Weight loss and general fitness is attained most readily when the program fits one’s needs and lifestyle. Most diet and weight loss plans claim they are the best for everyone. This is often just not true. So, how can a person find a good match without trying a program? It isn’t easy to find the diet most suitable for your needs, but having real information about them, sans the hype, can help. In this article I will cover two popular diet and fitness programs: The Hallelujah Diet and The Mayo Clinic Diet.
The Hallelujah Diet
The Hallelujah diet is a Raw Foods program (85% raw). Cooked foods are allowed only in the noon or evening meal. Fresh nuts, seeds, vegetables, seasonings and fruits make up the core of the menu. One key feature in the Hallelujah Diet is a product called Barley Max. Barley Max is a powdered juice mix containing many nutrients. Barley Max is also kosher and vegetarian. It is consumed 2 to 3 times a day and is $37.95 for 120 servings (as of this writing). There are also several other proprietary nutritional drinks that supplement the Hallelujah program.
My take on the Hallelujah Diet:
The Hallelujah diet, with its emphasis on fresh raw vegetables and other unprocessed foods seems like a very healthy weight loss program. However, the change from cooked food to raw fruits and vegetables will take some people a while to get used to– especially if you are like many Americans who rarely eat vegetables, much less raw vegetables. Proponents of this plan state that a person can begin slowly or go into it “cold-turkey” but that if a person introduces the program gradually, it will take longer to see benefits. Because the Hallelujah diet is such an extreme change for many people, however, I would recommend changing over gradually to avoid gastro-intestinal problems.
The Hallelujah Diet certainly appears to be a plan that could be maintained for a significant time. The Hallelujah Diet seems mostly balanced and I am certain most people following this program do lose weight. To read more about the Hallelujah diet, please visit the link in the resources section.
The Mayo Clinic Diet
Based on clinical research and the Mayo Clinic Food Pyramid, this diet is probably one of the best diets for many people. This weight loss and fitness program is not a quick fix. The Mayo Clinic diet is intended to be a permanent lifestyle change for weight loss and healthier living. The bulk of the foods eaten are fruits and vegetables. Following that, in smaller amounts (in order) are grains, protein and dairy, fats, and the smallest part of the menu is sweets. According to the web site, persons following the Mayo Clinic plan should experience a safe weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.
My take on The Mayo Clinic Diet:
The Mayo clinic is well-known and well-respected. This program is probably suitable for most people. There are no expensive special drinks or supplements to buy. You don’t have to pay any money to join a group. It is a simple diet and weight loss plan that can be followed indefinitely. Like most weight programs, they offer menus and numerous articles about nutrition on their website. If you’d like to learn more, visit the link in the resources section.
The Mayo Clinic also has a plan geared towards diabetics. If you have diabetes and would like some tips on foods and menu plans, you can read about this right here.
