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| Screen Shot Online Weight Loss Programs |
By Jason Hagen
It's true in nearly every household: Time is at a premium.
Kids? activities, work, and social obligations keep everyone busy from early
morning until well after dinner. All this turmoil causes you to put off things
you know are important like signing up at your local weight-loss center or
going to the gym.
Perhaps you live in a rural area and your choices are
limited. Can you still benefit from a weight-loss program, even if you have to
attend "virtually" via a computer? Yes, if you follow some basic
guidelines.
Know Yourself First
Some people are self-starters and are comfortable in an
online environment with little personal interaction, and some people simply are
not. You know yourself best, so before choosing an online diet program, ask
yourself if you'll be successful without the support and encouragement of
face-to-face meetings. Will you continue with the program, or lose interest
without the motivation of a weekly meeting?
If you are concerned about staying motivated with an online
program but don't have a good weight-loss clinic nearby, one alternative is to
look for a program that offers a hybrid approach. With webcams now the norm,
you should be able to find a program that offers online meetings with a
counselor rather than in person, so no matter how little time you have or how
far you live from a major metropolitan area, you can still participate.
Choosing a Good Online Program
If you do decide an online weight-loss program is for you,
there are a few things you need to know before signing up. You'll want to be
sure the program has adequate support, so you never feel as if you're on your
own. Ideally, you should have a coach assigned to you or someone you can count
on to keep you motivated and on track. Trying to lose weight, work out, and say
no to those bad habits that have developed over the years is tough enough. The
last thing you want is to have to do it without someone to support your
efforts.
In addition, seek out a program that is tailored to you and
your needs, not just a generic "diet" program designed to fit the
"average" person or lifestyle. You'll be much more successful in your
weight-loss efforts if your plan incorporates your unique tastes in food and
exercise, rather than simply telling you how many calories to consume each day.
Finally, avoid plans that depend on prepackaged meals and
unnecessarily restrictive food choices, or require you to purchase a lot of
supplements. While they might work in the short term, these types of
weight-loss programs almost always fail in the end. It doesn't matter if you
join online or off, they're just not sustainable.
Keep in mind, too, that getting healthy isn't just about
what foods you eat. It involves making better food choices, learning to
exercise properly and with the correct frequency, and staying motivated even
when the scales don't show any improvement. Your weight-loss program whether
online or in person should help you in all three areas. Any plan that ignores
one or more is not likely to help you achieve the success you are seeking.
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