DENVER -- Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Low carb, Ornish, Atkins, Mediterranean, Deep Tone. There are so many diet and exercise plans, but how do they work? And do they work?

February's "O The Oprah magazine" has an article comparing six diet plans: low carb, low fat, The Zone, Mediterranean, Ornish and exercise. After reviewing several studies it said the winners are low carb and exercise combined.

But the expert interviewed in the article also said dieters may need to try more than one plan before they find success.

"We're all so different -- a diet that works for me may not work for you," said Christopher Gardner, PhD, associate professor of medicine at Stanford University.

Good news! So if at first you don't succeed, try something else. So let's talk about some of the other plans out there.

First Nutrisystem. Have you seen the ads offering to sell you a months' worth of food? The basic women's program is $333.28 + $16 shipping to try it for a month. (Nutrisystem also has plans for seniors, diabetics and vegetarians). The basic men's program is $366.61 + $16 shipping. That's for 28 days of meals.

I decided I wasn't paying that much without sampling some of the food first. Plus I really just wanted some help cutting calories one or two meals a day. I decided to order a la cart. If you want to sample a few items/meals, try this link and click on individual meals and foods.

Caroline Harrison has lost 70 pounds using Weight Watchers so I asked her to write about that program. Here's what she said:

"Weight Watchers has been my program of choice to lose weight. The cost is small (pay weekly or $39.95 per month). The best part, for me, is I ate not only my own food, but I could eat anything I wanted. To lose weight you DO NOT have to eat Weight Watchers' food, only follow their program.
I have now lost 70 lbs. with Weight Watchers and have 12 more to go to reach my goal weight.
The program works by assigning you a certain number of "points" based on how much you weigh at the time. The number of "points" you are allowed each day decreases as you lose weight, so that you continue to lose.
You use their food guides to tell you the number of points in a food. If what you want to eat is not listed, you are given a "points finder" to determine the points in a food based on it certain nutritional values provided in the label on the food. Weight Watchers' program is designed to help you lose 1-2 pounds per week. Some lose more, others lose less. How much and how quickly you lose will depend on how closely you follow the plan.
For my weight loss journey, the weekly meetings have been a tremendous help. Each week, the leader covers a different topic related to weight loss. Topics include conquering emotional eating, putting together healthy meals and addressing such things as the "clean plate syndrome."
In addition, during the meetings, other members share their problems, their successes and celebrate their losses.
The key to losing weight with Weight Watchers is to follow their program and attend weekly meetings. The weekly meetings not only hold you accountable for your weekly weigh-in, but are informative and helpful. If you join a certain meeting, you are not "married" to that meeting. You can attend any meeting at any location you wish.
Finally, once you have lost your weight and maintained the loss for 6 weeks, you become a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers, entitling you to certain benefits. Weight Watchers does not desert you once you finish losing. You can continue to attend as many meetings a month as you wish. As long as you weigh-in once a month and are no more than 2 pounds over your goal weight, there is no cost."

Have you seen the ads for Deep Tone? It promises that you just have to work out one day a week.

Call 7 Producer Marianne McKiernan has been doing Deep Tone for years. Here's what she said:

Deep Tone is the only exercise program I've done fairly religiously for any length of time. I've been attending classes since 1997! It's difficult, but I feel like it's the best thing I can do for myself in terms of weight-bearing exercise to stave off osteoporosis and maintain strength.
Deep Tone is a very difficult strength-training exercise program. There's nothing aerobic about it (unless you count the whining and moaning), but you can't beat it for muscles! The program uses soft weights, hand weights and extra heavy-duty rubber bands in various combinations.
The exercises are done in multiple sets primarily using small controlled movements called pulses for v-e-r-y s-l-o-w counts. Someone once said our instructors count in dog years. It is not a competitive environment; each student challenges him-or-her self with the amount of hand weights lifted or soft weights strapped on. Some of us are wimps and lift 8 pound weights; others lift 20- or 25-pound weights. Some strap on 40 pounds, others strap on 80 pounds. (Beats me how they stand up once they have 80 pounds wrapped around their waists!)
Each exercise can be modified if the student can't do it for any reason. For instance, I can do fast lunges or plies but when it comes to the s-l-o-w lunges and plies I feel like someone set fire to my knees, so I do a modified exercise that works the same muscles with less pressure on my knees. For instance, when we start with 50 fast lunges on each leg I will do those, but switch to the modified exercise when the class switches to the s-l-o-w pulses.
Each once-a-week class is an hour long, though it sometimes seems a lot longer. We do a set program of exercises for three or four classes, when the program switches to a new set of exercises. This keeps us from getting too burned out, and if a program is particularly brutal there's hope that the next program won't be so bad. (One person remarked "I get it, they just rearrange the agony every three weeks.") Some weeks I'm only sore for a day or two, others I'm sore for the whole week, particularly when it's a new program.
An example of a brutal program would be the recent one that included a series of frog squats, lunges, frog squats, plies, frog squats, lunges, frog squats, plies, and then a series of arm exercises, then stomach exercises, then some additional leg, tush and arm exercises.
To start the program, students sign up for an initial 6-week session that teaches them how to do the unique "Deep Tone Sequence" of pulses in a gradual way so that the students are able to do an entire hour of class by the end of the 6 weeks. Once that is complete, students sign up for the class they plan to attend weekly. If you can’t attend your regular class on any given week, you can choose another one.
I don't know the current cost of the initial program, but the weekly class are $58 per month if you choose auto-debit, and slightly more ($63, I think) if you pay monthly by check or credit card. The cost of the initial program includes the soft weights and other equipment. The hard weights are provided in the classroom.
You'll find Ross and me at the 5:45 class on Wednesdays!

I asked fitness trainer and exercise medicine specialist Jane Hastings to weigh in on diet, exercise and how to find a personal trainer. She said:

As Deb and the experts on Oprah said, I agree that a low-carb diet combined with an exercise program will lend the best results as well as get you to eat more healthfully.
First off, let me just say that low carb means getting rid of the processed foods as well as many of the "whites" (crackers, potatoes, pasta, breads, etc.). It does not mean getting rid of fruits and vegetables. They are the good carbs and also give you all the nutrients needed to be healthy.
The combination with exercise is a must. I know it is hard to get that in and I have heard all the reasons.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to hire a personal trainer. A good trainer will keep the exercises safe, keep you accountable, and keep things interesting. Look for a trainer that is certified by an accredited organization such as ACE, ACSM, NSCA, and NASM. Look for a trainer that works with clients such as yourself.
If you are new to exercise, a trainer that specializes in body building may not be the best choice for you. Convenience is also something to look at, proximity to your home or office, time of day available, etc. Prices will range from $45/hour to 75/hour on up. Find what works in your budget.
"What I know for sure" is that nothing is more important than your health, it is worth the investment.

You can reach Jane at (303) 871-8661 or visit her Web site Mad About Fitness.

If you've tried a different kind of diet or exercise plan and are willing to share your story, drop me a note. Hopefully it will help others as we all try to get to our goal of losing weight and getting healthier. E-mail me Deb Stanley (Deb_Stanley@kmgh.com).