortunately, health, fitness, and weight loss are becoming more of a focus as researchers are finding the importance of taking care of our bodies and our health. This awareness has given flight to a wellspring of useful apps, including fitness planners, weight loss programs, and health and wellness trackers.
These tools are empowering people to take control of their health in a whole new way. Now, anyone can know with the tap of their phones how many calories they’ve eaten so far today, how many calories they’ve burned doing their normal daily routine, what type of exercises would promote their general fitness goals, what their optimal weight is, and how to achieve a healthier, balanced lifestyle all on their own.
As with any trend that is born, an abundance of options overwhelms the bright-eyed fitness seeker. Which fitness tools do you need to succeed? What weight loss programs are legitimate? And how much is this going to cost you anyway? If you're asking these questions, you're not alone. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions and answers about health and fitness, along with recommendations for the best weight loss plans online in 2020.
A Closer Look at the Best Weight Loss Plans
- Best forConvenience, no cooking/counting calories
- PricingStarting at $8.10per day
- Weight lossUp to 13 lbs, 7 inches in first month
Nutrisystem is the weight loss program for people who like to eat! That's because the diet plan lets you eat 6 small meals a day. Eating constantly throughout the day keeps your body in fat-burning mode all the time, so you're not hungry, and you are burning calories. Nice!
What makes Nutrisystem a great system for reaching your optimal weight is the fact that it prepares nutritious, healthy, and balanced meals for you. Half the battle of weight loss is in food prep. Nutrisystem takes that hassle off your shoulders by preparing all your meals and snacks for you. This program offers a delectable selection of meals and snacks, including everything from succulent chicken and broccoli in a savory cheese sauce to a mouth-watering s'mores pie that you’ll be licking your fingers after eating.
Nutrisystem also works so well because it tailors your meal plans to fit your body, weight loss goals, and dietary preferences. You won’t have to suffer with too few calories, restrictions that don’t work for you, or foods you don’t like. Nutrisystem makes a weight loss plan that works for you.
Pros- Personally-tailored to your body, goals, and preferences
- Nothing is off limits
- Easy diet to follow
Cons- Meals come frozen
- Not ideal for vegans
- Best forPersonalized dietary counseling, maintainable
- Pricing$59/month$199/year
- Weight lossNone
Noom is not like any other weight loss program you’ve seen before. It really gets into your head, but in the best possible way you could imagine. Based on oodles of research, Noom takes a scientific approach to health, fitness, and weight loss. What this means is that Noom teaches you all about the science behind eating, why you eat what you eat, when you eat, and how you eat. The idea is that if you learn the underlying motivations, causes, and triggers that fuel your unhealthy eating habits, you’ll be able to stop self-sabotaging choices before they cause you to gain weight (or prevent you from losing it).
Skeptical? That’s your elephant brain talking! And besides, Noom is backed by a boatload of research and analytics that have proven the system to be wildly successful.
Aside from the terrific teaching tools, Noom offers full-fledged weight loss plans, as well. Tools include a calorie counter, an exercise monitor, step counter, and loads of motivational articles to keep you on track. And there are some great features like a personal weight loss coach and community that helps you get customized advice from a professional weight loss coach to maximize your results.
Pros- Science-based, proven results
- Personal weight loss coach
- Lots of tools included
Cons- No diet plan
- Coach isn’t available 24/7
![South Beach]( "South Beach")
- Best forKeto dieters, easy healthy meals
- PricingFrom $10.36 per day
- Weight lossUp to 7 lbs in first 7 days
The South Beach Diet is a protein-heavy diet plan that just about anyone can manage. That's because it doesn't eliminate all carbs as most protein-based diets do. Instead, it includes healthy carbs and even fats into the mix, making meals more satiating (and delicious!). So, people are fuller at the end of the meal, stay fuller longer with satisfying carbs in their system, and can keep up with the diet long-term since they don't feel restricted.
The South Beach Diet is split up into phases, the first being the shortest and most intense. After that, you'll move on to the second phase, which includes more foods like whole wheat grains, rice, and a variety of delicious fruits.
