Online Weight Loss Plans

Obesity is considered an epidemic. Our busy lives often prevent us from taking the time to eat proper meals and from monitoring our calorie and fat intake. Schedule demands also prevent us from taking the time to attend accountability meetings that also teach us how to eat healthily. Thankfully, technology is now available on the Internet to lose weight that can be utilized even by those with the most hectic schedules.

Set Your Goal

• To set your weight loss goal, you should first determine what your proper weight should be. One online tool to help you learn this is Thinnerself.com. The site features a weight loss calculator, in which you provide answers to questions such as your height, age and activity level. Based on your answers, you will be given the ideal weight, body mass index and other helpful bits of information to assist you set your goals.

  While this is a useful tool, it is always advisable that you consult your doctor before starting any weight loss or exercise program.

Evaluate Tools

• There are numerous tools to choose from online to help you reach your goals. Even old tried-and-true methods such as Weight Watchers have now gone into cyber space for the convenience of today's dieter.

  If you are having trouble deciding which online weight loss plan is best for you, ediets.com is designed to help you figure it out. The site walks visitors through a questionnaire to help determine their wants and needs in an online plan for weight loss. Then it makes recommendations based on your answers.

  Peertrainer.com offers a variety of services to assist members with diet, exercise and motivation. Members receive Daily Weight Loss Motivation Tips, logs for meals and workouts, access to in-person small groups in your area, and online community and blogs.

  For people who do not want to pay a monthly fee for a program, Fitday.com offers a free alternative that helps you count calories, carbs, fat and track your progress.

  TwoFoods.com allows you to compare two different food choices so you can easily see which would be the better and healthier choice. For example, if you were to compare a McDonald's Big Mac with a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese, you would learn that the Big Mac has 220 fewer calories and 16 fewer grams of fat. While neither of these could be defined as healthy choices, in a pinch you would be able to choose the best of the two.

Make a Commitment

• Whichever online weight loss method you select, it is important to remember that it will only be effective if you make a commitment to use the tools faithfully. It is always helpful to tell someone close to you what you are doing and ask them to hold you accountable by checking on your progress regularly. You may also find it helpful to make a note in your daily calendar to remind you to log in to your weight loss site.