Many Americans desire to lose weight. They’re willing and able to spend big money to achieve this goal. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the diet industry now makes $33 billion a year.

However, most diets don’t work. Although there are many promising products, there isn’t a magic bullet. Americans must create a caloric deficit, which means eating less calories or burning more calories to lose weight.

Problem: Americans have a hard time fitting their diets into their lives. A woman who wakes up late may have her breakfast ruined by a sugary latte. One man skips his lunch break and then indulges in fast food. People may cut calories and then become too hungry or deprived to resist the vending machines or cupcakes at work.

A successful diet does not have to involve endless hours of sprouting seeds for power bars or starvation. Americans can maintain a low-calorie diet with a little planning.

The meal-replacement plan is a great option to busy dieters. The dieter is able to plan meals based on what they eat at breakfast and lunch.

Americans should think about products that keep them full between meals when looking at meal-replacement programs. One meal-replacement plan:

Hollywood Cookie Diet (www.hollywoodcookiediet.comThe Dieters are asked to eat specially-formulated cookies for breakfast, lunch, and snack. After that, they prepare a sensible meal, such as eggplant caponata, roast chicken, or other similar dishes. Their Web site even has recipes. These cookies are available in three flavors: lemon, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. The cookies contain enough fiber and protein to satisfy your appetite and prevent you from feeling hungry.

The cookies are only 150 calories. Dieters can cut down on calories by replacing two meals with cookies. The plan allows dieters to consume 600 calories before dinner. This is half the amount of calories in a bagel breakfast or sandwich lunch.

Americans need to consider their lifestyle when selecting a diet. While some people might have the time and energy to prepare a nutritious whole-grain pasta salad for lunch each day, others may not be able to cook fast enough. These meal substitutes are easy to pack and can be kept in a purse or briefcase for an emergency. They might also prevent hungry diners from going to drive-thru windows or eating too much when they do stop for food.

The pace of life today is rapid. People can check their kids’ soccer scores on the phone, while also sending emails to work with the help of digital technology. Consumers can expect the same conveniences and benefits from all businesses, except their insurance companies, thanks to the internet age. For those who are struggling to pay their medical bills and need health insurance, 98 per cent of claims can be processed within 30 working days.

With almost two-thirds American households earning less than 2002, being insured is not enough. It is vital to understand how quickly and efficiently your insurance carrier pays claims. This is important for both financial and medical recovery.

According to a recent survey, 66% of workers would struggle to pay for the financial burdens associated with serious illnesses and injuries. Only 49% of workers have over $1,000 to pay out-of-pocket costs. Employers are being forced to reduce costs as rising health care costs put even more financial pressure on their employees.

* Increasing employees’ health care insurance copayments.

* Increasing employees’ share of premium.

* Implementing high-deductible health plans with health savings accounts.

A lot of people will have to wait for up to a few months before receiving their insurance payments. Many insurance companies strive to provide fast service with better technology and better understanding of customers’ needs. This is one example. AflacIt is almost rare for insurance companies to offer policies that include claims processing, approval, and payment in a single day.

In the past, fast payment policies were a luxury. It is a necessity in today’s world. It’s vital to have funds readily available for serious illness or injury. Your insurance company should be able to respond quickly.

Aflac’s One Day Pay guarantee can be found on aflac.com/onedaypay.