bodyOPTIMISE

While the website is somewhat hard to navigate, the basic idea behind bodyOPTIMISE is Food Optimizing—a system that categorizes foods on their caloric content in combination with their ability to make the consumer feel full. The most filling and least calorie-rich foods are considered “Free Foods,” meaning they can be eaten in any amount at any time. The reason for this free-for-all category is that these foods will fill consumers much quicker with fewer calories, meaning that they can reduce caloric intake without counting, calculating, weighing or measuring foods. No matter how much you eat of these foods, it’s alright.

Along with this strange philosophy, meal choices are categorized into four different sections: the Green choice, the Original choice, Mix2Max and Success Express. The Green choice involves healthy and filling carbohydrates plus generous servings of protein, fruits and vegetables. The Original choice consists of “plenty of lean, satisfying protein, plus energizing carbohydrates for a balanced diet that’s low in fat.” Mix2Max allows “slimmers,” as the program calls dieters, to choose between either the Green or Original choice for each meal. Success Express combines both Green Free Foods and Original Free Foods into the same meal. These choices allow any dieter to find a satisfying meal each and every time rather than forcing either one kind of meal or another—it’s not about eliminating carbohydrates or proteins, it’s about finding a safe combination of all food groups.

Combined with Food Optimizing is mild exercise, resulting in what bodyOPTIMISE calls “Body Magic.” Even mild activities can boost weight loss results dramatically, according to the program.

All of this comes with thorough online support, including milestone celebrations and guides to reaching your goals. Much like other online programs, bodyOPTIMISE utilizes forums and discussion groups to encourage dieters to support each other in their efforts rather than leaving the dieter alone and defenseless. The hope is that dieters will be able to make lifelong habits that will help them stay on target long after the initial weight is lost.

BodyOPTIMISE claims that their approach “isn’t opinion, this is well-documented, evidence-based fact,” but the program does not offer any of its well-documented evidence anywhere on its website, making it difficult to take this claim at face value.

While this program is probably available for subscription worldwide, it is based in the UK. The cost per month is £20 plus a £19.95 registration fee, and a minimum 3-month initial subscription is required. However, at the time of this review, bodyOPTIMISE was offering a free month of membership for new dieters, reducing the cost to £59.95 instead of £79.95 for the first three-month membership period. In US Dollars, this makes the program about $39.50 per month of subscription (a total of $118.38 for the first three-month subscription). This is about twice as expensive as many other online diet plans (usually ranging from $4 to $6 per week of subscription). The services are great, but we are not sure if they’re worth double of other subscription services.

The official bodyOPTIMISE website is an excellent site in both design and content, providing ample information in an attractive and easy-to-use design. The graphics are beautiful and sleek, and the information includes everything from the basic concepts in the plan to a full registration and back-end section for members. The one disappointment we saw in this site was that it did not include any scientific research for the methods used (something it claims in its FAQ section). Otherwise, the site is leaps and bounds ahead of most diet sites today, making it a great marketing tool for this program.

No limitations on what types of foods can be eaten.

Some foods are considered “free,” meaning they can be eaten limitlessly.

Diet incorporates easy and moderate exercise in order to boost results.

Online site provides support, expert advice, recipes and shopping tools.

Scientific evidence to support this program is not provided.

Cost is about twice what other online subscription services cost.

Diet will take motivation, time and effort in order to be successful—it will not work instantly.

Diet does not incorporate supplements in any form.

Simply put, bodyOPTIMISE provides a unique and appealing concept that might just work—foods that fill faster than they fatten. Fewer calories and less hunger means better success, and learning these tools may prove eternally helpful to dieters. BodyOPTIMISE provides these tools along with a moderate exercise program, community support, expert advice and plenty of recipes and shopping tools. However, the price of this program is twice as expensive as most other subscription services, making it a very expensive option compared to others available today. The website, though, is a sign that this program is completely serious about what they provide. While we were unable to find any of the “well-documented, evidence-based” facts the program claims it is founded on, we still feel that this program has some great advice to offer. By incorporating healthy meals and exercise into your diet plan, along with adequate water consumption, dieters can expect safe and steady results. BodyOPTIMISE realizes this fact and provides the tools necessary to see results.