Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I join?

Click any FREE Diet Profile link. These are located on the top bar on almost every page.

2. Do you offer very low calorie diets? Very low calorie diets (800 Calories or less) should be used only under a physician's care and in special situations. Therefore we do not provide very low calorie diets or diets that eliminate food groups.

3. Do you recommend diet drinks?

We do not recommend drinking diet drinks with artificial sweeteners except as an occasional treat. You may drink these on your own as you wish, but they are not built into your diet plan.

4. Can I drink coffee?

Plain coffee and teas in moderation are not a problem. Specialty coffee and tea drinks that have syrups, cream or milk are treated as "extras" that you can choose as a treat. Non-fat dairy or soy coffee and tea drinks are included in your diet.

5. Do you offer vegetarian and vegan diets?

Yes. Vegetarian diets exclude all meat, meat broths, and gelatins but include low fat dairy products and eggs. Vegan diets exclude all foods from animals including broths, gelatins, dairy products and eggs.

6. Can I follow Weight Watchers or another diet plan?

We do not offer Weight Watchers Diet or other diet plans. You may make your own modifications to our recommended diet plan but we do not offer very low carbohydrate, very high protein or very low fat diets. All diet plans have a healthful balance of all foods based on personal health needs.

7. Will I gain weight back once I complete the program?

The goal of our program is to help you develop new eating choices and habits that will help you stay at your healthy body weight once you get there. Our program is based on the key elements that lead to long term weight control. When you change your weight gain habits and replace them with a healthier lifestyle, you greatly improve your chances for lasting success. We are here to help you learn how to do this!

8. I'm interested in the convenience diet. Are PersonalDiets meals delivered to my home like Nutrisystems or do I have to pick them up?

PersonalDiets convenience diet program lets you choose all types of easy packaged foods from your grocery store. You can change your food choices from one day to the next to meet your busy schedule (and take advantage of bargains at the grocery store)! You are not stuck with a limited set of prepared meals that you have to buy in advance. Unlike commercial diet programs like Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig, we do not limit you to one brand of packaged meals. We'll even add in your favorite brands and meals!

9. I'm interested in trying one of PersonalDiets H ealthy Diets.
Will my PersonalDiets healthy diet consider of all my health issues and preferences?

Personal Diets follows specific nutritional guidelines for people with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other high risk diseases so that you improve your health while you lose weight. In some cases, if you have special health problems and need greater medical attention and more specific diet help, an online diet program may not be your best choice. We may refer you to our list of consulting dietitians or to a local professional if we feel our program is not right for you.

10. I'm interested in learning more about your Wellness Diet.
How suitable will I find PersonalDiets wellness diet plan?

Personal Diets is designed to improve your health and lower your risk of disease while you lose weight. You can choose to avoid packaged foods and eat only whole foods that emphasize fresh cooking from natural ingredients. Personal Diets emphasizes high nutrition foods, a healthy balance of nutrients to optimize energy and health and a reduction in processed "junk" foods. We do not emphasize herbal supplements or other food supplements but you may add them into your diet if you wish.

11. Is PersonalDiets easy to follow?
In other words, do I have to eat at certain times of the day, eat particular phases or follow the glycemic index of foods. I really don't want a complicated plan?

Personal Diets gives you several ways to reach your weight and health goals. A menu plan with a healthy combination of foods and several small meals and snacks is one way to give you the structure to reach your goals. You do not have to eat specific foods or eat at specific times of the day or night. We encourage high nutrition, high fiber carbohydrate foods combined with lean protein and healthful fats. We do not promote the glycemic index as essential to weight loss.

12. How will I know which meal to eat on which day?

PersonalDiets are more flexible than other diets and makes it easy! You'll get an easy to follow menu based on your eating preferences and style with simple instructions. You'll have the flexibility to easily adjust your meal plan each day in case you want to dine out or need to change your eating plans to meet your schedule.

13. Will I still be able to eat snacks?

Yes, healthful snacks can help control hunger and help maintain your energy level through the day. Occasional "fun" food treats are an option that you can add to your diet plan as well.

14. Can I eat in restaurants, order take out and eat "fast" food?

Yes, dining out can be included in a healthy weight loss plan. You'll learn to make the best choices even in tough situations like eating in restaurants. A realistic diet program should help you include dining out and fast food choices that won't set you back so that you can eat like everyone else. Personal Diets helps you make informed decisions so that you'll be able to see the impact your choices will make on your weight goals. it's designed to be a realistic and flexible plan, and that makes it very effective both in the short term and for weight maintenance as well.

