• Will your work or family commitments allow you to attend group meetings or classes?
• Are you happy recording your daily diet online or interacting with online forums?
• Do you have a problem with portion control or do you need advice on eating healthier?
• Do you want to be free to eat whatever you like or do you need more discipline and prefer being provided with specific recipes  or food from special ranges with healthy proportions of carbohydrates/protein and fats?
• Do you need to change your lifestyle to incorporate more activity such as being encouraged to walk up stairs or leave the car at home for short journeys, or are you already quite active but have reached a weight loss plateau and would prefer to attend fitness classes or follow a workout plan to kick-start your metabolism?
• How are you motivated? Do you want public recognition for your weight loss achievements or are you happier seeing graphs and statistics that record your activity and calorie intake?

No one weight loss plan is right for everybody,  so although joining the same program as you best friend maybe good for support, if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle or personal preferences you won’t stick with it, especially over the long term. So make sure you check out exactly what the benefits of each program are for you before you sign up. We have highlighted a few of the most popular UK weight loss programs to help you decide.

Who?

WeightWatchers

How?

Meetings or Online

What does it involve?

WeightWatchers’ approach is to help members achieve their sustained weight loss goals by adopting a healthier lifestyle and a healthier relationship with food and activity.

Founded over 40 years ago WeightWatchers is now the global leader in weight management services, providing 50,000 Weight Watchers meetings each week in countries all over the world. Scientific Studies have backed up their approach which is based on the underlying premise of behaviour modification, helping you learn how to change their relationship with food and activity.

WeightWatchers have recently launched a brand new plan. This is their biggest innovation since the POINTS® system launched almost 15 years ago. The new ProPoints plan uses the latest nutritional science that reflects how your body processes food. They claim ‘you’ll discover foods that’ll keep you satisfied and that are healthy and foods that’ll make life enjoyable as you’re getting to the weight you want to be.’

Why could it work for me?

Easy to incorporate the diet into your lifestyle as many food products, including supermarket own brands, already list the  Weight Watchers’ points so no need to personally calculate potion sizes and values.

Any special joining offers?

Sign up  now and SAVE MORE THAN £10 WITH their 3-MONTH PLAN!

Who?

Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club.

How?

Online, Classes, Magazine and Food Ranges

What does it involve?

With over 37 years experience in Diet and Exercise, Rosemary Conley has helped thousands of men and woman from all over the world, to achieve their weight loss goals and get fitter for life. Today, the brand has a reach of over 1 million customers who wish to follow a healthy lifestyle.

The Rosemary Conley approach is unique as the only national slimming organisation to include an exercise session in every class, with workouts designed for everyone, no matter what age, size, or fitness level. Don’t be concerned if you haven’t exercised for a long time – you can start with gentle, low intensity movements and walking on the spot, resting whenever necessary.

At Rosemaryconleyonline, their aim is ‘to assist and support members in achieving and maintaining their weight-loss and fitness goals in a friendly, caring and positive environment.’

Online you can also follow Rosemary’s Amazing Inch Loss Plan, which is based on low-fat, low-Gi foods.

If you’re dieting on your own and looking for a proven eating plan which includes tasty meals for one that are both healthy and hassle-free then you can Use the Solo slim diet range of foods.

Why could it work for me?

With an exercise session in every class, it is a great option for people who want to increase their calorie expenditure and fitness through exercise.

Any special joining offers?

This January Rosemary Conley will be offering all new members joining from this link £10 off membership to rosemaryconleyonline. In addition to this they will also get a year’s free subscription to Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness magazine worth £19.99 if you join for a year.

Who?

Fitbug.com

How?

Online

What does it involve?

Since its launch in 2005, Fitbug has helped thousands of people achieve their personal health, weight-loss and fitness goals and to lead far healthier lives. Fitbug provides an all-inclusive, non-intimidating programme which is suitable for all; irrespective of age, gender, location or physical fitness which encourages individuals to improve their lifestyles for the long term.

How Fitbug has developed a little gadget (essentially a pedometer) which records all the exercise you do – every step you take and every stair you climb. You then simply download the results onto Fitbug.com and you’ll be to view exactly how much exercise you’ve done. By slowly increasing the amount of steps you take each day and following Fitbug’s healthy eating advice, helps you get fitter, slimmer and healthier. Requires inputting your daily food intake online and then it displays just how much fat, protein and calories you have eaten that day and how you need to alter your diet.

An online forum provides support from other members and online challenges to motivate you to become more active by competing against friends, colleagues or complete strangers to achieve your weekly targets.

Why could it work for me?

Fitbug has unique motivation through Nectar, the UK’s leading loyalty programme. Nectar collectors can earn 1,000 points just for signing up to Nectar Fitbug, plus if you’re serious about leading a healthier lifestyle, you can collect up to an additional 80 points a week! Ten points for 12,000 steps. Take more than 10,000 steps a day, five times a week and receive an additional ten bonus points With all the Nectar points you collect, there are plenty of ways to treat yourself sooner.

Who?