The South Beach Diet is popular for another reason. The entire program is designed by a trained cardiologist, so everything on the menu is naturally heart-friendly, making this weight loss program ideal for all types of diets, including diabetics. Vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians will also find plenty of options within the wide food plans available through the South Beach Diet.
Pros- Meal plans are crafted by cardiologists
- You don’t have to worry about calories
- Lots of meal options for various diets
Cons- No prepared meals available
- Limits fruits
- Best forConvenient, portion-controlled
- PricingFrom $8.57 per meal
- Weight lossNone
Diet To Go is all about making healthy eating and weight loss easier for you. Doing away with the hassle of expensive diet foods, meal prep, and constant shopping trips, Diet To Go balances the meals for you, cooks your meals for you, and even delivers your meals straight to your door. So, it takes away all the problems, leaving nothing but a healthy meal to consume and a great weight loss program to follow.
Diet To Go also offers great support. You can get advice and answers from real health coaches and dieticians. This way, if you have any problems, aren’t sure which meal plan is good for you, or want to understand your diet plan better, there’s somebody there to answer the call.
Diet To Go also has a lot of specialty diet options, so if you are restricted in some way, then this is a good option for you. For example, Diet To Go has special meals and menus for vegetarians and diabetics. You can also get along very well on this meal plan if you are vegan or looking to restrict your carb intake.
Pros- Prepared meals delivered weekly
- Personalized menus
- Lots of dietary specialties
Cons- No fitness program
- No totally gluten-free meals
- Best forHealth-friendly, specialty diets
- PricingFrom $9.80 per meal
- Weight lossNone
If you are looking for a meal delivery service that will promote healthy eating and not starve you of flavor, then BistroMD is your destination. A perfect balance between nutrition and taste, BistroMD prepares meals that are jam-packed with all the nutrients that you need to live a healthy life. The meals are prepared by expert chefs, too, so you get the kind of cooking you can look forward to (and not dread coming home to).
What’s more, BistroMD meals are all designed by doctors. So, not only are these meals delicious, but they are just what the doctor ordered. Meals are designed to contain all of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and calories you need to feel fuller and promote healthy digestion.
BistroMD also provides you with personal support to help you achieve your weight loss and fitness goals. Dieticians are on call to answer your questions and help you tailor your plan to fit your needs.
Pros- Doctor-developed meal plans
- One of the top prepared meal services
- So many options to choose from
Cons- Can’t pick and choose meals
- Not good for a tight budget
- Best forGreen eating, super healthy, ready-made
- PricingFrom $9.99 per meal
- Weight lossNone
If the idea of loading up on healthy, delicious, organic food sounds like a dream too good to be true, you’re in luck. Green Chef is the meal delivery service that is making that dream a reality. Is cooking organic, healthy, well-balanced meals hard? Yeah, but that’s why having Green Chef in your corner is so great!
Green Chef experts use the freshest, healthiest, and always organic ingredients to prepare the greatest meals you have probably ever tasted. And the best part is that they’re all healthy for you! Green Chef meals are designed to promote calorie burning for weight loss and proper metabolism.
And Green Chef has loads of options, too. You can choose from tailored plans, including vegetarian, omnivore, vegan, carnivore, and gluten-free. There’s even a paleo and keto menu option, so you really have a lot of choices. And with meals starting at just a little over $10, it’s one of the more affordable healthy meal delivery options.
Pros- Only organic, fresh, healthy ingredients
- Lots of specialty diet menus
- First-class meals prepared and delivered
Cons- Specialty diets get expensive fast
- Shipping isn’t free
![Mayo Clinic]( "Mayo Clinic")
- Best forSlow and steady, maintainable weight loss
- PricingFree
- Weight loss6-10 lbs in the first 2 weeks
The Mayo Clinic Diet was developed by the actual Mayo Clinic, so you know that whatever advice you’re getting is golden. And in fact, people who stick with the Mayo Clinic Diet have not only achieved their optimal goal but also maintained the weight loss over long periods of time. So, this diet really works for weight loss and general health and wellness, and has heart-healthy elements, making it an ideal choice for anyone.
