John McGran's blog

EDITOR'S NOTE: Guest blogger Cynthia Parrott is a busy working woman who manages to find the time for fitness, diet and the writing of great advice for health-conscious women.

Weight loss and diet! Diet and weight loss! When you are in the company of other women, regardless of where you are or what you're doing, these subjects always come up in conversation and you can discuss them for hours.

You are either on a diet, cheating on a diet, discussing how you need to lose weight, or talking about the latest weight-loss craze.

Almost every woman you know agonizes over her weight or what she eats... or can't eat. Magazines are filled with the latest diet news, celebrity fad diets, and articles on who is losing weight and who is gaining it.

Gorgeous, physically fit girls on TV -- girls who have never been fat a day in their lives -- promise you will lose tremendous amounts of weight in a few short weeks if you buy their supplements, DVDs or exercise equipment.

We are obsessed with weight loss and diet yet we are still overweight!   

So, what gives? 

To be obsessed is to be completely preoccupied with something.  The more you obsess over something, the more unattainable it becomes.

You talk about it all the time, think about it constantly, you do everything possible to hang on to it, but eventually you lose it.

Obsessing over diet and weight-loss will result in a losing battle... and not in a good way. You will never reach your goal and will end up frustrated, angry, disappointed and, quite possibly, a larger size than you ever imagined!  

So how do we lose weight without obsessing over it?

First of all, you must come to terms with the fact there will never be a quick-fix weight loss plan! There is no magic diet pill or supplement, no piece of exercise equipment, or combination of foods you can eat that will make you lose astounding amounts of weight in record time.

If you want to successfully lose weight -- and keep it off -- you must change your attitude about yourself and about food. This takes dedication and determination but it can be done. 

Change the way you think about the word DIET!

A diet is usually a restrictive, less than pleasurable set of rules you can never follow for the rest of your life -- no matter how hard you try. When you are on a trendy or fad diet, you tend to deny yourself the foods you enjoy eating. The conversation is usually the same.

"Oh, I can't eat that... I am on a diet!"

So while everyone else is happily eating chocolate cream pie for dessert and you are munching on an apple or pretending to enjoy your cup of sugar-free pudding, you are secretly hating them and hating yourself for being on a diet.

It's okay to make such sacrifices for specific reasons now and then. But if you constantly deny yourself because of your diet, what happens when you face a major upset or disappointment?

You will bury your face in a chocolate cream pie and eat the whole thing!

Denial never got anyone anywhere. The things you cannot have are the things you want most. You think about them. You dream about them. They call out to you from the fridge at 3 a.m. 

Remember the story of Adam and Eve? They had a whole garden full of delicious fruit to eat but the object of their desire was that darn apple! Why? Because it was forbidden fruit!

Once they knew they couldn't have an apple, Adam and Eve wanted an apple. All they could think about was eating that fruit, wondering what it would taste like, and what would really happen if they actually ate it.

If they had changed their way of thinking would they have ever taken that first bite? What if they had adopted the mindset of choosing NOT to eat it rather than telling themselves they COULDN'T eat it?

If your goal is to lose a few pounds, maintain your current weight, or you need to change your habits because health reasons, never think diet. I am a vegetarian but I never say I am on a vegetarian diet. I am not denying myself meat; I choose not to eat meat because I don't like it and I function better without it.

If you want to be successful at losing weight and keeping it off, stop thinking about what you are not allowed to eat and simply tell yourself you are choosing "this" over " that" because you want look and feel your best and be the healthiest you can possibly be!

Forget about weight and size

Do you know a woman who eats what she wants, rarely exercises, and never gains a pound? Maybe she's given birth to five children, wears a bikini to the beach, and doesn't have a stretch mark or an ounce of fat anywhere on her perfect body? Yet, she complains about her belly "bulge" but you can bounce a quarter off her abs!

Do you secretly hate this friend? I am not this woman and, most likely, you are not either or you would not be reading this.

I never really worried too much about weight until recently when I started menopause. Suddenly, I am carrying extra weight in places I never knew could actually store fat and it is so difficult to lose a few pounds.

I am older, my metabolism is slower, and I needed to adjust my eating habits a bit. Shedding these unwanted pounds and keeping them off has been more difficult than prying a teddy bear from the clutches of a screaming child!

I had my size 4 Levi jeans hanging over my bedroom door as incentive to lose some weight. I want to wear them again because  I looked so darn good in them!

But each time I saw them hanging there, rather than feel energized, I began to feel discouraged. The jeans are a constant reminder of the weight I gained... that mixed with disappointment because I am not sure I will ever wear those jeans again!

I am not giving up, but I do realize I am older and my whole body is changing inside and out. This is a fact of life. I need to accept that as long I am fit and healthy, I will still look great even if I have to buy a slightly larger size.

So, I simply shifted my focus, stopped beating myself up emotionally for no longer fitting into my favorite teeny-tiny jeans, and now those extra pounds are beginning to drop off! 

Obsessing over a specific weight or size will discourage you.

...especially if you keep missing the mark due to circumstances beyond your control. As you age it becomes more and more difficult to weigh what you did before you had your first child or to fit into the jeans you wore in high school.

You might have looked great at 110 pounds when you were 16 but now that you are 50 you might look fragile and tired. Your best friend might be a size 0 but if you are curvy, you can starve and exercise until you drop but you will never be able to wear the size-0 clothes!

It's time to focus on becoming as fit and as healthy as you can possibly be. Once you change your way of thinking about weight or size and concentrate on being healthy, your body will begin to shed whatever excess pounds it doesn't need. 

Celebrate the beautiful, wonderful you

The best weight-loss "secret" is to love yourself as you are, regardless of your dress size or how much weight you think you need to lose.

If you don't love yourself now, you will not miraculously fall in love with yourself when you are thin. In fact, you will most likely gain every single pound back and more because you feel as empty as you did when you were heavier.

Self-love and self-esteem come from accepting yourself, recognizing your strengths and limitations, and celebrating who you are.

Each time you punish yourself, neglect yourself, or fall into the trap of negative self-talk because you are overweight, the more discouraged you will become.

Stop thinking and talking about how you need or want to lose weight. Forgive yourself for putting on the excess weight. If you must, forgive the people in your life who caused the stress and pain that contributed to your weight gain.

Take a good look at yourself and consider all your assets and attributes. Yes, you might be a little heavier than you would like to be, but mamybe you've got amazing legs!

It's been three years, you still haven't lost the 25 pounds you gained during pregnancy, but you are a loving, caring mother to a beautiful child.

