How does someone choose the right weight-loss program when there are so many offered? There also is the burden of having to pay for information and products. It's estimated that Americans spend $35 billion a year in weight-loss products. Thankfully, new dieting programs have emerged that are free. The Internet hosts numerous systems that educate, support, and motivate people to shed their unwanted pounds.
Sparkpeople
Sparkpeople is an online community of about 7 million members in 150 countries. The program offers an individual diet and exercise plan based on a person's height, weight and activity level. The calorie tracker and fitness log allow users to track progress and stick to their plan. Sparkpeople also offers a variety of support systems, including videos explaining fitness moves to online communities working together for the same goals.The information and discussions are provided by registered dietitians who point users in the right direction.
CalorieCount.com
Caloriecount.com is an online program that allows users to track daily intake of food. Each food item in the system is given a letter grade, such as A- for frozen fruit and C+ for lasagna. After a day's intake is entered, caloriecount.com provides an overall diet grade. Users can access information on the website to improve diet and receive a better grade. Other features include community discussion, fitness trackers, and nutrition articles.
Traineo
Traineo provides online tools created by weight-loss specialists. A free profile allows each user to enter her or his weight each day. Based on the current day's weight and overall weight-loss goal, Traineo provides a daily calorie requirement. Weight is tracked on a graph that illustrates historical trends for the user and shows total weight loss. A motivation system also allows friends and family to log on and provide support. Or any user can connect with thousands of others to motivate and support each other in weight-loss goals.
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