Do Free Online Diet Plans Work?

You've seen those free online diet plans. You sign up and they give you diet tips and information and encouragement. But I'll bet you wonder if they work. Dieting is a billion dollar industry, so how could anything free work? How can you tell if it's a good diet plan or not?

Evaluating Free Online Diet Plans

Just like any other diet plan, some of them 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 out there on the internet. Here are a few things to look for when you are evaluating a free online diet plan:

Is it nutritionally sound? The plan should provide you with all the nutrients--and enough calories--for you to stay healthy. It should be rich in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and low in fat. It should emphasize using the right fats and have 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 one formula for weight loss: You have to take in fewer calories than you expend. Since you need a certain amount of calories in order to get your nutritional needs met, you have to expend more energy to lose weight. Exercise also keeps your body toned and increases your metabolism, so that you burn more calories even when you are not exercising.

What kind of support do you get? It's nearly 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 tips, a forum and other types of support.

Does it have an educational component? Do you get information on how to nutrition, exercise and general health?

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

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

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of a dietplansreview.com healthy weight loss plans website where you can find reviews and information on the medifast diet plan, south beach diet, supplements, the best weight loss programs [dietplansreview.com/best-weight-loss-programs.html] and more.