You might shop for clothes in the "plus size" section right now, but you are the president of your own company.

Stop the abusive, negative chatter in your head by complimenting yourself regularly. If you cannot think of anything positive, ask your best friend or a relative to point out all your good qualities, then repeat them over and over to yourself.

Rather than obsessing over all the weight you need to lose or what you can or cannot eat, become determined to let who you are inside show on the outside.

Regardless of your shape, size, or weight, be the most attractive you that you can possibly be. Get your hair done, your nails polished, and buy the nicest and best-fitting clothes you can afford.

NEVER resort to hiding in big bulky sweaters and sweatpants, even if you are just hanging around at home. Sophisticated, trendy,  and fashionable outfits are available in all sizes.

When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you will want to do good things for yourself.

You will want to get out and exercise because it makes you feel alive. You will want to eat better, healthier food. You will order the grilled chicken salad for lunch more often. Not because you can't have the cheeseburger and fries, but because you choose to feed your beautiful body with something more nourishing.

Eventually, the woman you see in the mirror will be the reflection of who you already are inside: beautiful, wonderful and lovable!

About Cynthia: I am a Certified Holistic Health and Nutritional Counselor. My company is Metamorphosis Consulting and I have been in private practice for over 10 years. I believe we can completely transform our lives by nourishing our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. It is my desire to help others achieve their health and nutritional goals, their personal goals, and to live the life they have always dreamed of. Learn more at www.truemetamorphosis.org and www.cyndaily.com.

Contributed by Jason Knapfel, a content creator for DietsInReview.com, which provides the tools and information needed to shape a healthier you.

Get this: You might be able to just "walk away" from your cancer risk. According to experts from The World Cancer Research Fund, any form of regular moderate activity can prevent many cancer cases from ever occurring.

"There is now very strong evidence that being physically active is important for cancer prevention," says the WCRF's Head of Science, Dr. Rachel Thompson.

"Even relatively modest increases in activity levels could prevent thousands of cancer cases... every year."

Walking isn't the only prescription for a lowered risk of cancer. Just get moving! The researchers suggest that participating in activities such as cycling or swimming may also help thwart cancer.

And while you should make exercise a priority, this isn't even about becoming a fitness fanatic. Simple small changes can do a world of good.

"By taking up walking as a hobby or even walking to the shops instead of taking the bus or car, people can make a real difference to their health," says Dr. Thompson.

The data from the study suggests that 45 minutes of moderate daily exercise could prevent about 5,500 cases of breast cancer. While that may seem like a lot of time if you aren't already exercising, remember it's a total of 45 minutes, not all at one time.

Here are a few ways to put together the time you need to improve your chances of dodging cancer:

- Park a little further away from the office. If you walk about five minutes briskly to and from the office, that's already 20 minutes each day! You're almost halfway there.

- If you pick up your kids at school, do the same as at the office. Don't just pull up in front (unless that's required protocol for your child's school). Get five minutes of brisk walking both ways, and you're almost home free.

- After dinner, take a 10 minute stroll around the neighborhood. It's a great way to get a little fresh air and -- voila! -- you have the required daily exercise suggestion.

- If you don't have kids, then you can easily make up for not having the school option. Make your post-meal stroll 30 minutes instead.

- Just to make sure that you get your quota, take a couple five minute breaks at work, and make your "smoke break" the healthy kind with a walk around the office -- inside or out. Whatever works best for you.

When it comes to slimming down, there are countless diet plans out there, so how does a consumer decide what's a great diet for weight loss?

Well, you don't jump into the latest, greatest trendy fad diet. Baby food anyone? Or how about a system-scrubbing master cleanse?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Check out 25 fad diets of the past 25 years... and why they don't work!  

You also don't opt for a weight loss plan that isn't sustainable. Yo-yo dieting (the loss, then regain of weight) is extremely prevalent for a good reason. We try to totally change our eating habits, but end up right back where we started -- overweight and unhappy.

Sure there are millions of diet plans available but the weight loss experts have pretty much decided it's all about the calories. What that means is that almost any diet plan will work for you if you follow it right and cut back on calories consumed.

According to MayoClinic.com: "Despite all the diet strategies out there, weight management still comes down to the calories you take in versus those you burn off. Fad diets may promise you that avoiding carbs or eating a mountain of grapefruit is the secret to weight loss, but it's really all about calories."

Okay so now that you know things not to do, let's look at...

Diets for Weight Loss

Three super-popular diets for weight loss are low-fat, low-carb and vegetarian.

Low Fat

MayoClinic.com says, "Low-fat diets focus on cutting excess fat out of your diet, usually by limiting fat intake to about 20% of your total daily calorie intake."

Just be aware that even a low-fat diet can lead to weight gain if you ignore calories and eat too much. Think SnackWells back in the 1980s. We scarfed down cartons of those low-fat devil food treats and gained weight!

Also note that we do need fat in our diet so don't go too low.

Fats have many uses in the body. Fats are not only metabolized to release greater amounts of energy, but they also store vitamin A, D, E and K -- the vitamins that are insoluble in water. Fat also helps protect your brain, heart, kidneys and liver.
 

Low Carb

"A low-carb diet limits carbohydrates — such as bread, grains, rice, starchy vegetables and fruit — and emphasizes sources of protein and fat. Many types of low-carb diets exist, each with varying restrictions on the types and amounts of carbohydrates. Examples of low-carb diets include the Atkins diet and the Zone diet," says MayoClinic.com.

I've used low-carb diets very effectively. The problem for me is finding low-carb breads and rolls that taste like bread and not cardboard. Low-carb products have come miles over the past few years but I still find myself losing interest after a few months without my favorite pizza, subs or sandwiches.

But there are many people who've learned to live quite happily without excess carbs in their diet.

A few health benefits of a low-carb diet:

•Weight loss
•Improved triglycerides
•Reduced blood glucose
•Increased HDL cholesterol
•Improved insulin sensitivity
•Decreased blood pressure
•Lower blood insulin level

 

Vegetarian

Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., says, "Research has shown that, on average, people who follow a vegetarian diet eat fewer calories and less fat than do nonvegetarians.

"Vegetarians also tend to have lower body weight relative to their height than do nonvegetarians. This makes sense, since a diet that largely consists of fruits and vegetables generally has fewer calories."

Zeratsky warns that simply switching to a vegetarian diet doesn't guarantee weight loss.

Why? Well, it's pretty much the same issue that affects those jumping to a low-carb or low-fat diet.

