Virtual Weight Loss

Virtual weight-loss programs give participants the ability to see themselves at their desired weight to provide visual motivation for sticking to a fitness program. Once registered, and in some cases paying a fee, members can benefit from the tools available on the site, such as simulators, virtual photos, online community support and nutrition information.

Virtual weight-loss tools can motivate individuals to meet their goals.

Benefits

Virtual weight-loss programs may help individuals stick to their diet plans by seeing what they are capable of becoming. Users upload photos of themselves, which are digitally enhanced and returned, so they can see themselves at up to 50 pounds thinner.

Virtual weight-loss programs are convenient for people who want to lose weight from the comfort of their own homes. After an individual registers, she can log on at any time and use the tools. Many virtual weight-loss sites offer support in the form of online communities.

How to Use

Registration is required for most virtual websites, even if there is no cost involved. Once registration is complete, users can upload their own photos. Generally, you should use a front-view photo that includes your entire head. If you are using a site with a 3-D model, you would upload a head shot only.

To use a phone application, you would pay the fee and then download the application from a site such as the iTunes store for iPhones or BlackBerry App World for BlackBerry.

Smartphone Apps

An iPhone application tracks a participant's weight loss and weight goals directly on his iPhone or iPod. After downloading the application, users can create a virtual model customized to their own features. The application uses the body mass index to calculate what a user will look like at his goal weight. A Virtual Weight Loss application was available for download to an iPhone or an iPod for $.99 in 2009.

Humana Inc. offers its Weight Loss Sensei application for smartphones such as the BlackBerry or iPhone. This application is a digital dietitian that sends meal and fitness reminders to users throughout the day. In 2009, the application cost less than $10.

Prevention.com

Prevention.com offers a Weight Loss Simulator, which allows individuals to upload photos of themselves so they can see what they will look like at their desired weight. Upon free registration at the Prevention site, a member can upload her photo, see herself at her goal weight, and even try on swimsuits, which may further motivate people to lose unwanted pounds. While there is no cost to use the virtual site, further registration is required for other tools, such as a weight-loss journal.

WeightView.com

WeightView.com offers visual motivation with its digital weight-loss tool that let's you see yourself at your target weight. In addition to its photo-upload capabilities, this site also has a free blog to help motivate people who want to lose weight. There are also links to other sites with relevant diet and nutrition information. The cost to join WeightView.com's virtual weight loss site was less than $10 in 2009.