NextAdvisor.com helps you keep your New Year's Resolutions

Posted by Caitlin on January 4th, 2010

Two of this year's most popular resolutions are to lose weight and save money. NextAdvisor.com can help you with both, since we've reviewed and compared the best online diet services and online savings accounts.

If your goal is to lose weight in 2010, check out our reviews of online diet programs. Dieters tend to lose more weight with online support, and the services we've reviewed offer tools and tips to help you succeed.

And if you want to save more money this year, take a look at our reviews of online savings accounts. Since online banks have lower overhead costs than traditional banks, they can afford to offer the highest annual percentage yields.

Save over 35% on Weight Watchers

Posted by Caitlin on December 30th, 2009

Weight Watchers is currently offering a 35% discount on their three month plan through NextAdvisor.com. Normally, the three month plan, with sign-up fee, would cost $83.80. But for a limited time, you can take advantage of this exclusive discount and pay just $53.85, for a savings of $29.95. There's no promotional code necessary for this discount, just click any Weight Watchers link on NextAdvisor.com. If you're resolving to lose weight in 2010, this deal is a perfect opportunity. But act fast, because the discount will only be available through the end of January.

To learn more about Weight Watchers and other online diet services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Jillian Michaels gets her own show on NBC

Posted by Caitlin on October 21st, 2009

Jillian Michaels, the trainer and life coach from NBC's The Biggest Loser, will star on her own show next year. On Losing It With Jillian, Michaels will temporarily move in with families from around the country, in order to help them identify and break unhealthy habits. Each week, she'll show a different family how to chart a new path toward health and happiness, with some assistance from celebrity chef Curtis Stone, who will teach families about nutrition.

In addition to sharing her wisdom on television, Jillian Michaels dispenses advice through her online diet program. She may not be able to train and coach you personally, but her online program is the next best thing. To learn more about Jillian Michaels' weight loss plan and other online diet services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

How to I switch to Jenny Direct?

Posted by Caitlin on October 14th, 2009

The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.

Q: How do I switch from a center to mail order because there is not a center near where I am moving?

A: Jenny Direct, Jenny Craig's at home weight loss program, offers the same food, tools, and personal support that are available at Jenny Craig's local centers. Your Jenny Cuisine and program materials will be delivered by mail, and you'll speak with your consultant over the phone. Current Jenny Craig memberships are transferable back and forth, from a Jenny Craig center to Jenny Direct and vice versa. To transfer your membership to Jenny Direct, just speak with your personal consultant or request an instant call back from a Jenny Craig customer service representative.

To learn more about Jenny Craig and other online diet services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Froot Loops are not a smart choice

Posted by Caitlin on September 16th, 2009

The new Smart Choices program places a green check mark label on packaged foods in order to indicate that the item is considered a "better for you" product. And yet many of the foods that have earned a green check mark are sugary cereals or heavily salted packaged meals. An unhealthy food can earn the label as long as nutrients are artificially added. The FDA is concerned that this new system will mislead consumers and discourage them from reading the nutrition label, and is considering the possibility of creating a standardized label for the front of packages.

If you are on a diet, or simply want to make an effort to choose healthy foods, do not be convinced by the sight of a Smart Choices label. If you are truly concerned about making smart choices at the grocery store, consider an online diet service. Many of the DIY diet services reviewed on NextAdvisor.com offer grocery list planning assistance. To learn more, see our reviews and comparison chart.

How does Weight Watchers' lifetime membership work?

Posted by Caitlin on September 14th, 2009

The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.

Q: I'm a lifetime [Weight Watchers] member but I have not attended for a long time. I would like to join again. How does the lifetime membership work, are you charged for not attending a meeting or are you charged only for the meetings that you attend?

A: Weight Watchers meetings members who reach their goal weight and maintain that goal weight within two pounds for six consecutive weeks are awarded lifetime memberships. Lifetime members may attend Weight Watchers meetings at no charge, as long as they remain no more than two pounds above their goal weight.