You still need to watch your caloric intake!

There's a bushel basket of benefits linked to going vegetarian. A diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and soy just may be your best bet for living longer and being healthier.

Then there's the green aspect. Many pro-vegetarian folks say you'll do the planet good by cutting out meat.

So, as we said earlier, low-fat, low-carb and vegetarian eating plans are great diets for weight loss... when done right.

The best advice is to choose which plan fits your lifestyle best. You'll want to remain on it from now until your golden years.

Can't live without meat? Rule out vegetarian!

Need your breads? Bye-bye low carb!

A proper portion-controlled, low-fat diet just may be the perfect remedy for your weight loss ills.

 

 

Okay, so we all want to click our heels together and instantly become a lean, mean weight-loss machine. Sorry Dorothy, but we're not in Oz anymore -- instant weight loss is often not only a frustrating dream, but it can also be a health-wrecking endeavor, according to some experts.

Dr. Donald Hensrud, preventative medical specialist at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, says, "The concern with fast weight loss is that it usually takes extraordinary efforts in diet and exercise — efforts that often aren't sustainable over the long term."

However, Dr. Hensrud admits there are occasions when a doctor will prescribe a weight loss regimen that will lead to fast weight loss.

"In some situations, faster weight loss can be safe if it's done the right way," he notes.

"For example, doctors prescribe very low calorie diets for more rapid weight loss in obese individuals. This type of diet requires medical supervision."

The Truth?

The truth seems to be that there may be nothing wrong with losing weight fast... not as long as you do it the right way. And that means no dangerous pills, cleanses or herbal cocktails.

In fact, recent studies appeared to show that rapid weight loss is good for a body. Of course, for every report that says that there is a dozen that warn us that the best way to lose weight is slowly and safely.

But there's always those proponents of losing weight quickly. 

"In theory, one could drop as much as 20 pounds in a week following a very ambitious eating and exercise plan, devoting more than seven hours per week to rigorous exercise, and under a physician's care like we do on the television program," says Dr. Michael Dansinger, who's worked with contestants on The Biggest Loser.

Basic Math

Losing weight boils down to a basic math formula: You need to burn more calories than you eat. You can boost your body's calorie-burning furnace by adding exercise to your diet equation.

According to WebMD.com, "Experts generally recommend creating a deficit of 500 calories per day through a combination of eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity. Over the course of a week, this should yield a loss of about 1-2 pounds of fat.

"If you want to lose weight faster, you'll need to eat less and exercise more. Bottom line: 1,050 to 1,200 calories and one hour of exercise a day (but be sure not to dip below this calorie level for safety's sake)."

Still, some experts warn against fast weight loss. They say it's not only bad for your body but it is often short-term.

Not Always Black or White

"A rate of weight loss that’s too fast for a lean person might be perfectly appropriate for someone who's obese," says Men's Health Weight Loss Coach Alan Aragon, M.S. 

When it gets dangerous is when your body starts burning up muscle after the fat stores are spent.

"This isn't 'dangerous' as in life threatening, but it's not good for your overall health,” Aragon says. "Losing muscle reduces your ability to burn calories and regulate your blood sugar, and it makes you weaker."

We recommend you check with a doctor before trying to lose weight quickly.

I lost 7 pounds my first week of my Diet-to-Go low-fat meal program. But the speed of weight loss has since dropped to a normal, healthy 1-2 pounds a week.

In the past, I have been able to drop a lot of weight quickly through fasts and fad diets, but the pounds always seemed to pile back on very quickly.

Tell us what you think about quick weight loss -- is it good or bad and have you done it and kept off the weight?

 

 

I'm in a hurry to get things done,
Oh, I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really gotta do is live and die,
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why!
~Alabama

If those song lyrics sound familiar, you're probably one of the many of us who want everything done NOW... including weight loss.

Because of our desire for instant gratification, we cast aside common sense and opt instead to spend billions on weight loss pills, potions, books, DVDs, gadgets and surgeries.

There is no magic bullet for weight loss. You can't wave a magic wand and make the weight you've gained over the past several  years vanish into thin air.

You can try fad diets, pills or weight loss surgery, but those approaches come with risks. And most aren't long lasting. No, not even the surgery.

We've all seen the celebrities who've gone under the knife, had their stomachs stapled or belted, dropped weight fast, then slowly started adding back the pounds by not following the strict post-surgery guidelines. 

The bottom line: You need to eat a proper diet, get a little exercise and rewire your brain so you look at food in a different light.

Food is fuel. It powers our bodily functions and gives us the energy to handle our work and play -- and to romp with our kids or grandkids after our work and play are over!

So how do you lose weight naturally?

You take in fewer calories than you burn. And you get off the couch and find time for some calorie-burning, metabolism-boosting activity.

The word diet doesn't mean deprivation. -- even though that's how we associate it.

According to Merriam-Webster online, diet is the "food and drink regularly provided or consumed." In other words, it's what we eat and drink.

If we eat the right amount of healthy foods -- and we steer clear of junk foods, fast foods and convenience foods -- we shouldn't need a diet program!

With two-thirds of us Americans overweight, we obviously fail at doing this. So the question remains, how can we lose weight naturally?

You can do a lot of online research or make an appointment with a registerted dietitian. The information you glean from this will help you craft your own healthy, properly-portioned eating regimen.

Do this and you will lose weight naturally.

Time isn't on your side?

Don't have the time for all this research, planning, shopping and cooking? There is a shorcut. You won't lose weight faster, but you will lose weight without the stress of finding time to do it right yourself.

We're talking about home-delivered or local pick-up of delicious chef-crafted meals that are more budget-friendly than buying your breakfasts, lunches and dinners on the fly.

We're talking about Diet-to-Go. It's the meal program that I've personally used several times over the past 11 years. It's the meal plan that has never failed to let me lose weight safely, efficiently and without stress!

Since 1991, Diet-to-Go has helped thousands of men and women lose weight. We've also helped thousands of other busy professionals eat right and live well during those stretches when life is too busy to plan healthy meals or cook them.

You don't need to spend your money on pre-cooked meals. You can educate yourself on what constitutes a healthy, properly portioned meal.

And you can keep coming back to Diet-to-Go for the free newsletters and expert advice we dish up on a regular basis.

The final word on losing weight naturally: It's totally common sense. Eat less, move more and retrain your brain so you see food as fuel and not a way to celebrate your joys or drown your sorrows.

Good luck with your personal path to wellness!     

