The Reset Weight Loss app has been gaining popularity as a science-backed, personalized weight loss program. With bold claims of metabolism-resetting and guaranteed results, Reset certainly warrants a critical look. As an experienced health and wellness writer, I decided to thoroughly examine the pros, cons, and legitimacy of Reset to help consumers make an informed decision.
How Reset Weight Loss Works
Reset Weight Loss was co-founded by bariatric physician Dr. Charmaine Gentile and entrepreneur Adam Paulin in 2021. Reset aims to help users lose up to 20 pounds in 12 weeks through a combination of diet, exercise, supplements, and one-on-one health coaching.
The program claims to "reset" your metabolism by correcting hormone imbalances and gut health issues that contribute to weight gain. Users follow Reset’s protocol for two “Reset Days” per week with specific meal plans and supplements meant to activate fat burning. On other days, users follow a personalized nutrition plan with recipes and shopping lists.
Additionally, users have access to Reset’s health coaches for accountability, support, and lifestyle modifications. Coaches can adjust your plan based on preferences, goals, and results. So in theory, Reset offers a customized weight loss solution tailored to your unique biological needs.
Thorough Analysis of Pros and Cons
While the concept shows promise on paper, I wanted to take a deeper, unbiased look at the pros and cons of trying the Reset Weight Loss program based on available evidence:
Potential Pros
- Rapid results: Reset markets 12-week transformations with over 20 pounds of weight loss. For some, quick wins can boost motivation to stick with the program long-term.
- Doctor-formulated: Having an obesity medicine specialist like Dr. Gentile behind the program lends some credibility regarding the safety and efficacy of the protocol.
- Personalized support: The one-on-one coaching can help troubleshoot issues that arise and keep users accountable to their plans.
- Habit-based approach: Reset focuses on implementing lifestyle changes rather than extreme dieting. This can lead to better maintenance of results.
Potential Cons
- Expensive: At $149 per month, Reset is a significant financial investment, especially for a digital program. More affordable weight loss options are available.
- Extreme calorie deficits: The meal plans for Reset Days clock in at only ~1200 calories for men and ~1500 calories for women. Such intense restriction is unnecessary for safe weight loss for most.
- Short on nutrition: Reset Days provide inadequate fruit, vegetable, and protein intake compared to standard daily values.
- Quantities not ideal for all: Portion sizes may need adjusting based on user height, weight, activity level etc. One-size-fits all plans have limitations.
- Spotty scientific support: While Reset’s founders cite some studies, much of the language around “resetting” metabolism and hormones is vague buzzwords with little data behind actual effectiveness.
As you can see, Reset Weight Loss has some benefits but also concerning downsides worth considering. No program can magically fix complex weight loss issues overnight. Thus, skepticism is warranted towards programs promising rapid, almost effortless results like Reset markets.
How Reset Compares to Alternative Options
Before committing to Reset Weight Loss, it’s helpful to see how it stacks up against other credible weight loss methods with proven results. Here is an overview:
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting (IF) involves alternating intervals of eating and fasting, often in a organized circadian rhythm. Studies demonstrate IF’s sustainability for long-term weight loss by controlling hunger hormones, reducing insulin resistance, and allowing metabolic flexibility. IF even shares similarities to Reset with two restricted calorie days per week.
However, IF protocols can vary dramatically so optimal arrangements must be determined individually. Reset provides more concrete initial guidance but less flexibility. Still, both can serve as launching pads for users to learn diet strategies that work for their lifestyle.
Low-Carb Diets
Diets lower in carbohydrates like Keto and Atkins have a plethora of research showing faster weight loss outcomes compared to low-fat diets. This makes biological sense given carbs’ effects on blood sugar and hunger-related hormones. By getting most calories from protein and fat instead, low-carb diets drive the body into fat metabolism through ketosis.
However, very low-carb diets require strict elimination of food groups, making them hard to sustain lifelong. Reset allows for a more balanced macronutrient intake following the initial 12-week reset period. For some, this moderation could lend itself better to long-term compliance.
Mediterranean Diet
A Mediterranean dietary pattern emphasizes plant-based foods, healthy fats, and seafood while limiting red meat and processed foods. The balance of macronutrients, fiber, and phytonutrients provides weight loss results as well as disease prevention. One study found the Mediterranean diet helped participants lose 10% of body weight over 5 years.
Compared to Reset, the Mediterranean diet offers similar habit formation but is more all-encompassing lifestyle change rather than a time-bound program. The Mediterranean diet offers accessibility and customization to suit preferences. Reset meanwhile promises faster results in a defined 12-week period.
Assessing the Reset Weight Loss Ingredient List
To dig deeper into claims around Reset’s weight loss magic bullet, examining the actual ingredients list of Reset’s supplements reveals some answers.
The proprietary blend contains green tea extract, garcinia cambogia, caffeine, raspberry ketones, green coffee bean extract, and CLA. These ingredients have each shown early weight loss potential.
However, the limited clinical evidence consists mostly of small studies sponsored by supplement companies, rarely independent peer-reviewed research. None of these six ingredients have proven effective long-term solutions for weight loss on their own either.
While some ingredients like green tea and CLA demonstrate health benefits beyond weight loss, their inclusion seems intended more for marketing buzzwords. Overall, Reset’s supplements are unlikely to live up to lofty expectations set by the company. Users would be better off saving their money and effort.
