By Kieran Stringer Cabbage soup. Maple syrup. Grapefruit. What do these foods have in common? They are all fad diets based on nonexistent science. Unfortunately, plenty of unhealthy weight loss plans are being peddled to the public. Personally, my least favorite of these is Atkins. When I tried this low-carb diet, I was unable to engage in my normal physical exercise without facing exhaustion during my workout session. As soon as I reintroduced carbohydrates to my diet, I was back to my old levels of endurance and strength. The Atkins diet was not beneficial to me, and I doubt it would be useful to anyone who engages in regular exercise.

So what weight loss plans are the best? Well, that depends a bit on how much you can afford to spend. Here are a few ideas that work for different budgets: ($200-$400 per month) Get your meals delivered! Plenty of celebrities are signing up with Jenny Craig and NutriSystem, so why shouldn't you? It couldn't be easier, since pre-portioned, prepackaged meals are delivered to your doorstep. Just be wary when you're dining out! Since you're not usually preparing and dishing out your own food, you may have a hard time gauging proper portion sizes. ($50-$300 per month) Hire a personal trainer! A personal trainer can help you create a workout program that's designed specifically for your goals. He or she will educate you about exercise physiology, teach you proper form, and keep you motivated! The cost varies depending on how many sessions you want each month. ($8-$100 per month) Join a group! Weight Watchers and TOPS are two of the most well-known weight loss support groups. Both emphasize nutrition and exercise, and they offer solid guidance and education. In fact, some scientific research suggests that Weight Watchers is one of the best programs for losing weight and keeping it off! The support you get from meeting with other members is a valuable part of their programs. ($25-$50 investment) Read a book! My two favorite weight loss books are Body for Life by Bill Phillips and The Abs Diet by David Zinczenko. Unlike other weight loss books, there's advice for both beginners and advanced fitness enthusiasts. Both are solid diet plans that focus on clean foods and a regular exercise program with cardio and strength training components. For the cost of the book and a few hand weights, these plans will put you on the path to a total body transformation.