 

 

Meet Raegan, a 30-year-old payroll clerk for a California electrical contractor. Raegan is the random winner of the free week of Diet-to-Go food we gave away after reaching the 1,500 "fans" milestone on our Facebook page.

Before we attained our 1,500th fan, I chose the number 373 as the lucky slot for our winner. When we passed 1,500, I opened our "See All fans" page and started counting from one to 373... when I stopped counting, there was Raegan looking back at me!

I contacted Raegan through her Facebook account and her initial trepidation and doubt soon gave way to excitement and joy. Once Customer Service got her delivery information and her choice of meal plans (she chose vegetarian over low-fat and low-carb), Raegan was soon in the business of eating great and feeling good.

Now that she has had a week to enjoy her foods, Raegan sat down and answered a few questions about the Diet-to-Go experience.

 

1) What did you think when you won our Facebook prize?

What did i think? I was hesitant. I figured that it was a scam, and then I decided I would move forward and if any credit card information was asked for then I would not do it.

 

2) What did you feel when you opened the package of food?

I felt EXCITED and AMAZED. I could not wait to taste all the food. I was shocked about no cans. I loved that it all looked very fresh.

 

3) What made you become a fan of Diet-to-Go on facebook?

A friend suggested it and then I looked at it and liked the articles.

 

4) What foods have you liked the most from your free week?

I really loved the Breakfast Pizza! The Black Bean and Feta Cheese Wrap was yummy, too. Oh, and the Spinach Quesadilla was also great!

 

5) Is this a diet you think you could follow -- and will you give it a shot some time?

This is totally a diet that I could follow and I do plan to give it a try soon!

 

6) What will you tell your friends about the experience?

I will tell my friends about the ease of the program, the freshness of the meals, and the yummyness of the food!

 

7) So why did you choose vegetarian over low-fat or low-carb?

I am actually not a full vegetarian. I was and then started to eat meat now and then. I am just a way too picky eater. I don't eat meat on a bone. I don't eat pork or lamb or fish and I am allergic to shellfish. I also don't eat much red meat so it is easier to go with a vegetarian plan.

You Too Can Win a Free Week of Food! 

Thank you Raegan. We're so glad you are a fan of Diet-to-Go and that you thoroughly enjoyed your free week of meals!

Be sure to become a Facebook fan for your chance to win a free week of Diet-to-Go meals.

We'll be picking a random winner as soon as we hit the 2,000-fan mark. And we're just about at 1,600 fans right now!

Be sure to get all your friends to sign up soon. The winner will be picked totally at random so don't wait until we get near 2,000 to click that "Like" button! 

 

 

So you've decided you want to lose weight...  now what? Coming to Diet-to-Go is a great first step -- we'll give you the delicious, perfectly portioned meals you need to eat well and get healthy.

But it doesn't hurt to get a little advice from people who've helped other men and women like you successfully drop a few pounds.

I've rounded up seven proven tips for losing weight. No need to thank me. Just stay the course and lose the weight you want to lose.

But more importantly, once you attain your goal weight be sure to take the steps needed to stay there. Yo-yo dieting (gaining back the weight you lost then losing it again) is not only frustrating, but it's also unhealthy as well.

The 7 Proven Tips for Losing Weight

1) Buy cut veggies! (Men's Health)

They cost more, but they'll pay dividends later—because you're more likely to snack on them than on some other, less healthy food.

 

2) Keep a notebook handy! (Weight Loss Journal)

Keep a notebook with you so that you can track what you eat. You do not necessarily have to count calories, but what you do have to do is keep track of everything that you are consuming. The reason for this is so that you can keep track of what you are eating and how it impacts you throughout the day. Many people do not realize how much food and other garbage they are putting into their mouths until they start consciously tracking everything that they eat.

 

3) Snack daily! (CNN Health)

Trainer Valerie Waters has clients, including Jennifer Garner and Elizabeth Berkley, who tote 150-calorie snacks in coolers wherever they go. Favorite snack combos include apple slices and low-fat string cheese, a few crackers (like Wasa Crispbread) topped with chicken salad, or a few slices of rolled-up turkey and a handful of grapes. "It's really important to eat something, even if it's just 150 to 200 calories, every three to four hours," Waters says. "Your blood sugar can drop quickly, making you go from feeling kind of hungry to thinking, 'Omigod, if I don't eat now I will kill somebody.'"

 

4) Save the drinks for the weekend! (WebMD)

"If you enjoy alcohol, be aware that the calories add up quickly -- and one way to control it is to limit consumption to the weekends," says Kathleen Zelman, MS, RD, director of nutrition for WebMD. So try limiting your liquor to Friday and Saturday nights -- and keep it to a drink or two each night.

 

5) Water, water everywhere! (SparkPeople)

Drinking plain old water can help with your weight management program, especially if you are substituting calorie-containing beverages like regular soda, juice and sweetened coffee for water, which is healthy and calorie-free. For some people, drinking water throughout the day also keeps their hands busy so that they’re less likely to eat out of habit or boredom.

 

6) Keep it real, man! (Mayo Clinic)

Healthy weight loss usually occurs slowly and steadily. In general, plan to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week (0.5 to 1 kilogram) — even if your initial weight loss is a little faster in the first week or two. To do this, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day. Also, don't expect to lose more of your body weight than is realistic. For instance, set a goal of losing 10% of your current weight, rather than 30%.

 

7) Be more active! (Harvard School of Public Health)

If there's one best weight loss mantra it's "exercise, exercise, exercise." Choose activities you enjoy and do them every day. Exercising with a friend can help keep you on track.

There ya have it -- 7 proven tips for losing weight. There are countless more tips available. Just be sure to continually check back to Diet-to-Go for ways to stay the course, lose weight and keep it off!

 

 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Guest blogger Cynthia Parrott is a busy working woman who manages to find the time for fitness, diet and the writing of great advice for health-conscious women.

"Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way:  On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn

Last week I shared with you some thoughts on mindful and mindless eating. We learned how to understand our relationships with food by being mindful of why we eat, when we eat, and what we eat.

We eat when we are not hungry, and when we are nervous, bored or frustrated. We use food as a quick-fix or a substitute to satisfy the true cravings of our hearts, minds and spirits.

Now that we can recognize the triggers that cause us to reach for food when we really don't want or need it, how do apply mindful eating to our daily lives? 

Eat mindfully every day by incorporating a few simple rules

Baby, you were born to run (but not while you're eating)

Eating meals on the go as you rush out the door, in the car, while working at your desk, over the kitchen sink, or in front of TV can set you up for failure.

