Introduction
Weight has been an issue that has continued to baffle the human race for decades. People have always looked for ways to lose weight. Some opt to go on diets, others use pills and others use herbs. People strive to lose weight because they feel uncomfortable in their bodies. This could also be as a result of pressure from their communities that show no mercy to overweight people. They may also be trying to be thin like the role models that they see on television and beauty magazines. The media also contributes to people wanting to lose weight because they associate beauty with thinness. However, some people lose weight for medical reasons. Many people have come up with many ways of losing weight; some have been proved to work while others are just scams. Some weight loss programs may also be very costly. One thing is for sure these weight loss programs will be here for a very long time. Body-related issues affect people in the universe in one way or another (Sarah, p. 10).
Weight watchers
We have two major methods of losing weight. One is weight watchers and the other one is Hydroxycut. Weight watchers is a weight loss program. The program accommodates people of all ages and with different weight loss goals. It involves group support, meetings, and learning sessions. The program helps people to eat what they like but in a regulated manner. People watch the number of calories they take in their diets. This method of weight loss is very popular as people are taught how to eat filling foods to avoid overeating which leads to gaining more weight (Scot). The calories are assigned points and an individual can monitor what they consume and in turn, they become answerable to themselves for what they eat every day. Foods with more fats are given fewer points while food with low-fat content and higher fiber are given more points. Foods with higher points are recommended for more intake (Scot).
The individuals who lose the target weight are taken into another program called the maintenance period. During this time the individuals add their food intake until they reach a point where they do not add or lose weight. From here the members can go on the rest of their lives without adding weight if they continue watching what they eat.
Losing weight is not easy and maybe stressful at times. That is why weight watchers came up with group support as it makes the process less stressful. The people who join this program can meet and share experiences about their struggles with weight and are also given information regarding dieting.
Weight watchers have some disadvantages the participants were found to have lost lean tissue in high percentages. This is not good because it slows down metabolism thus slowing fat burning hence more fat storage. (Weighing up benefits).
Weekly meetings take up a lot of time and they are expensive. So this means most cannot afford them. Losing weight could also take a long time because they are no restrictive diets to be followed. This may result in some people taking more than the required number of points per day thus delaying the results
However, the Weight Watchers program has been very successful because it includes changing the lifestyle of the participants. It has a very easy plan to follow. The program aims at helping the individuals eat smarter, move more, get support and have better habits (Scot).
Hydroxycut
Hydroxycut on the other hand is a weight loss supplement program that uses pills to help one lose weight. Its manufacturers claim it has natural ingredients. Weight can be lost without dieting and exercising. The pill increases fat burn. It does this by increasing the metabolism and quickening fat burn up. The components of Hydroxycut reduce appetite, speed up the loss of fat and increase metabolism. The component chromium picolinate aids by slowing down fat storage and promoting lean muscle growth. The ingredient hydrogen increases the rate of fat burning by the responsible enzymes. It slows down the rate of carbohydrates conversion to fats. The pill works by increasing fat burn, suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, and preventing body fat storage. (What is Hydroxycut).
Hydroxycut is associated with several benefits. It helps one to lose weight even without using a diet or exercising. This to many people is very good because they do not have to go an extra mile to achieve their dream body types. This means no more extra cost of going to the gym or the rigorous workouts at home, which is very hard to stick to. If one has a lot of weight to lose it means harder work thus the advantage of Hydroxycut.
It also reduces appetite hence this ensures that one does not think about food all the time. This helps to avoid pilling extra pounds by eating more food. By increasing the rate of metabolism it ensures that one has more energy at disposal hence one can involve themselves in many activities. Those who love working out have more energy to do so (What is Hydroxycut).
According to Men’s Health magazine, many men wrote claiming that Hydroxycut works. They had tried other diets to no avail and now they have the kind of bodies they always dreamed of (117).
However, it has disadvantages as well. They are associated with side effects such as acne, high blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, appetite loss, blurred vision, and nose bleeding (Hydroxycut weight loss).
The usage of Hydroxycut has been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The supplements have been associated with death and liver problems. Several complaints have been received over the consumption of the drugs like seizures, kidney failure, and cardiovascular problems (Paddock).
Both programs aim at helping people lose weight but their approach is different. One uses supplements while the other one recommends smart eating or watching what you eat. The Hydroxycut has side effects associated with t while the weight watchers do not have side effects even though it has its shortcomings. But one seems more reliable in the long run and that is weight watchers because of several reasons.
Weight watchers are healthier in losing weight. It has been recommended by many health experts because it does not use drugs to lose weight. Rather it is good because a balanced and nutritious diet is used. This is because no foods are removed from the diet rather the amount of calories is watched. This ensures that people do not suffer from diseases associated with a lack of essential food groups, because all the food groups are vital for the proper functioning of the body (Rating the weight watchers).
The program gives people a choice of what to eat so that they do not feel deprived of some foods that they may want to eat. This would lead to feeling guilty or even bunging once a person eats those restricted foods. This may lead to conditions like bulimia and eventually anorexia.
The program is also better because it encourages group support. People meet regularly and they discuss their progress or failures and because they keep track of their diets they can note where they made a mistake and rectify them. They are also advised on the type of recipes to use hence they are in a better position to eat right. More people can follow the program because they have support, and know they are not alone in their journey (Weight Watchers).
The diet fits people’s lifestyle because it is very easy. It does not have complex rules to be observed and so it can fit even those who have very tight schedules. They can participate in online meetings if they do not have time to attend the meetings physically. This ensures that they keep track of the happenings and keep as part of the group (Scot).
Conclusion
Whichever program one chooses to lose weight, one must check its safety. There would be no point in losing weight and developing other complications that might be very difficult to treat. Some of these complications may even be fatal. One should try to lose weight naturally by exercising regularly and this is very good because even without money to go to a gym one can still exercise. People should also try eating healthy foods. They should avoid processed foods as they contain chemicals that are not good for the body. The servings should be less especially during the night because one requires less energy then. Eating healthy is very important as it will ensure that people do not fall seek often thus cutting on medical costs. Watch what you eat today as it is said you are what you eat.
Works cited
- About.com: weight loss. 2009. Scot, Jennifer. What You Need to Know About Weight Watchers. Web.
- Allsands What is hydroxycut: Why it helps you loss weight?
- America’s #1selling weight-loss supplement Men’s Health Web.
- Paddock, Catharine. Stop Using Hydroxycut says FDA, 2009.
- Rating the Weight Watchers point’s diet advantages and disadvantages.
- Sarah (2008) Start Living, Start Losing : John Wiley and Sons, 2008
- Weight Watchers diet. Web.