The website I have chosen as the Useful Website of the Week is one that I have found to be incredibly informative and, well, useful!  The website for iVillage’s Healthy Living Program is what I am referring to.  This program is the most comprehensive online weight loss program I have found and the part that surprised me the most is that it’s FREE. 

The website works toward guiding us in making our lives healthier through three categories: Meals, Exercise, and Stress Relief.  Each category is specifically tailored to help you reach your goals and after an assessment, you are provided with a plan for each category. 

The meal plans they provide are so detailed that they describe exactly what to eat for each meal, including the recipes and nutritional information for everything (even snacks!).  If there’s a particular meal you don’t think sounds good, it’s easy to swap it out for another.  Another feature they provide is a recipe database for everyone to add their own recipes and search through the recipes submitted by other members.  They also provide a dining out guide, nutritional articles, quizzes, calculators, and a nutrition journal. 

The exercise category includes exercises that are at whatever fitness level you’re at.  It also goes by how many days a week and how much time each day you can spend working out, as well as what equipment is available to you.  The plan gives you instructions on how to do each exercise as well as tips for other activities you might partake in, such as running or yoga.  There are also calculators, quizzes, and articles related to different exercises. 

Last but not least is my favorite category, stress relief!  This part of the Healthy Living Plan creates what is called the “Peace of Mind Plan”.  After answering questions concerning your stress levels and how you handle stress, your tailored plan is generated.  This plan includes 11 steps to help guide you to using better methods to relieve stress and find peace of mind.  Each step is to be taken at your own pace in conjunction with the meal and exercise plans. 

I think this website is especially useful for those who are just starting out on their weight loss journey or those who feel that they need some strong organization and guidance to help them along.  I truly hope you find this website useful and you can get the most from all of it’s benefits!