You are not aware of why, when and how much you are consuming because your focus is elsewhere. The fact that you did not stop and sit down to eat might make you feel as if you never actually had a meal. You will not be satisfied and will keep eating until you are so full you cannot move.

Eating this way all the time is also not good for your digestion.  You might begin to notice when you slow it down and take time to eat, those stomach ailments will miraculously disappear. Never eat on the run. Take time and make time to enjoy your meals.

Make mealtime sacred

Sit down at the table by yourself or with family, at least once a day. Dinnertime is perfect for this!

Eat your food slowly, chew it well, and savor the taste and the feel of it. Avoid turning on the TV or reading the paper. Light candles, engage in conversation, or listen to soft music. Pour some wine or sparkling water.

This should be a pleasant experience, not a stressful one.

Treat mealtime as a sacred act, appreciate your food and be thankful for it. Regardless of whether you cooked it yourself or you ordered Chinese take-out, give thanks to the earth for providing it and to the ones who lovingly prepared it.

You're really cookin' now

Cook as many of your own meals as you possibly can.

There is a simple beauty in preparing your own food, even if it's just a sandwich. Make it the best sandwich you ever had. Pile it high with lean turkey breast or cheese, add some sliced home-grown tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pickles and whatever else you want and serve it on delicious whole-grain bread.

Take pride in what you prepare!

A box of mac and cheese might be quick and easy, but do you really experience joy in serving or eating it? If it is your only option or the one food you know your fussy kids will eat, toss in some steamed spinach, sprinkle a layer of breadcrumbs on top, and pop it in the oven for a few minutes.

Make it personal, make it beautiful, make it GOOD.

Anyone can open a can or a jar, but the delicious aroma of homemade soup or tomato sauce simmering on the stove will bring everyone to the kitchen from near and far.

Rather than despising the whole cooking process, take time to reflect on how much you love yourself and your family while you are preparing your meals. Think of how your family or friends will feel the love you poured into everything you serve them. This is your gift.

The benefit of cooking your own food is that you alone can take credit for it. You know exactly what's in your pasta dish and what's not. You patiently chopped the vegetables for the salad rather than ripping open a bag and dumping it into a big bowl.

You will appreciate your food more and be quickly satisfied not only from eating it but from the loving way you prepared and served it.

Shift your focus

Poker games, football on Sundays and other gatherings are just as much fun without the traditional nachos, chips and dips, or chicken wings.

If you are the hostess and guests are expecting snacks to be served, put out trays of raw veggies, low-fat dip, hummus and homemade pita chips, or some cheese, nuts and fruit. These are much healthier alternatives and take a little longer to eat.

When something takes longer to eat, you will always eat less.

A trip to the movies is still enjoyable without the huge bucket of artificial butter-soaked popcorn, Twizzlers, and a gallon of soda.

Just because the concession stand is there and everyone else is doing it, doesn't mean you have to. This is a trap to get you to spend more money and the movie is expensive enough.

Eat at home and focus on enjoying the movie instead.

If you absolutely cannot see a movie without munchies, plan ahead and pack apple slices, dried fruit, cubed cheese, or smoked almonds in your purse.

Every date doesn't need to be at a restaurant or over drinks and appetizers. An evening at the beach watching the sunset or walking along the boardwalk can be just as nice.

How about catching up on all the gossip with your girlfriend while poring over some bestsellers at a local bookstore instead of meeting at the coffee shop and indulging in all those fattening cakes and pies?

Morning business meetings don't have to include an array of bagels, pastries and donuts. Chances are most employees have already eaten their breakfast before the meeting.

Every friendly gathering does not need to be centered around food.

Set up a volleyball net and get some exercise or agree to meet at a park to play baseball or to appreciate nature. Build a snowman or have a snowball fight in the winter.

At times we just gather together and eat because we don't know what else to do. Be creative. The possibilities are endless.

And a child shall lead them

Have you ever observed a child at play? They are so absorbed in what they're doing that they don't want to stop. They are in the present moment and they are playing "mindfully!"

You repeatedly call them to the dinner table, beg them to stop and eat, or chase them around the house with food. But they are not the least bit interested.

Children have the right idea. They have no preconceived notions about food. They eat to live; they don't live to eat. They come to the table when they are hungry! They draw their joy and pleasure from the simplest of acts.

They might need a bottle of milk at night to help them sleep but eventually they all grow out of that as well. How many 5-year-olds do you know who still go to bed with a bottle? They simply replace that comfort with something else: a little song, a bedtime story, a kiss and hug.

Learn your lessons about food from children. Find things to do that bring you pleasure. Go out and play!

If the leftovers in the fridge are constantly calling you; get out the house and go do something! If cookies and milk before bed time is sabotaging your diet, replace that ritual with something that does not involve food... something wonderful... something that makes you feel good. Have fun and live life to the fullest!

Treat your body like a temple

Do you remember the last time you went to church or temple? It is a sacred place, a beautiful, well-kept sanctuary of peace and love.

How did you act while you were there? Were you loud and disrespectful or quiet and reflective? Did you wear your sweats and an old tee shirt or dress in your Sunday best? Did you snack on potato chips during prayer time and toss your crumbs on the floor or bow your head and close your eyes? Did you swing your legs up on the back of the seat in front of you or sit quietly with both feet planted on the floor, instructing your children to do the same?

Whether or not you are a person of faith, think of the most sacred and lovely place and begin to see your body in the same way. Be mindful of what you hear, what you watch, what you read and what you eat. Allow only good things to enter your temple and quickly reject the bad.

Come to terms with your flaws and imperfections, and improve the things you can, while accepting the things you cannot. Admire your assets and accentuate them. Your body is the beautiful shell that holds your heart and soul. Treat it with respect. Dress it in its finest.

Take a moment every day to be thankful for the body you have and love and appreciate it. It is this act of thanksgiving that causes miracles to happen and a transformation begins.

Your body becomes what you need and what you want just by the simple act of appreciating it as it is.
 
There are no "Zen-like" mindfulness meditation techniques I can offer you as a quick fix for weight-loss. The daily practice of being mindful of why, when and what you eat and a few simple changes, however, will change your thoughts, ideas, and dependence on food.

The more you practice, the better you'll become. The more mindful you are of your true beauty, how wonderously you are created, and how unique and special you are, the more you will love yourself.

You will want to give yourself good things. You will want to eat good things. The relationship with yourself and others will be your focus and your relationship with food will become a healthy one.
 

