May 01, 2005

By: Ingrid Kelly
Website: http://www.1st-in-fitness.com

Online Diets At Fitnessheaven.com Provide Recipes For Successful Weight Loss

FitnessHeaven.com has launched a series of innovative online diet programs that represent the Internet's "first holistic approach to dieting," according to Paris Roussos, director of vision development and integration. FitnessHeaven.com's Online Diets bring together all of the elements - sensible meal plans, shopping lists, lifestyle tips, motivation, encouragement and exercise - to ensure healthy results for anyone interested in losing weight and keeping it off.

"A number of Web sites have diet programs, but we’re one of the first to pull together nutrition, workouts, motivation and lifestyle changes," said Roussos.

There are three diet choices, with more to come. The current selections include: A diet with the carbohydrate-fat-protein ratio of 55-30-15 based on recommendations of the American Heart Association; a 40-30-30 plan similar to The Zone diet of recent popularity; and a third, high carbohydrate regimen developed by Fitness Heaven contributor Dr. Karen Davis, MD, author of "Dr. Karen's Corner."

"Each of our diets are well balanced and nutritionally complete. We won’t offer drastic or fad diets," continued Roussos.

Personalized diet service from FitnessHeaven begins with a confidential questionnaire that asks age, height, weight, goal, exercise habits and preferred diet. To determine allowable calories, the member is asked the preferred rate of weight loss (1-2 lbs. per week, etc.). To reduce the incidence of a weight loss plateau, the member is offered a calorie modulation option that slightly increases the calories included in the diet after two weeks.

Calories are reduced again two weeks later. Personalized diets also include a four-week menu plan, with grocery list, and eventually members will have the ability to upload grocery lists to participating grocery home delivery services.

In keeping with the FitnessHeaven.com’s holistic approach to health and wellness, the Online Diet plans can integrate a FitnessHeaven workout routine, motivation and lifestyle change recommendations that add to the success rate of the diets. "The workout needn’t be a traditional cardiovascular/weight lifting routine," continued Roussos. "For instance, we offer more than 50 yoga exercises and other alternatives."

For motivation and encouragement, Fitness Heaven is planning an Online Diets community with discussion groups, an incentive program and a unique buddy system.

Early this year, three more offerings will be added to FitnessHeaven.com: a high-protein diet; a weight-gaining diet designed for body builders that want to "bulk up;" and a diet to achieve a "ripped" appearance.

Author Notes:

Ingrid Kelly contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-fitness.com.  A source of information and helpful tips on various types of fitness equipment.