Seven years ago, Rob Stevens was morbidly obese and running low on options. He was skeptical about diets, and this hopelessness only further increased his urge to eat. He claims that his life turned around when he read the book Diets Don't Work by Dr. Bob Schwartz. After reading Dr. Schwartz’s common-sense approach to weight loss, Stevens finally gained the courage to take control of his life. Today, he is 140 pounds lighter and much healthier he reports

In order to help others to achieve the same extraordinary results without taking extreme measures, Stevens developed Thintuition, an online weight loss program designed to guide members through a series of lifestyle changes that will help them shed pounds and feel better about themselves.

Thintuition’s program is based on a “Hunger Guide”, six principles to which members must commit in order to lose weight. Some principles include eating only when one is hungry, making space for favorite foods, and savoring every bite. Members explore each of these principles in depth by performing exercises designed to reinforce healthy eating habits.

Another key component of this program is the Thintuition community, an online network of Thintuition users who support one another via bulletin boards and chat rooms. Members are also encouraged to use the journal feature to record their thoughts and chart their progress as they proceed through the program.

Stevens claims that his main goal is for members to change the way they think about food, and steers them toward an intuitive eating approach that is based on physical hunger rather than cravings. Unlike other online programs that focus mainly on providing advice on diet and exercise, Thintuition mainly concentrates on the mental obstacles that many dieters must face. Stevens even writes that those who rely on exercise in order to help them lose weight are likely to fail, because an exercise program can be too difficult for some to maintain. He argues that the most important factor in weight loss is shifting the way that dieters approach eating in general.

Thintuition is likely to appeal to those who have tried a variety of diets and still find themselves stuck at the same weight. Although Stevens does make some sensible recommendations, such as learning to differentiate between stomach hunger and “mouth hunger”, dieters may be disappointed by the lack of practical advice on diet and exercise, as this program does not provide recipes or sample workouts. He also does not discuss factors that may be outside of a person’s control, such as heredity and hormones. These factors can make it particularly difficult for individuals to lose weight.

Keys

1. Online program
2. Web community
3. Journal to record thoughts and progress

Keys: Additional Focused Offerings

1. Weekly weight tracking
2. Interactive activities
3. Personal advice from experts

Positives

• Does not require any specialty products
• Members may cancel at any time

Negatives

• Somewhat expensive at $30 per month
• Fees are non-refundable

Those who frequently find themselves overeating, particularly when they are not hungry, may benefit from some of the exercises in the Thintuition program. That said, Stevens’ ideas are hardly unique, so those who want to re-think their approach to food may simply want to browse the bookstore for books on emotional eating.

Dieters who are frustrated by weight loss plateaus may also want to consider a dietary supplement to help them restrict their calories without feeling deprived. The herb hoodia, for example, has been shown to curb cravings so that dieters can make smarter choices at mealtimes. In addition, the ingredient bitter orange has been shown to boost the metabolism, increasing an individual’s calorie burning capacity.