About Cynthia: I am a Certified Holistic Health and Nutritional Counselor. My company is Metamorphosis Consulting and I have been in private practice for over 10 years. I believe we can completely transform our lives by nourishing our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. It is my desire to help others achieve their health and nutritional goals, their personal goals, and to live the life they have always dreamed of. Learn more at www.truemetamorphosis.org and www.cyndaily.com.

What's the best way to lose weight? After 11 years in the field of diet, fitness and nutrition, I've heard many definitions and plans of action.

So, what is the best way to lose weight?

It's the healthy eating plan that not only creates a caloric deficit but also feeds you the variety of healthy, delicious foods that keep you engaged and feeling satisfied!

Sounds simple, right? It can be.

But there's more to this "weight loss miracle" -- you also need regular activity to keep your calorie-burning metabolism in high gear and to keep your muscles working and toning.

Toned muscles burn calories even when the workout ends. Sure, you can lose weight with diet alone. But you'll lose more weight through an active lifestyle.

Here's what others say about the best way to lose weight:

Cleveland Clinic

"To lose weight, you must eat fewer calories or burn up more calories than you need. The best way to lose weight is to do both...

"A positive attitude is very important for successful weight loss and weight management. To lose weight permanently, you must make a commitment to gradually adopt a healthier way of life."  

 

Martica Heaner, Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed., for MSN Health & Fitness

"Talk to anyone who’s lost weight on a diet and you’ll get a multitude of reasons as to which diet works best. There are many individual factors that will determine why you prefer and experience greater success with one diet or another.

"The diet that’s easiest for you to stick to will be one that you feel most comfortable following, so you should like the ingredients and feel like the menus or food plans are easy to prepare or access."

 

MayoClinic.com

"You probably know that hundreds of different fad diets, weight-loss programs and outright scams promise quick and easy weight loss.

"But the foundation of every successful weight-loss program still remains a healthy, low-calorie diet combined with exercise. You must make permanent changes in your lifestyle and health habits to lose significant weight and keep it off."

 

WebMD.com

The health and weight loss resolutions that stand the best chance of lasting are the ones that call for minor, doable changes, experts say. "The key is to take small, positive steps and move ahead consistently," says Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, a nutrition professor at Penn State University. "People need to be realistic about the changes they can achieve."

David Katz, MD, director of the Prevention Research Center for Yale University, says that one key to making resolutions that last is to do more planning and less proclaiming. "Resolutions tend to be the stuff of inspiration, but lasting behavior change is the stuff of planning, sustainable motivations, and careful consideration of the pros and cons," he says.
 

Here at Diet-to-Go, we know that eating great food that's served in the proper portions is one of the least-stressful ways to lose weight.

Our three meal plans -- Low-Fat, Low-Carb and Vegetarian -- each have five full weeks of menus. You'll never get bored!

Diet-to-Go is good food that comes direct to you at a good price. And that makes it a priceless way to save time, save money and save your figure!

Good luck with whatever diet you choose.

Just remember, it's important that you don't opt for trendy fad diets... eating plans that cut out certain foods and will almost always lead to yo-yo weight regain as soon as you go back to your normal ways of eating.

 

 

What do charcoal and baby food have in common? They are just two of the latest diet fads to catch national attention and lure thousands of overweight Americans into silly and possibly unsafe weight loss habits.

Americans spend more than $50 billion a year on diets. That is why you see so many TV ads hawking the latest, greatest weight loss plan, potion or pill.

According to WebMD.com, "The reality is that fad diets don't work to help you lose weight and keep it off. So what does work? Eating fewer calories than you burn off. That's it, plain and simple."

 

Save your money but invest your time in checking out these 25 fad diets of the past 25 years.

WARNING: Please do not try any of these weight loss fads. When it comes to healthy dieting and safe weight loss, most nutritionists will tell you that fad equals bad. The best weight loss involves a healthy, sustainable diet and regular exercise.

 

The Baby Food Diet

Oh baby, this diet really jars us. It grabbed headlines recently when sexy 'n slim actresses Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon were linked to it.

The problem: There doesn't seem to be any set guidelines and followers run the risk of binging because they never feel full or satisfied by the super-pureed mush that comes in teeny tiny jars.

A second problem: Stars linked to this Baby Food Diet have been crying foul and saying they never followed it. Hmmm, sounds like sneaky corporate types at Gerber and Beechnut may be spreading misinformation to sell more baby food!

 

The Charcoal Diet

Please don't head out to the grill and start snacking on a blackened chunk of charcoal. Proponents claim your body rids itself of toxins when you ingest the activated charcoal tablets found in most pharmacies.

The problem: There doesn't appear to be any actual research that shows charcoal will clean you out and slim you down. Sorry to douse the fire on this hot fad, but we'll keep our charcoal safely tucked inside our backyard grill and not in our stomach.

 

The Sleeping Beauty Diet

The general idea behind this warped sedative-fueled fad diet is, “Take two of these and call me in seven days.” You are supposed to drug yourself to sleep for up to seven days at a time.

You may lose some weight because you didn't eat for a week, but we've got snooze for you: This diet, which was reportedly used by Elvis during those times his trademark jumpsuits became a tad too tight, just won't work. You'll awaken hungrier than a hibernatin' bear and lumber your way to the nearest buffet for a binge to end all binges. Just say no to drugs... and yes to a healthier diet and weight loss plan.

 

The Cabbage Soup Diet

This popular plan really stinks... literally and figuratively. Your home will smell like boiled cabbage for days while you slurp yourself slim by eating bowl after bowl of this “negative calorie” soup that's heavy on cabbage and fiber. Every time you open your fridge you'll be greeted by a blast of stink.

Oh, and unless you take a mega Beano suppository ahead of time, there'll be no friends coming round without a gas mask. Can you lose weight eating cabbage soup? Yes. Can you keep it off after you start eating normal food again? No.

 

The Toilet Paper Diet

Back in the Crazy Eighties, a supermodel revealed that she and some of the other stick figures who sashay the high-fashion catwalk would ward off hunger pains and stay thin by swallowing small wads of toilet paper or facial tissue.

We'd rather you save the toilet paper and do the Cabbage Soup Diet than try to lose weight by ingesting nutrient-challenged stuff like this. Not only is a Toilet Paper Diet impossible to stick with, but it can make you sick – or worse – if you do it too long.

 

The Caveman Diet

Sounds like something dreamed up during the Stoned Age, but users are urged to mimic a caveman's diet... although I don't know where you get fresh mastodon meat these days.

