Every year millions of people try to lose weight through exercise and dieting, however statistics continue to show that the population of this world continues to gain more weight as the years go by. 

Despite growing recognition of the problem, the obesity epidemic continues and obesity rates are increasing around the world. The latest estimates are that approximately 34% of adults and 15–20% of children and adolescents are obese. 

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), obesity increases the risk of many chronic diseases in children and adults. People who have obesity, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including the following:

• All-causes of death (mortality)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
• Sleep apnea and breathing problems
• Many types of cancers 
• Low quality of life
• Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders
• Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning

Obsession with Losing Weight

The obesity epidemic has created an obsession for finding that perfect weight loss program that will give quick results. This desire for weight loss has clouded the fact that weight loss should also include a healthy lifestyle plan to achieve the long term weight loss benefits. 

Not all diets are created equal, which can make it challenging to find a weight loss program that’s safe, sustainable, and effective. 

I get the opportunity to regularly talk to hundreds of people who are looking for a way to lose those extra pounds. Many have tried other programs, and failed. Why have they failed? In this article we will take a look at the most popular programs on the market today and we will take a closer look into the Feel Great System.

We can start by acknowledging that most diet programs will show results for weight loss. However, many of them have two common themes among them. First, they get you to eliminate something from your diet and most often these changes are not sustainable.

The other common theme is that they are conflicting from one to the next. There are thousands of diet programs and weight loss supplements on the market. Many of them promise miraculous results. Dietary supplements are typically marketed with the promise you can take a pill or teaspoon of a liquid, and fat just melts away instantly. 

So what is the truth? Who is right?

First off, lets acknowledge that nothing beats a well balanced dietary lifestyle that provides all the nutritional needs of the body. Understanding the importance of the Glycemic Index (GI) of foods can transform the way you look at the foods on your plate, and it will dramatically impact your health. 

Avoiding unhealth processed foods and sugary drinks alone will offer some weight loss results, but the truth is that we live in a modern food environment that is designed to stimulate a never-ending desire for more of their food. 

Weight Loss Should Be SIMPLE & SUSTAINABLE

The definition of a DIET is that “diets have a beginning and end, and when we stop doing the  diet we go back to our old habits and gain the weight back one”. Sound familiar?

A dietary routine that does little to change your eating habits in the beginning; but over time you will see a difference and make the changes naturally as your body changes.

The Feel Great System

Unicity International has developed the Feel Great System, a proven science-based dietary formula that anyone can follow and that assists to bring your blood sugars back into a healthy range. This system is designed to make a healthy lifestyle not only doable but also enjoyable, without having to starve yourself, follow strict diet programs, or rely on willpower. So you can still enjoy your favorite foods in moderation. 

Insulin Resistance

To fully understand the benefits of The Feel Great System, it would be important to have a foundational knowledge of maintaining healthy blood sugars and insulin resistance. This is a simple science-based approach that addresses, reverses and prevents weight loss in the the first place.

By slowing the rate your body turns food into glucose, the Feel Great System products, specifically the Unicity Balance, effectively limits the amount of insulin needed. This means instead of turning all that glucose in your body into more fat, your body will efficiently use that glucose for energy.

I encourage you to take a look at The Feel Great System as a comparison to these dietary programs using the following 5 criteria:

1. nutritional quality
2. sustainability
3. effectiveness for weight loss
4. additional health benefits
5. supporting research

When weight loss is the goal it is important to do something that will easily fit your lifestyle and dietary preferences, based on your lifestyle and culture. This will help ensure long-term success. Be sure what you are using is backed by research and have been shown to be effective for sustainable long-term weight loss. 

Whatever you choose, it should be realistic and sustainable. Bottom line, steer clear of diets that are overly restrictive or promise a quick-fix for rapid weight loss. 

Atkins’ New Diet Revolution; by Dr. Atkins: This program encourages high protein diet and a trim down on the carbohydrates. You eat vegetables and meat but not breads, pasta and fruits. You are not restricted against fat intake so you are free to eat all the salad dressing and butter. The issue with this diet is the lack of fiber and other vitamins and nutrients that are not found in high in fat. Did you know there is no studies that show the health benefits of this diet over an extended period of time (years).

Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet; by Drs. Heller: This diet plan advocates low carbohydrate consumption. The program promotes eating meats, vegetables and fruits, dairy and grain products. Somewhat like the Atkins diet this dietary program is high in fats.

Choose to Lose; by Dr. Goor: The program restrains fat intake. You are given a “fat” budget but you do not need to watch your carbohydrate intake. Dr. Goor encourages eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafood. This diet allows you to eat vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. Overall this is a healthy program with good amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats. The carbohydrates intake may triglyceride levels which may cause issues.

