• 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.

I normally walk 3.2miles to work which was clocking around 7,000 steps but one day I was late so had to jog the last mile. As I looked at my bug I was distraught to see I had only added 6,000 steps. I know that the bug only counts steps and as I was jogging my steps would have been longer and fewer, but I was disappointed that putting in more effort meant that I had less recorded steps.

Over the lovely sunny weekend I wore dresses where I couldn’t attach my bug to my waist band so I carried the bug in my shoulder bag but then forgot to put it on my clothes when I got to work. I was annoyed with myself when I realised I missed recording another 2,000 steps, but when I got home found I had the expected number of steps as if I had worn the bug all day. Obviously letting the bug bounce around in my bag wasn’t as accurate as wearing it on my waist so I will have to be careful about accepting the counts if it’s in my bag all day.

Although there are community challenges on the website to record the highest number of step count, ultimately the bug is there as motivation to keep me active and tone up so there is no point in trying to trick the bug as I would only be cheating myself. I will have to experiment this week though to see if jogging with the bug in my bag equals each other out and I end up with the same number of steps if I walked wearing it.

As this was my first week I didn’t have any goals I just had to eat as normal and record everything on the website. Unfortunately I got tonsillitis and for two and a half days I couldn’t swallow or eat or drink anything so I had nothing to update my profile with. Then on Sunday I get a text message saying ‘Don’t be a slug…Update your bug!’.  Looking back it was nice to get the reminder text and know that Fitbug was still supporting and motivating me, although at the time I did want to text back ‘Leave me alone I’M ILL.’

In spite of my incomplete first week profile, Fitbug was able to make some recommendations of:

• Step Target 19,500
• Aerobic Step Target 6,600
• Calories consumed 2,000

I’ll let you know if I manage to reach the targets next week. If you have already a Fitbug member then don’t forget I have set up a league for Strenua’s World and I hope readers will join the league for some friendly rivalry and motivation.

If you wish to join me Fitbug.com are offering a 25% Discount to all new customers, simply enter this promotional code ‘SPRING10’ in the appropriate section which is valid until 30th June 2010.

This week I received my Fitbug ‘bug’ which I am going to trial for the next 3 months. Fitbug.com is a place where you can record your nutritional intake, connect with the fitbug community through its forum and take part in activity challenges. You also have a ‘bug’, a more sophisticated type of pedometer which then talks to fitbug.com to update how active you have been.

Day one was just the ‘getting to know you’ phase. For the first week the program likes to get to know your normal activity level, what you normally eat and what your goals are. I had to complete the online questionnaire, admitting to my poor diet and as my goal is to tone up I had to record my hips, thighs, waist, chest and arm measurements.

I also have to record what I eat for at least 3 days in the nutritional area. This is an area that took quick a while to complete, although that I imagine it will get quicker as you develop your favourite food tab. The nutritional information for nearly 18,000 food products are already listed to select: 6,000 from Tesco, 3,000 from Somerfield and 4,600 from ASDA with 1,400 non branded food such as fruit and vegetables. However, I had to personally fill in the nutritional information from my Sainsbury’s Pizza and my Mars Bar (I admit my diet is bad) had more calories than were written on the packet. I presume this is down to brands shrinking the size of their products rather than the fitbug data being entered incorrectly so I will have to check the calories are correct when I add new foods to my nutritional diary.

The interesting part of the fitbug program is the ‘bug’. I’ve called it a pedometer but it is more sophisticated than just a step counter. It records what time you achieved the steps as well as if they were aerobic steps such as going for a brisk walk, or if they were just walking around the house. After 24 hours I had accumulated 23,000 steps with 16,000 being aerobic steps. This was achieved by my 3.2mile walk to work that took around 7,200 steps each way and 3 hours of teaching swimming that involved 5,000 steps. It does however highlight when you have been lazy or sitting down as I was on Saturday watching the F1 qualifying and then the FA cup final on TV. It clearly shows I didn’t do much between 1-5pm. But luckily I don’t have to feel too guilty this week as the program just likes to record a baseline of your average daily activity, although all the steps do count towards the community challenges. These include the Mount Everest Challenge and the Fantasy Footfall where your total monthly steps can pit you against other people from your country or county. You can also set up a mini league for your friends or Family so I have set up a league for Stenua’s World and I hope readers will join the league for some friendly rivalry and motivation.

I’m planning on reporting back on how I get on with the Fitbug program over the next few months and will let you know how I have got on after my first assessment week. If you wish to join me Fitbug.com are offering a 25% discount to all new customers, simply enter this promotional code ‘SPRING10’ in the appropriate section which is valid until 30th June 2010.

I’ve never been a fan of Golden Bond places. Rather than the ballot entry fee of £30 the charities have to pay around £350 for a golden bond place which they have to recoup from the money you raise. If you feel passionate about raising money for a given charity, there are many big city marathons run around the same time as London you could enter for £30 or less, with more of your hard earned sponsorship money given to the charity directly.

If you desperately want to run London, there is no need to get your friends and family to pay for your impatience by thinking they are donating to charity, when really they are mainly just contributing towards your entry fee.  You will get a guaranteed place if you have been rejected 5 times and there is probably a good chance you would have got in through the ballot by that time. You could train harder and get a good for age time for next year. Or if you train extra hard and get a championship time by January 2010 you will still be able to race in April 2010

If you are a member of a running club, they have club places available. The regular competitive club runners will probably have their own places through either full or half marathon times, so if you want to run London for the first time, joining and becoming active in a club will probably lead to a club place offered to you next year.

If you have been lucky to get your own place in the 2010 VLM and want to fund raise for a charity then Virgin are now providing a more cost effective way to collect money. In the past most of us have had a JustGiving.com page for fund raising and it does have it’s benefits. Adding a link to your facebook page or sending out an email to friends you don’t see personally, is an easy way to encourage sponsorship and they collect gift aid for you. But they do this for a charge. A £10 donation can also reclaim £2.82 from the government as gift aid, yet JustGiving take 5% as a transaction fee (64p) plus VAT at 15% (10p) along with the credit card fee of 15p resulting in a whopping cost to the charity of 89p. Over 10 years £526m has been raised through JustGiving. Transaction fees of 5% would have earned them £26.3 million, that’s paying for some impressive overhead costs.

But with Virgin sponsoring the London marathon now they have set up Virgin Money Giving as a non profit making company to help you raise more money by only charging 2% as a transaction fee (card fees are the same) so the total cost to the charity is only 35p from a £10 donation.

Obviously the most effective way would be to get post dated cheques from your sponsors that you promise to cash only if you finish the race, ensure you get their permission to claim gift aid and then the charity gets to keep all 128% of your donated money. But if you are planning on a fund raising event and want on online sponsorship page for any event (it’s not limited only to VLM runners) then Virgin Money Giving (virginmoneygiving.com) could be the most effective way to collect your donations.

It’s not only home fitness equipment you can buy either. Whatever is your favourite outdoor sport they probably now cater for you too. Sainsbury’s online now sell badminton and tennis rackets, cricket and football sets, fishing tackle, cycles and golf clubs. As a swimming instructor I was also impressed by the wide range of swimming accessories often not even stocked in specialist sport shops, such as children’s sun protection floatation suits.

So next time you need some leading brand sports equipment there’s no need to just stick to departments stores and sports shops, with next day delivery available it’s just as convenient to visit online supermarkets.