According to one source, okay foods include lean meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, roots and nuts. You don't eat grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar or processed oils. Why? Because the foods a caveman eats are the kind of foods that are typically hunted and gathered. We say you're better off hunting for a new diet – one that incorporates all foods. Grunt if you agree.

 

The Tapeworm Diet

This only sounds like an unfunny Saturday Night Live skit. It is an actual diet that has been around for a century or so. The disgusting “science” involves purposely ingesting a tapeworm (proponents say beef tapeworms work best) that will then use its sets of teeth to set up shop in your intestines and suck up the food that comes its way.

The backers thought of everything. They even tell you how to take a medicine that will kill the tapeworm once you've lost the desired amount of weight. Ever see what a tapeworm looks like when your body passes it? Google it and get ready to be grossed out.

Other than “the ick factor,” here's the problem: Tapeworms, which can grow to 50 feet long and live for 20 years, aren't choosy so they will ingest the fat along with the good nutrients your body needs to rebuild and recharge.

 

The Master Cleanse

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade... and if you're overweight, all the better – you can turn the lemons into The Master Cleanse which is a “body detox” also known as The Lemonade Diet.

Here's how the website themastercleanse.org says this cleanse touted by big-name celebs like Beyonce works: “Squeeze fresh lemon juice, then add rich maple syrup and cayenne pepper into pure water. Drink a minimum of 6 to 12 glasses throughout the day whenever one is hungry. Take a laxative, morning and evening; or instead of the morning laxative, you can do the salt water flush.”

Trust us, you're going to spend a lot of time in the bathroom and all that lemon juice is going to wreak havoc on your tooth enamel. Oh, and there's the nearly 100% chance you are going to regain any weight lost very quickly.

 

The Grapefruit Diet

Designed to trigger significant weight loss in less than two weeks – while you basically eat whatever you want – this diet sounds too good to be true because it is too good to be true. Call it pulp fiction, but there's no actual science out there that shows how including a half a grapefruit with each meal will magically rev up your body's fat-burning process and slim you down fast.

You may get plenty of vitamin C much but you won't see much weight loss if you follow the one set of grapefruit diet guidelines that insist you EAT BACON with each meal too!

 

The 'Candy Diet'

Thankfully this fad has gone the way of the Dodo bird, but boy was this candy diet a high-flying weight loss plan back on the '70s. Launched in an era when AIDS was yet unknown, the like-sounding Ayds diet let users enjoy a "satisfying" piece of chocolate, chocolate mint, butterscotch, caramel or peanut butter "candy"with a cup of hot drink before each meal.

The active appetite-suppressing ingredient in Ayds is phenylpropanolamine. The chemical has since been known to cause strokes in younger women and is now only available via prescription.

 

The Air Diet

When it comes to weight loss, the Air Diet is a breath of stale air. Launched by France's so-called Institute for Psychoactive Research, this plan focuses on a lot of hot air rather than hot food. Just focus on your breathing and you'll soon master the diet, they say. The more air you breathe, the more weight you lose, they claim.

Ummm, right. No food, just air. We hate to burst any balloons but this sounds like a fast to us. It's also a cousin of the crazy breatharianism movement that had its followers believing “that it is possible, through meditation, to reach a level of consciousness where one can obtain all sustenance from the air or sunlight.”

To err is human... to air is not humanly possible!

 

The Pasta and Chocolate Diet

I can just hear the guy behind this diet saying to a money backer, “What if we take two of the all-time favorite foods and combine them, then tell people they'll lose weight by eating them every day?” Not since chocolate met peanut butter has there been such a match made in heaven, right? Sorry, but we have to tarnish the halo hovering over the Pasta and Chocolate Diet.

First off, you only get to eat one ounce of chocolate each night. It's kind of your reward for avoiding the fatty, high-cal foods that you ate to achieve your current body. Also, you only drink water, but you do get some popcorn in the evening.

The good news: You do get to twirl and slurp some pasta for lunch and dinner. If you ask us, one ounce of chocolate is just a not-so-big tease. It's a gimmick... one you'll grow tired of fast.

 

The Vinegar Diet

British poet Lord Byron gets credit for popularizing the vinegar diet way back in 1820. He told people that he drizzled vinegar over his meals and that alone led him to shed 60 pounds. Thanks in part to some of the wackier tabloids, there are still many people today who believe a few spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar each day help keep the diet doctor away... and make you happier, healthier, taller... and maybe even richer!

We like vinegar on our chips and french fries. But vinegar can't be a good match for all meals. But maybe that's the secret – you squirt up to three teaspoons of vinegar on your favorite foods and you stop eating them because you're now sour on them! Folks, if vinegar had magic weight loss powers it would cost a heck of a lot more than it does.

 

The Sponge Diet

A crazy diet fad that's gaining renewed traction involves swallowing capsules that act like sponges and expand in your stomach after soaking up some of your acid. The idea here is that these expanding sponges give your brain a false sense of fullness so you won't want to eat more.

Heck, you may not ever want to eat again after the gel-like blob balloons to the size of a tennis ball! Sounds like a do-it-yourself gastric bypass procedure! The obvious danger here is that you won't get enough nutrients without supplementation – and that you will lose too much weight while your belly is all balled up!

 

The Oprah Liquid Diet

The high-protein diet that helped Oprah shrink to a stick figure size for probably the first – and most likely the last – time in her life made headlines back in 1986. But have you seen Oprah lately? If a woman with great wealth and personal cooks and fitness professionals cannot maintain the weight loss of a liquid diet, then who can? Not me.

While a liquid diet will help you slim down quickly, it is practically impossible to stick with. Within a few days of unveiling her newly slim size-10 body, Oprah gained back enough weight to push her into a larger size pair of jeans. Many of the companies that had pushed liquid diets have now begun adding a few solid choices to the daily menu.

 

Bananas and Skim Milk Diet

Just like vampires, classic diets just never die – they only continue to suck year after year. Case in point: The Bananas and Skim Milk Diet. This golden oldie got its start in 1934 when the United Fruit Company promoted and endorsed the diet findings of a certain Dr. George Harrop. The good doctor looked at fat-free skim milk and potassium-rich bananas and declared it a weight loss plan with plenty of appeal.

What it turned out to be was a shrewd marketing plan by a fruit company looking to sell more bananas! While eating lots of bananas and drinking lots of skim milk won't harm you, it will make you yearn for other foods.