The DASH Diet: this diet plan that suggests moderate amounts of fat and protein intake and high on carbohydrates. The program was designed to lower blood pressure, and follows the SAD pyramid food guide. It encourages high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy.

Eat More, Weigh Less; by Dr. Ornish: This weight loss program suggests primarily vegetarian and strictly low-fat. It warns against non-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet plan is poor in calcium and restricts consumption of healthy foods like seafood and lean poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type: This program is based on your blood type. It recommends plenty of meat for people with the blood type O. Diet plans of this kind are usually nutritionally imbalanced and too low in calories.

The Pritkin Principle: This is a program that is focused on trimming the calories in eating by suggesting watery foods that make you feel full. Eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy is okay. The diet plan limits protein sources to lean meat, seafood and poultry. Although it is healthy by providing low amounts of saturated fat and rich amounts of vegetables and fruits, it is also low on calcium and limits lean protein sources.

Volumetrics: For low-density calorie eating. The weight loss program recommends the same foodstuff as Pritkin but restricts fatty or dry foods like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This diet plan is reasonably healthy given the high amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as being low in calorie density and saturated fats.

The Zone: This program is low on the carbohydrates but high on the proteins. The diet plan encourages low-fat protein foods like fish and chicken plus veggies, fruits and grains. It is also healthy but lacking in grains and calcium.

WW (formally Weight Watchers): This is a popular program that is high in carbohydrates and suggests moderation on fats and proteins. Some advocate this is a very healthy diet plan, unless you are a diabetic. It allows the dieter to plan his own meal rather than give him a set diet plan to follow.

The Macrobiotic Diet: This diet program is for the hardcore diet enthusiast. It a diet that is low in fat, high in fiber and includes a lot of vegetables. It is really a vegetarian diet. Eggs and dairy are not eatin. This diet is not for the weak of heart.

The Alli Diet: This diet includes a diet pill. This diet also puts an emphasis on exercising. Alli was the first obesity drug to be approved by the FDA for non-prescription use in the US. The pill works by physically reducing the amount of fat the body retains. In effect, the science behind Alli lies in its control over the amount of fatty acids retained by the body, thus, there is essentially less caloric intake allowing for less exercise for a caloric burn.

Medfast Diet: This diet is based on following a program of packaged meal plans that include shakes, bars, brownies, pudding, oatmeal, soups, drinks, scrambled Eggs, pretzels & cheese puffs

Mediterranean Diet: This diet is inspired by the eating patterns of countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece. A well-rounded Mediterranean diet should include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, proteins, and healthy fats. Meanwhile, added sugars and foods that have been heavily processed or refined are restricted.

Plant-based Diet: This diet encourages you to eat foods from plants, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, oils, and legumes. Unlike vegan or vegetarian diets, most plant-based diets don’t eliminate meat or animal products entirely. However, these foods are only enjoyed in moderation and not generally considered to be the main focus of the diet.

Carb-Restricted Diet: These diets are often recommended to help support blood sugar control and increase weight loss among those with type 2 diabetes. There are many types of carb-restricted diets, but most of them involve limiting the consumption of foods that are high in sugar or carbs, such as desserts, candy, bread, and pasta.

Although some carb-restricted diets, such as the Atkins or ketogenic diet, also require significantly reducing your carb consumption to 20–50 grams per day, low carb diets are defined as any diet comprising less than 130 grams of carbs per day.

Mayo Clinic Diet: This diet is an eating plan originally developed by experts at the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit hospital system that’s considered to be a leader in medical research. The Mayo Clinic diet is focused on developing healthy habits like eating breakfast every day, exercising daily, and keeping a food journal. It also promotes nutritious ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, while limiting added sugars and saturated fat from full fat dairy and high fat meats.

The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet: This is a diet plan developed by the National Cholesterol Education Program to support healthy cholesterol levels. On the TLC diet, foods high in fat and dietary cholesterol are limited, while foods high in soluble fiber — a type of fiber that dissolves in water — are encouraged.

Pescatarian Diet: This diet is a mostly plant-based diet that includes fish and seafood. There are several variations of pescatarian diets, but most of them exclude meat and poultry from the diet but include other animal products like fish, eggs, dairy, and honey.

Ornish Diet: This diet is a low fat, plant-based eating pattern that promotes nutritious ingredients like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. While weight control is not the primary goal of the Ornish Diet, people have found that it may be effective for weight loss.

Jenny Craig: This is a diet program that delivers prepackaged, portion-controlled meals to help simplify weight loss. Jenny Craig often attracts older adults, as it doesn’t require extensive planning or preparation. Plans are tailored to your specific weight loss goals but typically provide 1,200–2,300 calories per day.

Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND Diet): This diet combines certain aspects of the Mediterranean and DASH diets to help combat mental decline. On the MIND diet, foods like fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains are encouraged, while foods high in saturated or trans fats are limited.