Instead of focusing on restricting calories, the Mayo Clinic Diet gives you general health guidelines (like avoiding sugars and refined flour) to live by. By replacing negative habits with healthier ones, the Mayo Clinic Diet successfully transforms your lifestyle slowly and steadily, resulting in the most long-lasting results. And since the diet is not restrictive, complicated, or time-consuming, it’s easy to maintain for years.
The Mayo Clinic Diet also recommends including some sort of exercise into your weekly routine. The diet offers several regular activities you can do to rack up those exercise points like raking leaves, walking with friends, and taking a dip in the pool.
Pros- Least restrictive diet plan out there
- No expensive meals or shakes
- Cheaper than most weight loss programs
Cons- Have to cook your own meals
- Not a structured meal plan
- Best forHealthy, convenient prepared meals
- PricingFrom $8.99 per meal
- Weight lossNone
Freshly is the meal delivery service with an emphasis on healthy, natural foods. All of the meal options on the menu are made using all-natural ingredients. Freshly also uses real, whole foods, and skips out on the processed stuff, chemicals, and artificial flavorings. It also loads up each meal with tons of nutrients, so your meals are balanced and healthy.
Freshly makes it easy to order meals. You can browse through the menu, which includes items like Mexican-style shredded beef, cauliflower shell bolognese, and Sicilian-style chicken parm. And Freshly has plenty of plans to choose from, so you're not limited to 1 or 2 eating styles. You can get 4, 6, 9, or even 12 meals a week. Skip a week or cancel anytime without repercussions. Meals come perfectly proportioned for a single eater, so you don't have to worry about calorie counting or anything complicated like that.
But what’s really unique about Freshly meals is how, well, fresh they are. Your meals are cooked by professional chefs. And then they are delivered to your door fresh! So, you can be ready to eat in just 3 minutes. That’s fast food for the health-conscious eaters!
Pros- All-natural ingredients
- Freshly prepared and delivered
- Lots of plan options
Cons- Limited amount of meals per week
- Not available in all 50 states
The Best Diet Plans to Lose Weight
The general idea of all weight loss programs is the same: giving people a structured plan to help them lose weight. Of course, the weight loss programs can vary considerably depending on the one you are following. These programs will teach you the concepts you need to follow and the lifestyle you need to maintain in order to achieve your optimal weight and other fitness goals.
Many of these programs also come with dieticians you can consult for weight loss and healthy eating advice. Others will include professional trainers you can speak to as well to cover the fitness aspect of your weight loss program.
How Do Weight Loss Programs Work?
Basic weight loss programs come with a general diet plan. This tells you which foods are healthy and which foods to avoid. This is helpful if you are just looking for a basic guideline and have the willpower to stick to it on your own.
A little more involved weight loss program may offer more specific diet plans. This could be a detailed menu for you to follow. This is easier for people who don’t know or don’t want to make a menu for themselves. Even more detailed weight loss plans will give you a workout program to follow. This can help promote further calorie burn and help you achieve your weight loss goals faster.
Another type of weight loss program comes in the form of ready-made meals. These are the easiest ones to follow since all the work is done for you. Menus are created, ingredients are shopped for, and meals are even completely prepared for you. All you have to do is just heat and eat. It's the easiest way to lose weight and stick to a diet.
What Types of Diets Help You Lose Weight?
Weight loss programs have been studied intensely, and those studies have shown that these programs can and do help people lose weight. This is because a lot of research has gone into designing the programs for optimal results.
The best diet plans are designed by doctors, dieticians, and experts in the field of nutritional science. A good diet plan might focus on calorie count, ingredients, or portion control, and sometimes incorporate all three into a single diet.
Nutrisystem, for example, offers customized diet plans that focus on portion control and eating habits. Noom, another successful diet plan, blends calorie counting, fitness tracking, and personal coaching. Some weight loss plans may focus on specific diets like keto and gluten-free meals, while others may take an ingredient-based approach and offer organic or plant-based foods as a route to getting in shape.
How to Choose a Weight Loss Program
From medical diets to clean-eating programs and portion controlling, there are myriad types of weight loss plans out there. The best diet to lose weight is the one that works for you: for your body, your lifestyle, and your weight loss goals.
