Gained a few pounds in the past year? You’re not the only one. The scale has moved upwards for many of us – thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting gyms and forcing us to stay at home. In fact, 42% of US adults have reported gaining weight during the pandemic with an average gain of 29 pounds.
Fortunately, the best online weight loss programs for women can help you get healthy and in shape from the comfort of your home (okay, comfort might be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get what we mean).
You can plan your diet yourself too, but that involves tons of research and experimenting to see what works for you. In other words, it might not be the most efficient way to lose weight. Luckily, there are several online weight loss plans that will do all the hard work, so you don’t have to.
But with so many options out there, how do you select the best weight loss program?
This guide reviews and ranks the best online weight loss plans available today that suit different body types, health issues, and budgets.
What is the Best Online Weight Loss Program for Women?
Here are our picks for the top weight loss programs for women:
- Calibrate
- Noom
- WW (formerly Weight Watchers)
- Factor 75 Keto Meal Plan
- Jenny Craig
- Nutrisystem Uniquely Yours Diabetes Plan
- HelloFresh
Best Overall: Calibrate
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If you’re inclined towards a metabolic reset for weight loss, then you should try Calibrate’s weight loss program.
Calibrate is a telehealth company that offers a virtual, year-long weight loss program. The program includes a series of regimented activities to promote weight loss and help users improve their metabolic health.
The brand has a comprehensive curriculum that’s divided into four stages. Calibrate doesn’t claim to have a “miracle” weight loss program that can help you shed 30 pounds a month; instead, it focuses on realistic and, more importantly, sustainable goals.
Calibrate’s weight loss program is slightly expensive compared to other options, but it offers excellent value for money. It’s a well-rounded approach, curated by clinical experts, that will not only help you shed weight but also maintain it.
Why We Like It
- Effective and sustainable weight loss solution for the long run
- Crafted by a team of medical experts using scientific research
- Offers one-on-one support from doctors
Click here to learn more about Calibrate.
Also Great: Noom
Noom is a relative newcomer in the weight loss world. It’s an app-based program that uses a unique stoplight approach, i.e., assigning red, yellow, and green colors to food items according to their nutritional value. The brand likes to call itself “Weight Watchers for millennials.”
Noom employs a psychology-based approach (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, to be exact) and guides you about when, what, and how to eat. The best part? You can get in touch with health coaches anytime through the Noom app for help and encouragement.
This online weight loss program costs $59 a month, and you get discounts for a longer commitment ($99 for two months and $140 for four months). Overall, it’s pretty affordable and offers a 14-day free trial as well.
Why We Like It
- Easy-to-use app that follows psychology principles
- In-app coaches are available 24/7 to help you out
- Plans are highly personalized and quite affordable
Click here to learn more about Noom.
Most Popular Weight Loss Program: WW (formerly Weight Watchers)
Want to adopt a structural, data-driven approach to weight loss? The WW will be a great fit for you.
WW (formerly Weight Watchers) is one of the most popular diet programs worldwide. It’s a legacy weight loss program that has been around for decades and often tops the list of “best diets” because of its structure.
Unlike other weight loss plans, the WW is straightforward; it provides users with general nutrition education to help them make positive diet changes for healthy weight loss.
WW offers three different plans; virtual only, virtual plus in-person, and virtual plus one-on-one coaching. The cost for each plan differs, but it doesn’t exceed $51 a month, making WW one of the most affordable weight loss programs.
Why We Like It
- Trusted brand that has been helping people lose weight for decades
- Plans are easy to follow
- Affordable (starts from as low as $3/week with promo deal)
Click here to learn more about WW.
Best Keto Diet for Weight Loss: Factor 75 Keto Meal Plan
Are you in search of a way to lose weight without feeling deprived? A Keto diet is the perfect solution. This low-carb, high-protein diet has helped countless people lose weight quickly – and you can be one of these people too with Factor 75’s Keto Meal Plan.
With this weight loss plan and meal delivery service, you can get chef-prepared meals delivered straight to your door. Expert dietitians design these meals with a strong focus on healthy weight loss.
The best part? The meals are fully prepped and never frozen, so you won’t have to put in any effort. You can choose from a variety of menus that change regularly and include a vast array of options. So from steaks to pancakes, enjoy it all without worrying about the extra pounds.
Why We Like It
- Fresh food prepared by chefs
- 20+ weekly options designed by expert dietitians
Click here to learn more about Factor 75.
Best Low-Fat Diet for Weight Loss: Jenny Craig
If you’ve been into weight loss for a while now, you’ve probably heard about Jenny Craig, another trusted name in weight loss.
Jenny Craig is an all-rounder weight loss program offering a nutritionally complete and safe diet for decades. This weight loss plan draws a lot of praise for being easy to follow, as it doesn’t require any cooking and counting calories.