Once you have reached lifetime member status, you will always be a lifetime member and will never have to pay another registration fee. You must weigh in at your first meeting of every month, and if you weigh more than two pounds more than your goal weight, you'll be charged the weekly fee. You will not be expected to pay for missed meeting unless you have not weighed in within a one month period. You are always eligible for lifetime benefits, and depending on your location, you may be eligible for discounted fees.

If you have misplaced your lifetime member number, you can call Weight Watchers at 800-651-6000, or by filling out a request form at WeightWatchers.com.

To learn more about Weight Watchers or other online diet services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

What if I don't like the food?

Posted by Caitlin on September 2nd, 2009

The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.

Q: I want to try Nutrisystem, but I'm a picky eater and I'm afraid I might not like the food. Can I try it for free, or get my money back if I don't like it?

A: Nutrisystem does allow returns and offers a money back guarantee on non-frozen foods. After you recieve your first order, you'll have seven days to decide whether or not you like the food. You can call Nutrisystem at any time within those seven days and return the remaining food for a full refund, minus the cost of shipping.

If you do decide to continue with Nutrisystem, you'll also have the option to return or exchange any  non-frozen food items that you don't care for, as long as the package is unopened and you return it within 30 days. Nutrisystem does not allow returns on frozen foods.

To learn more about Nutrisystem or other meal delivery diet services, take a look at our reviews and comparison chart.

The skinny on acai berry

Posted by Joe on June 11th, 2009

Acai (pronounced a-sigh-EE) is a berry has come into the collective conscious of many dieters in the last few years. Proponents of the fruit, which is indigenous to Brazil, claim that this so-called "super food" can help dieters rapidly lose weight and fight any number of ailments.

But, according to the independent Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), acai is no more beneficial for you than produce you would find at your local supermarket. The CSPI's Johnny Bowden recently addressed the topic of acai in an interview with CNN:

"Virtually every berry — blueberry, strawberry, goji, acai — are anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants," Bowden said. "This particular one is exotic. It's found in Brazil. It's been marketed to have more of a magic ingredient. It's been over-hyped and marketed to death. There are claims to curing cancer, curing baldness that is all over the place."

The claims and marketing tactics used by acai proponents have been so outlandish that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently began a review of the practices of many of the companies promoting these products.

The truth is that there is little or no clinical research explicitly showing that acai is any more beneficial than any number of other fruits with similar antioxidant properties. So, while acai may be considered as part of a overall diet regiment, it is by no means a silver bullet for weight loss.

We have reviewed a number diet programs and meal plans that can help you develop a healthy lifestyle and lose weight the right way. Learn more by visiting our comparison of diet programs and meal plans.

50% discount on Medifast purchases

Posted by Caitlin on March 13th, 2009

Medifast is offering NextAdvisor.com readers a 50% discount on any purchase of $275 or more until 3/31. To take advantage of this 50% discount on Medifast products, simply enter the promo code Mar31C when prompted during checkout.

To learn more about Medifast or other meal plan diet services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

The best diet is the one you can stick to

Posted by Caitlin on March 3rd, 2009

Last week, the largest ever controlled study of diet programs was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study tested different types of popular diet plans. All of the diet plans reduced calories, but each one emphasized a different combination of fat, carbohydrates and protein. All participants received group or individual counseling. After two years, the study showed that the dieters' results were similar across the board, whether they followed a plan like Atkins, which emphasizes cutting carbohydrates, a low fat diet, or the Mediterranean diet, with less animal protein. As long as dieters cut calories, their specific diet plan was relatively insignificant.

The researchers' conclusions give dieters the freedom and flexibility to choose whichever diet plan appeals to them. An online diet service provides the tools and support to help you stick to whichever plan you choose. If you are considering embarking on a new diet, check out our reviews and comparison charts for help deciding which one is right for you.