Spark People
diet
Spark People is an online
weight loss program that has gathered quite a following. The
eating plan is based on the USDA Food Pyramid, which has
recently changed. Each meal is mostly carbohydrates with
protein and fat thrown in for good measure.
The Spark People meal plans
are customized to each individual's needs. Filling out a
profile and answering a few questions gets you started. They
offer daily emails to members that contain articles and
recipes that aid in the weight loss program.
The program doesn't require
you to weigh in each week or meet with counselors. If you need
support, there is an online community of other dieters that
find encouragement from each other. Professionals are on hand
if you need to speak to someone about specific dietary need.
Spark People provides a
total approach to weight loss that involves the mind, body,
and will. Dieters are taught the basics of food science. They
learn how to read labels and what constitutes a "good carb."
Articles teach that changing the mind is the way to change the
will and the eating habits. To that end, the program has four
stages, the last of which is to take what you have learned and
spread it around.
The website offers plenty of
resources for the novice and the experienced dieter. Tips on
how to control emotional eating, food trackers, recipes, and
activities that earn SparkPoints® are also available. The
website is easy to navigate and user friendly.
Did I mention that Spark
People is totally free? Simply register and log in to the
site. You can get started right away. Filling out the profiles
and other diet tools gives you an idea of what foods to eat
and how to prepare them in delicious ways for you and your
family.
Exercise is important on the
Spark People plan. The site offers video demos of exercises,
step by step instructions for different techniques, and
different options to traditional exercise. All the work that
you do outside adds up to one awesome workout.
Check out the program and
see what it offers. Those with special circumstances like
diabetes or other health issues may find it to be difficult to
follow the meal plan recommendations. People that do a lot of
weight training may find the protein percentage too low for
their energy needs. For anyone, the articles provide a
starting point to understanding nutrition and how their own
body responds to food
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