The New York Times reported yesterday that “about 173,500 adult New Yorkers became obese and more than 73,000 received new diagnoses of diabetes from 2002 to 2004, according to a new study by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Put another way, ‘the citywide weight gain totaled more than 10 million pounds in just two years’ the city noted…”
With the prevalence of obesity at an all time high, it’s little wonder that diet centers and weight loss plans are cropping up faster than you can say: “I want to lose weight now!”. And because the internet is the perfect venue to track and analyze weight loss and provide a support forum for dieters who often share recipes and tips, along with frustrations and successes, online dieting has become as natural to many as online shopping.
In a sea of diet dot-coms: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, eDiet, and dozens if not hundreds more, it seemed astonishing that a kosher version of an all around online diet website wouldn’t be available. After all, we have access to Jewish/kosher versions of practically everything else you can think of online.
For those of us who keep kosher and fit, our time has come. The world’s only weight control program catering exclusively to the kosher community has launched a personalized online weight loss and fitness website called Startfresh.com. Many kosher consumers in the New York area are familiar with the flagship Start Fresh program. The program which was founded in 1980 by Erma S. Bressler has gained national fame in the Jewish and kosher communities.
“Over the years, while we helped our clients lose weight and become healthier, we received phone calls from relatives and friends in other states and countries asking for classes in their neighborhoods. We filled the request for the local neighborhoods” said Bressler. “Now anyone with internet access can reach us.” With the program finally available on the internet, StartFresh.com has a global membership; so if you want to swap recipes with an Aussie from down under, now you can.
The website includes a kosher recipe library, shopping lists, and an exercise plan. You’ll find lowfat recipes from gefilte fish to kugel and tzimmes along with motivational articles about how to deal with traditional foods especially on Shabbat and Holidays.
If you want the anonymity of the internet, the technology of computer tracked progress in addition to real life coaches, the flexibility to create limitless what-if scenarios, and the convenience of doing it all from your home or office, and you want it all to be kosher at that, you finally get to have your kugel and eat it too.
Click HERE for more details. Labriut!
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12 Responses
In a sea of diet dot-coms: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, eDiet, and dozens if not hundreds more, it seemed astonishing that a kosher version of an all around online diet website wouldn’t be available.
In what way is Weight Watchers unkosher?
I lost 95 pounds over the course of a year on Weight Watchers — and, to the best of my knowledge, I did not transgress any prohibitions in the process.
The Wolf
YAY FOR WOLF!! POST A NORMAL COMMENT OR NONE AT ALL. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO START A FIGHT. GROW UP ALREADY. OK, SO YOU LOST 95 POUNDS ON WEIGHT WATCHERS. GUESS WHAT? I LOST 110 POUNDS ON ATKINS. I ALSO KEPT KOSHER THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH. YET, I DIDNT COMMENT. SO GROW UP. MAYBE IF YOU’D STOP PROCRASTINATING ARGUMENTS MOSHIACH COULD’VE BEEN HERE ALREADY. THINK ABOUT THAT 🙂
Between all our chagim and shabbosim I have a feeling we’ve contributed more than our fair share to the 10 million pound jackpot. By the way, the story appeared in the Times on the 26th.
Congrats on the 95+ pounds!
WeightWatchers isn’t unkosher but it’s not particularly kosher either. Their highlighted recipe today is chicken fettuccini alfredo. It’s nice to have a program geared especially to the kosher and shabbos observant person.
All things being equal I think a “designed to be kosher” diet program makes sense.
This does sound interesting to me . Has anyone out there tried the Start Fresh Program?
nishtdurfarvus,
Whose fighting? The implication of the quote that I commented on is that the other diets are somehow unkosher. I just wanted an explanation of that.
The Wolf
Anyone have experience with startfresh.com?
We can all help by serving healthier foods on Shabbos and Yom Tovim and at simchas. The quantity and nutritional quality is often unhealthy.
The best pat of this diet is that you could do it on you own, by downloading your menu each day/week and don’t be tied to a mentor that you need to give a Din V’Chasbon, I don’t need to loose a lot of pounds but for a few extra this is the best thing around! Thanks YWN for bringing this up!
My husband tried this diet and he did great! There’s a huge variety of food, easy menu plans and best of all, as huge8885 said, he didn’t feel obligated to give a “din vcheshbon” to anyone! There’s also wonderful customer service via email and telephone. If I ever need to go on a diet then this is the one I’ll do!
I am a member at Start Fresh online. It works very well for me. I can work my menus anytime of day or night. I have found the staff very responsive via email or phone. I especially enjoy Marcia’s blog where I and others have been able to anonymously post our thoughts, problems, and feelings. The food plan is varied. I have lost weight on it. There is lots of tips and articles on the site.
I have been a member of Start Fresh for a long time, maintaining a big weight loss. After having tried everything out there to lose weight, I have found the Start Fresh program sane, liveable, no gimmicks, no food to buy if I choose not to. Also, the support is phenomenal – a lot of useful tips and information from those who have been there and have first-hand knowledge and also professional training. After listening to strategies for Christmas and Thanksgiving, it is so great to be able to relate to “”How to handle Pesach” and “Nine ways for the nine days”. I’m a loyal fan – FOREVER!