Are you looking for a weight loss program to help keep you motivated in your efforts to drop a few pounds? You certainly have a lot of options. A good way to narrow them down is to ask the following questions as you explore various weight loss programs.

#1: Is the program designed by a doctor, dietitian, or personal trainer?

These are really the only three types of people who should be designing and running weight loss programs. If you cannot figure out who designed the program or what their qualifications are, then stay away from that program; you can do better.

#2: Who sets your weight loss goals?

Some programs are designed with a specific weight loss goal. For instance, the program may promise that participants can lose 10 pounds in 2 months. Other programs work with you to set your own weight loss goals; these are usually the best choice, since everyone has different weight loss goals and you really deserve the freedom to set and achieve your own goals.

#3: Are the food choices reasonable?

Make sure that the foods recommended by the program are things you actually can and will eat. For instance, if a program calls for a lot of whole grains, but you have celiac disease and therefore cannot eat wheat, then you will probably have to make so many modifications to the program that it won't even be the same program anymore. You'd be better off with a program that calls for more lean meats and veggies in this case.

#4: Were past participants successful?

No program works for 100% of participants, so you can expect to see a few negative reviews of even the best weight loss programs. What you want to be sure of is that the majority of participants are successful, and that reviewers are not posting a lot of complaints of side effects and struggles. Try to talk to someone who has followed the program in-person, and see what they have to say.

#5: How much does the program cost?

You can expect to pay for the best weight loss programs. But you do need to make sure the program fits in your budget. If the program costs $300 a month and you simply cannot afford that, you should be able to find a more affordable option that is still effective.

If you ask these questions when investigating various weight loss programs, you should be able to narrow down your choices and make a smart decision.