15. Can my family eat the same foods on my meal plan?

Definitely! Your family will benefit by the healthy menu pattern and food choices you'll be making. You'll be able to include your own recipes, use our recipe suggestions, dine out, and include convenience foods that you can eat with family and friends. There are no special diet foods, only regular high nutrition foods that everyone can eat. It is well established that eating a variety of foods helps to ensure proper nutrition - this is especially important when losing weight. Each program is individually designed and all programs will vary.

16. Do I have to exercise?

No. Do we recommend it? Absolutely. Physical activity combined with a healthy diet is the best combination for weight loss. Moving more has unique benefits that diet alone can't provide. Personal Dietitian realizes that not everyone can exercise or wants to, so we design each diet and nutrition program to match your level of activity. Whether you're sedentary, lead a busy life, are very athletic or have a physically demanding job, we'll consider just how many calories fit your particular needs.

17. Are there pills or products to buy?

PersonalDiets do not require that you purchase pills or other products. It is a custom diet plan designed by an expert for your personal needs and is nutritionally balanced to optimize health. We do recommend that anyone on any weight loss diet take a multivitamin to ensure good vitamin and mineral intake - this is because when you eat less food to lose weight, you have a lower intake of all nutrients so it's good insurance to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement of your choice.

18. Is PersonalDiets simple to follow?

Originally developed for those needing healthy diets (diabetics and those with other chronic illnesses), the exchange diet system used in your
Personal Diet has been simplified to fit our weight loss program and is built into your menu plans and eating guidelines. It gives you the assurance of a well planned diet nutritionally balanced for your needs along with the flexibility to choose foods that you prefer. It is designed to be easy to follow for long periods of time because of its flexibility and to help you learn what and how much to eat to meet your needs so that you don't have to follow a diet forever to maintain a healthy body weight.

13. I would like to use exchanges as part of my diet plan because it is a easy way monitor what and how much I eat.

PersonalDiets includes the exchange system as a way to stay in good balance. We've made the exchange system easier to use with our proprietary programming so it is much easier to choose the right foods in the right amounts. Portion sizes and the types of foods to choose are planned for you so that protein, fat, and carbohydrate calories stay in proper balance. Your program uses calorie information if exchanges are not available so that it's easy to follow your diet in any situation.

Get an Expert's Customized Diet that you can follow without worry. A plan that lets you dine out with friends, fix meals for family members, and/or
prepare simple foods you can cook or buy for yourself! See A Sample & Get A FREE Diet Profile NOW!

14. a) What is the average weight loss and how long before I can expect results?

Weight loss averages about 1.1 pounds per week. Since this is our average, this means that some clients are losing 2 or more pounds/ week while others (typically smaller clients) lose less quickly.
You can choose your own rate of weight loss within safe and healthy limits.

Remember: Fat loss is the goal and rapid weight loss is mostly water and lean body tissue, not fat. You can expect success but you should also expect some setbacks! The key is to find a way of eating that gets results and becomes part of a healthy lifestyle change for you so that you can maintain your new body weight and avoid going on and off diets.

15. Your site advertises that you have proven results. How is this proven?

Tracking progress is a very important tool that leads to weight loss success. We are able to track our clients using our online tracking tools who record their weight and other events. If you're a physician or researcher we will provide you with our real time tracking results.
Please contact Carolyn@PersonalDiets.com for details.

We actually guarantee our diet program for those who follow our "Right-on-Track" interactive diet program. We currently have an 85% success rate for members submitting their weight, exercise and eating habits.

16. How does your diet programs guarantee work?
Click here to read our Guarantee to our members.

17. What if I don't need to lose weight but want to improve my diet for health?

PersonalDiets provides diet plans for those who want to maintain their weight and want to improve their energy level or reduce certain health risks such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers through better diet.

18. What if I'm allergic to particular food(s)?

PersonalDiets are 100% customizable. Since the diet plan is very flexible, you can eliminate foods that you don't tolerate and choose other foods that you prefer - this is an advantage of using the exchange system. You aren't stuck eating any specific food!

19. Can I drink alcohol while I’m on the program?

Occasionally alcohol or soda pop can be included as an option. We advise some members to discontinue alcohol. For example, if you're nursing or
taking some medications alcohol is not recommended.

20. How many glasses of water should I drink each day?

This varies from person to person, temperature, exercise and work conditions, but since water is the most essential nutrient, it's important to get at least 6-8 glasses of plain fluids like water each day for good health.