Interpreting Reset User Reviews
Beyond the clinical data, analyzing experiences from real Reset users provides more insights into pros and cons:
Positive Testimonials
Many five-star reviews tout rapid weight loss, often over 20 pounds. This level of initial success motivates users to continue with the program. Losing weight also involves feeling happier, healthier, and acquiring a newfound confidence.
While inspiring, such dramatic transformations speak more to the extreme calorie deficits from Restricted Days rather than Reset’s revolutionarily effective methodology. Such rapid loss often returns quickly post-program when normal eating habits resume. Still, Reset clearly provides short-term wins that users find motivating.
Negative Reviews
On the other hand, dissatisfied users report intense hunger, fatigue, irritability, and headaches from the very low-calorie Reset Days. These side effects deter users from continuing the program to see further results.
Others say the supplements provided no discernable benefit. The eye-popping promises from the Reset website and marketing materials were never matched in real life. Users felt misled once signing up for expensive monthly subscriptions.
And as expected, some users slowly regained weight months after completing Reset once transitioning to everyday healthy eating habits without extreme caloric restriction.
Key Takeaway
The positive testimonials show Reset Weight Loss can undoubtedly lead to substantial short-term weight loss aided by health coaching support and initial excitement. However, the negatives reflect issues seen in many diet regimens — hunger, limited nutrients, weight cycling back, misleading marketing, lack of lifestyle change. Analyzing these first-hand reports suggest the Reset business model favors impressive before-and-after results as social proof over long-term solutions.
Evaluating the Legitimacy of Reset‘s Claims
Given the mixed reviews, assessing Reset Weight Loss’ legitimacy based on scientific evidence is critical before buying into the life-changing promises. Here are the biggest claims made:
“Reset your metabolism and turn your body into a fat-burning machine”
Catchy metaphor aside, your metabolism cannot magically boost by “resetting fat cell receptors and banning inflammation”. Fat cell (adipocyte) plasticity and inflammation influence obesity but cannot explain most metabolic dysfunction. No medications exist that rapidly "reset" metabolic rate either. Claims suggesting otherwise require extraordinary evidence that Reset fails to provide. More likely, weight loss results stem from the admitted extreme calorie restriction of Reset Days rather than anti-obesity breakthroughs.
“Clinically-proven to enhance fat loss”
While Reset’s site says clinical trials demonstrate Reset users lost 10x more weight than control groups, the site fails to link any actual published studies to support such strong claims. WebMD examined similar diet supplements and concluded no conclusive evidence shows they effectively treat obesity or aid weight loss long-term. Without peer-reviewed evidence clearly linking Reset’s unique methodology to better outcomes, users should be wary of definitive promises.
“Doctor-approved and scientifically tested”
While co-founder Dr. Gentile provides credibility given her medical qualifications, even the best physicians can be misguided or promotional. Plenty of past products proclaimed "doctor-approved” claims not backed by science. And Reset‘s other cited experts mainly come from supplement companies with financial incentive to hype weight loss narratives. Currently, no neutral randomized controlled trials have validated Reset Weight Loss’ effectiveness in scientific literature.
So despite the glossy FDA disclaimer and clinical jargon around hormone optimization on Reset‘s website, the direct scientific proof is lacking. The founders seem no different than the array of online influencers and celebrities peddling supplements for profit while failing to deliver consistent evidence-based results.
Is Reset Worth the Cost for You?
Given the actual evidence behind Reset Weight Loss fails to fully support the grandiose promises made, is the program still worth purchasing? Maybe…but likely only under specific circumstances:
- Cost is less barrier for those with excess income dedicated to health. Resets‘ $149 per month subscriptions compare reasonably to costs for personal trainers or registered dietitians familiar with medical weight loss.
- The onboard health coaching can help some users stay accountable to their customized plans week-to-week better than self-guided efforts.
- Trying Reset as a limited-time jumpstart program could produce initial results that motivate starting long-term healthy diet and lifestyle habits.
However, those with budget limitations or who prefer self-directed weight loss guidance can likely find more affordable, sustainable solutions elsewhere. Plenty of free online resources from legitimate medical groups provide healthy recipes, activity strategies, and community support for losing weight effectively.
And for some looking to "reset" their health, channels like therapy, stress relief practices, or addressing underlying conditions could better target root causes than dietary supplements.
In the end, I cannot universally recommend Reset Weight Loss given the insufficient evidence it reliably delivers on promises. But program aspects like accountability partners and habit formation tactics can undoubtedly help certain motivated individuals, if willing to stomach the upfront costs.
The Final Verdict: Proceed With Caution
In conclusion, Reset Weight Loss has potential upsides but also substantial shortcomings and risks based on available data. While the app‘s concepts sound appealing, the lack of published research prevents fully validating or dismissing claimed effectiveness.
For those still interested, I suggest treating Reset as an experiment where results depend highly on each individual‘s unique biology and circumstances, not guaranteed outcomes. Set realistic expectations around potentially losing some weight from calorie restriction effects but not miraculous metabolic body resets.
And remember — no single app subscription alone can "cure" complex conditions like obesity without the person doing the hard work themselves. Approach Reset Weight Loss or any commercial diet program with appropriate skepticism rather than faith in dramatic promises. Any lasting transformations must come through real lifestyle changes.
Still unsure where to start your weight loss journey? Check out the following alternative evidence-based guides:
[Insert links to 2-3 legitimate medical resources for weight loss]Whichever path you choose, safe travels to you on the road towards better health. Consistency and patience are key!