Tescodiets.com

How?

Online

What does it involve?

From one of our main high street supermarkets Tesco diets offers some unique approaches. Firstthere is DNA (Diet Needs Analysis), a 1-2-1 consultation service offering a personal 45 minute phone call with a qualified nutritionist.

Personal diet mentor, recipe club and16 different diet plans available from vegan to gluten free to low salt.

There is also an easy to follow personalised fitness programme. Tell them what area of your body you want to work on and they generate a weekly work out plan for you. Virtual online trainers show you how to do the exercises safely. Also included are online support such as exercise journals, workout logs, activity and heart rate calculators.

Why could it work for me?

After you have received your personalised diet Tesco then allows you to order your diet plan shopping list online. OK this gimmick gets you to buy from their store but you will also be able to avoid the temptation to buy treats in the supermarket.

Who?

Bootsdiets.com

How?

Online

What does it involve?

Bootsdiet.com gives you a personalised calorie target, record everything with an online food diary and stay within this target. No meal plans or special foods. Online forums for encouragement and support. Calorie counted recipes for inspiration

Why could it work for me?

No food is banned but the aim is to educate you about food so you can develop a healthier lifestyle. Can also access your account from your iPhone, Blackberry or other internet enabled phone.

Any special joining offers?

Visit  Bootsdiets.com for a free 7day free trial. Or save up to 1/3 on 3 or 6 months membership at Bootsdiets.com by buying a BootsDiets.com Online Weight Loss Service  Membership Voucher direct from the Boots website.

Luggage vans in front of Verazzona bridge at start of New York City marathon

I’m very disappointed that due to injury I have had to cancel my entry this week for the ING New York City marathon on Sunday. Whilst I probably could make it round, I haven’t trained properly  for almost  5 weeks and I wouldn’t be able to put in a good performance, so I’d rather save myself for a different marathon in the new year.

As I have helped before at both the start and finish of the race, as well as running myself last year, I have a few tips to pass on to anyone else racing on Sunday.  There are many people giving advice on running a marathon, New York Road Runners give their own advice on completing the race along with their race etiquette suggestions, which I have touched on in a previous post. Marathons also put a lot of stress on the body. If you have been suffering from any recent illnesses or have not been able to train as planned it is always acceptable to withdraw from the race and enter another later on. No matter what your experience make sure you rehydrate efficiently and don’t push yourself too hard.

Paula Radcliffe has also given her own tips to first timers running the New York City Marathon and surprisingly some of her observations apply to both the elite and mass participation runners. Observations such as the Jewish Rabbis, who obliviously walk straight in front of the runners with no concern for anyone else, whether they are leading the race or as I experienced when you are part of the mass pack. Can’t give any advice here except watch out especially as you run through Brooklyn around miles 9-10.

To allow time to arrive at the 5am coach pick up I had to leave before 4am, which was over 6hrs before the race starts, so I recommend you take food with you to eat at the start area. There is food available at the start but personally I found bagels too heavy to digest before a race so I prefer to take my own bananas and dried toast. When I volunteered at the start food stands I was surprised how many people were taking energy bars they had never tried before and eating them before the race or asking my advice on what they should eat before the race. The day of the race is not the time to be trying out new products and you should have already established your pre race breakfast. By all means take the free samples but save them to try during future training sessions.

Runners wait in start corral as others run across Verazzona bridge.

As the marathon starts on Staten Island which can only be assessed by official transportation you end up having to arrive very early in the morning. Aside from the very long wait allowing your nerves to develop and boredom to set in, it is also very cold at 5am on a November morning. I recommend taking a book or magazine with you for entertainment, something to sit on such as a plastic bag and the side of a packing box as insulation from the cold wet floor, or even a blow up pillow. In spite of wearing three layers of clothing I was freezing whilst waiting 5 hours for the start and I noticed a few people were sitting inside sleeping bags, which I would recommend. I don’t know if they are accepted in the luggage trucks as you need to use the clear plastic bags provided so it may be necessary to try to find a cheap one you won’t mind if you have to leave it behind.  Also you have to drop off your bags and move to the start corrals over 1 hour before the race starts so it’s a good idea to wear old clothes over your race kit that you can remove just before the start. After the start volunteers collect the clothes to be donated to charity.

For those of you who haven’t raced a large marathon before you may not be aware of the blue line on the course. Whilst it is mainly of use for the elite runners, it indicates the route to run exactly 26.2miles. I’m not suggesting you religiously try to follow the line especially at the beginning but it can give you an indication where the turns in the course are as the line crosses over the road. According to my GPS I often run more than 1 mile extra during a marathon, something it would be good to avoid when you are already covering 26.2miles. It actually only equates to around 60meters extra per mile which isn’t much when you consider how much you move weaving between the crowds or crossing over towards the drink stations. Whilst every metre adds up, following the blue line will help to reduce your extra miles.

Finally make sure you remember to turn your clocks back on Saturday night before you go to bed so you take advantage of the extra hour of sleep.

Good luck to everyone running on Sunday.