How to Select a Safe and Successful Online Weight Loss Program

Have you been wanting to lose weight but don't know where to start? The ongoing pandemic has certainly made things more difficult for those in your position, but an online weight loss program may be the perfect answer.

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Online weight loss programs have grown in popularity over the past few years, with the current pandemic proving to be an even further catalyst. But how do you pick the right one? And how do you know which plans are safe and which ones promise to be successful? 

We'll answer all those questions in the article below.
 

Jensen Fitness Has You Covered

Looking for an online weight loss program, weight loss coach, or weight management in Calgary? Jensen Fitness has some of the best personal trainers and weight loss coaches in the city and provides tailored, goal-specific programs that help our clients achieve incredible, safe, and sustainable results. For more information on how we can help you achieve your weight loss or fitness goals in a COVID-19 safe way, contact us today. 

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Starting on the Right Path

The first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with your family doctor or a health care professional who specializes in weight loss. You want science to be your guiding light, not whatever is trendy on the internet or promoted by your favourite celebrity or Instagram star. 

Some of the questions you will want to ask at this appointment include:

• What would be an ideal or healthy weight/BMI for me?
• If I lose weight, will it improve my overall health and any specific health issues I'm currently experiencing?
• Is there a chance any of my current medications or medical conditions are causing me to gain weight, or could they make it harder for me to lose it?
• Should I avoid any specific types of physical activity or curtail their duration due to my current health?
• Are there any diets you recommend or ones I should steer clear of?

Try to come up with even more questions in addition to the ones above, and don't be afraid to ask your family doctor or health care specialist about them. They want you to be healthy and succeed with your weight loss and will be more than happy to hear what you have to say.
 

What to Look for In an Online Weight Loss Program 

Now that you've discussed your weight loss goals with a licensed medical professional, you should have a solid basis for what you need to do. It's how you go about doing it that will prove tough to determine. If you want to reach a healthy or ideal weight and stay there, then you need to look for an online weight loss program that has more to do with than just what you eat. 

Focusing on your overall health and instituting lifestyle changes should be at the top of your priority list. Losing weight should just be a consequence of the bigger changes you're making. With that in mind, here is what the majority of safe and successful online weight loss programs include:

Behavioural/lifestyle counselling:

Individual sessions with a trained professional who will help you implement and maintain healthier eating habits and exercise routines. Most successful online weight loss or weight management programs feature at least 12 sessions over a six-month period.

Continual feedback/monitoring:

Your online weight loss program should feature regular feedback and monitoring throughout its duration to ensure goals are being met, and obstacles are being overcome. It should also give you the support you need to achieve your weight loss goals in both motivational and constructive criticism form.

Gradual weight loss:

While you may lose more weight at the start of the program, you should ideally be looking to lose about one or two pounds each week. This gradual approach is the hallmark of a long-term and successful lifestyle and behavioural modification program, which is ideally what your online weight loss program should be aiming to do.

How to keep the weight off:

No successful online weight loss program doesn't have a plan for how you will keep the weight off once you reach your goal. This means your program should include things such as goal setting, counselling support, and self-regulation in the form of a food journal or other accountability measures.

10 Diet Hacks That Will Make Losing Weight Even Easier
 

How to Spot Online Weight Loss Programs You Should Avoid

Knowing what to avoid can be as important as knowing what to look for when it comes to choosing a safe and successful online weight loss program. If you ever come across an online weight loss program or coach who claims the following, avoid them at all costs:

• Lose all the weight you want without diet or exercise!
• Lose weight while still eating all your favourite foods and as much of them as you wish!
• Lose 25 pounds in 25 days!
• Lose weight in the specific trouble spots of your body!

You will also want to be on the lookout for any online weight loss programs that feature asterisks, footnotes, or extremely small print. The same goes for any that feature before and after photos that seem way too good to be true or ones that feature celebrity endorsements.
 

Do Your Homework

In the end, finding and choosing a successful online weight loss program is all about doing your homework. Ask a lot of questions, see if you can talk to other people who have gone through the programs to hear their experiences with them, and be wary of any program that promises magical results. Weight loss is a gradual process. It took you time to put the weight on. It's going to take time to take it off.

Should you have any questions about the Jensen Weight Loss Program, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our program features all the important aspects we highlighted above, with trainers and weight loss coaches who are committed to seeing their clients achieve safe and successful results.
 

Call Us Today

Are you ready for a total body and life transformation? To find out more about our virtual and online weight loss and fitness programs, and how our highly qualified personal trainers in Calgary can help you achieve incredible, safe, and sustainable results, contact us by calling 403-200-0199 or by filling out our online contact form.

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FAQs

Q: What is the best online weight loss program?

The best online weight loss program is one that works for you and your specific lifestyle. There are many online weight loss programs to choose from, just make sure they feature the things we discussed earlier in the article.

Q: What is the most effective way to lose weight at home?

The most effective way to lose weight at home is to be mindful of what you eat and exercise regularly. It doesn't take much to set up a home gym with an aerobic machine, free weights, resistance bands, and a mat. Bodyweight exercises are great too. As for being mindful of what you eat, try using a food journal to track your snacks and meals. 

Q: How can I lose tummy fat fast?

Losing tummy fat in a short amount of time requires a lot of cardio exercises, a reduction in trans fats, sugars, carbs, and alcohol, along with increased protein consumption (which will boost your metabolic rate). But again, you should be aiming for a gradual loss of weight when selecting an online weight loss program, not a quick fix.