 

Blood Type Diet

If we hadn't mentioned vampires in the previous diet description, we would have used that bit for this diet which cropped up a decade or so ago. The premise: Every blood type has its own must-eat and never-eat foods for better health. Yes, by following this plan we are all typecast by our blood. It actually sounds plausible but the science behind it all is kind of sketchy. After all, how can chicken or turkey be bad for one person but great for another?

If you believe in a master plan for the human race, you have to find it hard to believe nuances in our diets can make such a big difference simply because we are Type A and not Type O. The brains at the Mayo Clinic chimed in with this dismissal: “eating or avoiding certain foods according to your blood type isn’t thought to have any favorable influence on weight or health.”

 

The Rice Diet

The official website for the Rice Diet claims, “Despite our name, the diet is not centered on rice.” But they do note that “we serve a number of rices...” You start with an initial period where variety is limited – dieters get a bland menu of rice and fruit. And any time you limit the types of foods you eat, you set yourself up for yearnings. Think low-carb and your sudden desire to gorge on bread or pasta.

The fact that you end up eating a healthy well-rounded diet tells us this is just another in a long line of dieting gimmicks. Rice itself is practically nutrient-free. So it's like you are eating fillers to curb your appetite, but not really taking in stuff that will help your body operate efficiently. DietsinReview.com agrees: “It's quite restrictive in that it provides little protein, healthy fat and fruit. The Rice Diet also has a low calorie consumption.”

 

The 3-Day Hot Dog Diet

Can we be frank? We can be wieners if you prefer. However, this is yet another in a long series of catchy titled diets that mislead you into thinking one certain food (or a pairing of foods) will lead to eating enjoyment and weight loss. This diet may sound like bun in a million but the truth is you don't really get to scarf down trays of hot dogs on your way to a slim build like that scrawny Japanese eating machine who wins the Coney Island hot dog contest year after year.

DietsinReview.com says, “The Hot Dog Diet is a strict eating plan that allows you to eat just a few hot dogs over the course of the three days in addition to ice cream, peanut butter and eggs... foods believed to increase metabolism so that you burn calories more quickly and consequently lose weight.”

Really now... if you think eating hot dogs and ice cream is going to lead to anything but larger pants then you best bone up on proper nutrition.

 

The Twitter Diet

While The Twitter Diet sounds like the write stuff for serious dieters, it leaves us thinking its more like a "click" of people who feel a need to lay out every last detail of their personal life for the world to see... and critique. While the Twitter Diet does not mean you eat twitters, it does mean you spend your days tweeting about every last morsel that you put in your mouth.

Since slip happens a lot to us dieters, it sounds like a great way to make yourself look foolish to a potential audience of millions. “For breakfast, I had a whole grain bagel with lite cream cheese... For lunch, I had an extra large pizza with sausage, extra cheese, ground beef and pepperoni...” Food journaling does work but public humiliation leave us cold and angry enough to abandon our weight loss intentions.

 

Macrobiotic Diet (a.k.a. Zen Diet)

The concept is simple: Only eat food in its natural state. Sorry steak lovers but there's NO RED MEAT. With a typical macrobiotic diet, you do eat whole grains (especially brown rice), vegetables (and seaweed), beans, fish, nuts, seeds, fruits and miso soup. If you like your brain you may want to think twice about diving into this plan.

Because it offers so little meat, there's not enough protein for little things like brain chemistry, muscle repair and bone building. Also, because you are cutting out almost all your fat, you are not getting the good fats that help your body stabilize blood sugar and decrease inflammation. Despite these issues, vitamin and mineral supplementation is often frowned upon.

"Consult a registered dietitian to help you balance the yin-yang and nutritional completeness of your plan,” urges American Dietetic Association Dawn Jackson Blatner. “Otherwise you could end up with nutritional deficiencies."

 

The Chicken Soup Diet

Chicken soup... it's not just for fighting colds anymore. Proponents of the Chicken Soup Diet say you'll lose weight eating one of five suggested daily breakfasts and all the chicken soup you want! There isn't much of a “catch” here although you cannot stray outside their short list of acceptable breakfasts and you need to eat chicken soup made from their recipe not grandma's.

Will you lose weight? Most likely. The reason chicken soup is as good for weight loss as it is for your soul: You're eating fewer calories. Broth-based soups will fill you up without fattening you up. Consider this the cabbage soup diet without the smell! Just don't consider this a miracle cure for your fat. When you go back to solid foods, you'll be bowled over by how fast your lost weight returns.

 

The Drinking Man's Diet

Want to lose weight while you enjoy steaks and other manly foods – and wash it all down with booze? Then raise your glass and toast The Drinking Man's Diet! This weight loss plan first made waves in 1964, but it enjoyed a recent resurgence when its creator, Robert Cameron, reissued his original diet plan a few years ago.

Cameron, now in his 90s, claims men can eat steak, wash it down with a martini and lose weight. Even though the Harvard School of Public Health declared the DMT a health disaster, some folks aren't so quick to judge (probably those folks who love red meat and liquor).

In all seriousness, the DMD is merely a predecessor to the Atkins Diet – it works by restricting your carb intake. And, as we've said several times before, any plan that restricts certain foods is almost always doomed to fail. Cheers!

 

The Hollywood Diet

"The Hollywood miracle diet has been proven to both cleanse and detoxify the body while assisting in weight loss efforts."

And so begins the hype on the official website for this juice detox plan. Folks, any time you see the word MIRACLE used on conjunction with a diet, run... run far and run fast! Drinking juice to cleanse your system is an old trick for those trying to drop weight fast. However, any weight you lose fast often seems to reappear even faster!

Like any movie worth its weight, The Hollywood Diet has an original (the 48-hour plan) and a sequel (the 24-hour version). The script reads, “On the Hollywood Diet, users can lose up to 5 pounds in 24 hours, and 10 pounds in 48 hours.” Don't buy the hype. And don't buy this diet... unless short-term weight loss is all you're after.

 

The Magnetic Diet

I'm attracted to food, but the Magnetic Diet repels me. Okay so this diet plan has nothing to do with two pieces of metal that magically clang together, although I guess you could use a pair of magnets to pinch shut your lips. But I digress...

The Magnetic Diet is based on the belief that all foods either attract health or disease to the body. The foods to avoid are the usual suspects: Those that contain refined sugar, cholesterol or white flour. Instead, you should be attracted to fruits, whole grains, vegetables, lean meat, and antioxidant-rich goodies. To do it right you are also expected to make time for meditation so you can basically rewire your brain and make it – and you – more open to healthier habits.

As fads go, this isn't that outrageous – it's just one more example of selling the sizzle rather than the steak.