Any long-time reader of our blog knows we like to explore popular diets. We are generally fans of just following a balanced healthy diet of avoiding too many carbs and sticking to homemade meals rather than processed foods. But, sometimes diet plans can offer benefits. We don’t like to dismiss them without considering them. That would be silly. You never know when something might be helpful.
Naturally Slim is a year-long diet program designed to help you learn to eat like thin people without dieting. It promises to train you to replace your unhealthy dietary habits with better ones that will help you lose and maintain weight. It focuses on teaching users to pay attention to hunger cues, eat more slowly, focus on and enjoy their meals and stop eating when they feel satiated.
There is no calorie counting, no supplements, no special food and no equipment needed to follow the diet. It’s not based on rigid meals but instead teaching you a new way of eating. We do appreciate that. Because of that, we can safely say that this is not a crash diet. It’s not unsafe or harmful. You aren’t starving yourself; you won’t lose vitamins or nutrients following it.
The “diet” is actually a 52 week-long course that teaches you not just about nutrition but also sleep, stress management, exercise, hydration and more. It’s internet-based, not a book, so you need a smartphone, computer or another internet-enabled device to follow it. Unlike a book, you can’t sign up and then quit once you have the learning materials, which we don’t like.
You can pay per month, which is $50, or for the year, which is $450. The site does occasionally have sales.
The investment is less than some programs, but it doesn’t include food. It’s less expensive than Noom, which is a comparable program. People who have tried it say it’s more educational than WW (previously Weight Watchers).
You do have access to an online support community of users and Naturally Slim counselors, which is nice. From our point of view, the cost is the biggest downside to this diet. That’s a significant investment. While studies have shown the diet works initially, there haven’t been any long-term studies to show if people keep the weight off. However, unlike crash diets, it does foster a healthy relationship with food instead of being bizarrely restrictive. That’s positive. It could be a big help if you are ready to commit to life changes as it teaches you lessons. If you are interested in trying an online weight loss program, Naturally Slim might be a good choice for you.
