Slimfast - Similar to Atkins, Slimfast offers a paid subscription program that is customized through eDiets.com. And they offer a no-cost version through their website at http://www.slim-fast.com/membership.asp . Some of goodies offered for free membership are individualized meal plans, personalized fitness program, food & exercise journals, weight charts, automatic notification of promotion & coupon offers, shopping lists, buddy program, "Ask a Dietitian," live chats, success stories, a ergular newsletter and a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator that uses height and body weight factors.

Weight Watchers - Online at www.weightwatchers.com , Weight Watchers offers a few choices. They have a couple different food plans; monitor points or simply go with food choices. Then opt for a real-world membership with weekly meetings where you learn about healthy food choices and activities, hear inspirational leaders/ speakers, pick up tips and program information, recipes and menus and have confidential weigh-ins. How meetings work is that you attend once a week for about an hour from a huge list hosted all over. You pay a small fee when you attend (beginning around $9 - $10 per week with special packages / plans available, depending upon area). Find a meeting place online by entering your zip code or call 800-282-8908 (24/7).

Or opt for cyber-planning with Weight Watchers online tools. For a little less money per month, around $5 per week, you get recipe and meal ideas in a click, a points tracker and calendar, progress charts, restaurant guide and other resources. And connect with their online community 24/7 instead of driving around town juggling meetings in your schedule.

In conclusion, arriving at Perfect Diet may be no quick, simple task in today's world of fast-paced living. But there sure are many helpful planning solutions available to fit every budget both online and in real world. And by choosing foods to help with our individual health issues and concerns, and reaching out for support, information and dietary planning when needed, not one of us has to "go it" alone.

5. Consider combining a home gym along with a membership in a public facility. Purchase less expensive free weight equipment for use at home and join a gym to have access to more expensive equipment. You can design your entire workout routines around a combination such as this.

6. Eat healthy! This can't be stressed enough. The only true bodybuilding aids are good nutrition. Consult a licensed dietician. Watch your local community calendar for free seminars on diet and nutrition. Learn all you can about what nature freely provides that can help you to develop a healthy diet.

7. If you choose to use dietary supplements, make certain that you know what you are putting in your body. Follow packaging guidelines we outlined above. Ask your physician for his/her recommendations based on regimen you have selected. No friend, coach or acquaintance can take place of your physician. In fact, you may even investigate finding a physician who specializes in sports wellness.

8. Be kind to yourself. Yes, it's important to push to achieve your goals, but it's very easy to tip scales in other direction and create a nightmare for yourself. Obsessive, compulsive behaviors are not conducive to a healthy bodybuilding lifestyle.

I wish you a healthy and happy journey on your road to weightlifting and bodybuilding. Put suggestions and recommendations to work and you are well on way to building body you can be proud of!