Weight Loss Clubs

If you've made the decision to lose some weight but don't know where to start, there is plenty of support available. Slimming clubs and weight loss programmes offer a variety of different methods to shift unwanted inches and our guide will help you work out which is right for you.

Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs

Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness clubs are the only national slimming organisation in the UK to offer diet advice and exercise in the same class. The perfect combination, they say, for you to achieve a slimmer, trimmer, fitter and healthier body this autumn. Members receive a comprehensive weight loss pack, which includes a 2-week Kick Start Diet to help them enjoy fast and significant weight losses in the first couple of weeks.

Who can join?
Anyone can join a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club and they are really suited to friends and family that want to lose weight together.

What's the cost?
It's £10 for a membership pack and £5.25 for the weekly class fee.

How do I join?
For details of 2,000 weekly classes contact the National Information Hotline on 01509 620222 or visit www.rosemaryconley.com

Lighter Life

LighterLife is a successful weight loss programme which combines counselling with a unique diet plan of soups, shakes and bars. The first phase on the LighterLife Programme is ‘Foundation' where you undergo complete abstinence from conventional food in order to lose your initial weight. You have four nutritionally complete LighterLife soups, shakes and bars each day and must drink at least four litres of water. Once your desired weight has been reached you move into the management programme where you are gradually reintroduced to conventional foods with the help and support of your trained LighterLife counsellor.

Who can join?
To qualify for LighterLife you must have a BMI of at least 29, the equivalent to three stone or more overweight. They run single sex weekly group meetings where people explore their relationship with food with a trained counsellor using T.A. and C.B.T.

What's the cost?
The weight-loss phase of the LighterLife Programme costs £66 per week for four Foodpacks a day. Quite reasonable when you think about how much you spend on your weekly shop!

How do I join?
Visit www.lighterlife.com to find a counsellor near you.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers advocates a healthy lifestyle, offering flexible food plans and group support as well as encouraging an increase in activity. Weight Watchers meetings are run by a leader who has followed Weight Watchers successfully meaning they can give real advice about achieving your goals. The Weight Watchers SwitchTM programme offers two food plans. The first is the well known flexible POINTS® plan where all foods have a POINTS value and a member is given a daily POINTS allowance depending on their weight, gender and activity levels. The second food plan is called The Core PlanTM. This is based on a definitive list of healthy foods, across all food groups and members eat freely from this list whilst sticking to three meals a day and only snack on fruit and vegetables. Members can switch between the two food plans on a weekly basis, to fit in with their lifestyle.

Who can join?
Weight Watchers came to the UK in 1967 and in that time has welcomed anyone and everyone to its meetings. It's ideal if you're looking for some structure in your diet as its point system really lets you know where you stand.

What's the cost?
Once guided to a healthy weight members can continue to attend Weight Watchers as a Gold member for free, if they stay within 5lbs of their goal weight.

How do I join?
Find your nearest meeting at www.weightwatchers.co.uk or call the meeting Call Centre on 0845 712 3000.

Sure Slim

SureSlim takes a more scientific approach to weight loss and clients have a blood test which analyses their cholesterol, liver and kidney functions, thyroid and glucose levels to access their metabolism. These results are used to design an eating plan which corrects glucose metabolism and balances hormone levels so that you can lose weight and improve your health. SureSlim also provides private, one-on-one consultations, where a personal consultant can offer encouragement and advice, monitor progress, and, in consultation with the SureSlim doctor, make any necessary adjustments to your programme. When you have reached your goal weight, the consultant will introduce the Lifestyle Programme that will ensure you maintain your weight loss for life.

Who can join?
Sureslim is open to everyone from the age of 6 upwards and proves most popular with those who haven't succeeded with other weight loss clubs and plans. It would suit those who prefer personal consultations with an advisor to being in a group setting.

What's the cost?
There is a one off fee of between £400 and £500 which can be paid in installments if preferred. This cost covers all the elements of the programme, including blood test, the eating programme and the maintenance plan.

How do I join?
To find out more about the SureSlim clinic visit www.sureslimuk.co.uk