On the Jenny Craig diet, you get to eat six times a day, including three meals, two snacks, and one dessert. You also get access to a personal coach who keeps track of your progress and makes sure you don’t go off the path.
However, all this comes with an expensive price tag. So, if you’re looking for cheap weight loss programs, Jenny Craig might not be the one for you.
Why We Like It
- Another trusted name with years of experience and success stories
- Offers a personalized meal plan with a coach
- Low-effort diet as meals are delivered at your doorstep
Click here to learn more about Jenny Craig.
Best Weight Loss Program for Diabetic Women: Nutrisystem Uniquely Yours Diabetes Plan
Nutrisystem Logo
Finding a diet plan that fits your unique needs isn’t always easy, especially if you’re living with a health condition like diabetes. You can’t opt for popular diets like intermittent fasting because you have to eat every couple of hours to maintain your blood sugar range.
Fortunately, Nutrisystem understands that, which is why it came up with its Uniquely Yours Diabetes Plan, specially designed for people with diabetes.
The best part about this plan is that even though it’s for diabetic individuals, it offers a delicious range of choices – from cinnamon rolls and cheese omelets for breakfast to ravioli, risotto, or pizza for dinner. There’s also an exciting range of snacks, so you’ll never feel deprived while following this diet.
Why We Like It
- Includes plenty of food to fulfill your appetite
- Helps manage diabetes and lose weight at the same time
- Prepared snacks and meals delivered at your doorstep
Click here to learn more about Nutrisystem.
Best All Around Meal Kit Delivery Service for Weight Loss: HelloFresh
HelloFresh isn’t really a diet plan, but it can offer immense help in your weight loss journey. It’s a meal kit delivery plan that delivers all the ingredients you need to prepare fresh, healthy meals for yourself (and your family, too, if you want).
A good thing about HelloFresh meal kits is that not only do they have fresh and nutritious ingredients, but specific kits are also marked as “low-calorie,” which is of great help if you’re counting calories.
HelloFresh offers a variety of meal kits to suit all needs. So, you can choose from vegetarian meals, pescatarian meals, family meals, low-calorie meals, and “quick and easy” meals that require less prep.
Plus, you’ll be sent the number of servings you choose – so no chance of overeating or ingredients getting waste. Isn’t that awesome?
Why We Like It
- Fresh and healthy ingredients delivered to your doorstep
- Excellent variety to suit individual needs
- No subscription required
Click here to learn more about HelloFresh.
The 5 Components of A Successful Diet
To increase your chances of success, look for a weight loss program with the following components:
- Reasonable weight loss expectations
- A diet that fits with your preferences
- Focus on changing both eating and activity patterns
- Tracking your diet and weight
- Accountability and support over the long-term
While there is no perfect diet plan, you should opt for one that fits your lifestyle and encourages you to keep going even after you slip a little. These 5 components can help you find a good match!
And don’t forget — while 80% of weight loss happens in the kitchen, exercise can definitely help you reach your health goals! Check out these online workouts for women to help shed the pounds.
Tips to Make a Weight Loss Plan Successful
When it comes to diet, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What works for someone else might not work for you and vice versa. However, some generic tips can aid in making a weight loss plan successful:
Maintain variety in your meals
Just because you need to limit your calorie intake for effective weight loss doesn’t mean you have to eat fewer types of food.
You should definitely cut out food with high amounts of sugar and calories, but don’t restrict yourself to certain food items only. Doing so will make you feel like you’re missing out on something. In contrast, if you allow yourself to have anything but in moderation, you’re more likely to be successful.
Don’t make it “boring”
If you’re like most other people, you probably think that a diet means eating plain, bland food that sucks the joy out of your life – but it doesn’t have to be that way every time.
A diet should be exciting and enjoyable for the person to be able to stick to it. Even the most popular diet won’t make a difference if you feel down all the time. You should make changes in your current diet to make it healthier, not miserable.
Find out what motivates you
Everyone on a diet wants to “lose weight” and “get healthy”, but those are generic goals that offer little motivation. If you’re embarking on a diet, you should dig deeper and find out why you’re doing so. Diets can be challenging to follow unless you’re motivated and really want to change.
You can also reward yourself with tangible assets. Document your journey with pictures, so looking back will make you happy. Get yourself special gifts every time you reach a health or fitness goal for a motivation boost.
Incorporating these tips into your weight loss plan can help you stay motivated and reach your goals more quickly.
Final Thoughts
With so many online weight loss programs out there, it can be tough to choose the right one for yourself. We hope that our guide has made it easier for you to navigate the various options and select one that best fits your needs.
Although we believe Calibrate is the best online weight loss plan for women, there are plenty of other excellent options on our list! And don’t forget to check out our guide to weight loss apps you can download on your phone for a little extra help too!