For example, if you need help with discipline, you may want to opt for a program that offers personal coaching, motivational resources, and diet tracking. If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, it’s best to find a program like Diet to Go, which offers medically-based plans designed explicitly for those with health issues. Other factors to consider are cost, convenience, and availability.
And last but not least, there’s taste. Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your food. Today’s best diet plans enlist professional chefs to create delicious entrees. Before you settle on a weight loss plan, peruse the menus online and make sure the entrees appeal to your tastes.
How to Lose Weight When You’re Staying at Home
Sheltering in place adds another element of difficulty to losing weight. We’re forced to spend all day within arm’s reach of our refrigerators and snack drawers, and we have less distractions that may keep our minds off of eating.
If you can’t seem to stop snacking while at home, it might be a good idea to simply replace your snacks with healthier alternatives. This is the approach Nutrisystem takes. It understands that eating is not only necessary but a comfort, and instead of forcing us to avoid food, Nutrisystem designs its weight loss plans around eating frequently but eating healthier. The plans are structured around 6 small meals a day, supplemented by healthy snacks that ensure even though you may be snacking, you’re snacking on healthy, low-calories, portion-controlled meals and snacks.
How easy a weight loss program is to follow at home really depends on the structure and style of the plan. A program that gives you the basic guidelines will be harder to follow since you need to do all the work. On the other hand, there are generally fewer restrictions on these types of programs. So, it might be easier for you to maintain in the long-run. Ready-made meal programs are the easiest to follow. Plus, the ones that come with plenty of options help keep boredom at bay, so you want to find a weight loss program that works best for you and gives you the type of variety you can live with.
5 Weight Loss Tips from a Healthy Living Expert
Losing weight and keeping it off isn’t easy—but you already knew that. It can be frustrating and full of pitfalls. What we really want is a weight loss plan that can help us reach our goals and live a happy, healthy life.
We spoke to Paul Martin, one of the wellness mavens at Full Plate Living, a non-profit organization with a mission to “encourage, educate, support and inspire anyone who desires to live a healthier lifestyle.” We asked Paul for his take on the best ways to live a healthy lifestyle, and here are his top 5 tips.
Tip #1 - Be the tortoise, not the hare
A manageable diet helps you lose weight at a steady pace and provides you with the tools to maintain that weight loss. According to Martin, a responsible, sustainable amount of weight to lose is about 1 to 2 pounds a week.
The key to any diet is for people to “enjoy what they’re eating and not feel deprived.” Martin adds that “Pretty much all diets work in the short run. The ones that fail in the long term aren't sustainable–most often people don't like the food, or don't like feeling restricted.” By changing bad habits and focusing on long-term healthy living, you can not only achieve your weight loss goals, but maintain them.
Tip #2 - Don’t rely solely on the gym
We hate to break it to you, but while fitness is all the rage these days, “what you lift on your fork is way more important than what you lift in the gym,” according to Martin. We’re not suggesting you ditch the gym all together—fitness and strength are important for a healthy life—just don’t expect to stuff your face and then sweat it all off in the gym.
Tip #3 - Enjoy the occasional meal out, responsibly
Martin suggests that eating out—which is often the bane of dieters—can still be enjoyed, even while dieting. “Eating out is hard for weight loss. But in today's world you can't eliminate it. In most restaurants it's actually possible to order filling meals that won't set you back from your weight loss goals.”
That said, if you are eating out, you might want to avoid the happy hour drink specials. Martin reminds us, “Liquid calories are very sneaky. If you drink them you have to plan it as part of your meal.”
Tip #4 - Start cooking at home
While eating out can be fun—and all but impossible to avoid in today’s world—learning how to cook your own meals, with or without a meal plan or home meal kit, can bring great benefits to your health and happiness.
“Learning to make your own weight loss friendly meals is an incredible investment in yourself. It's worth it for the long run,” Martin says. Cooking at home helps you keep track of nutritional information and stay on track with healthy eating.
Tip #5 - Definitely talk to your doctor
Before you embark on a new weight loss regimen, Martin—and Top10.com—stress that you speak to your doctor first, just to make sure that there aren’t any health issues that you need to take into account.
