1. The Scoop on the Best Selling Diets The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

2. VOLUMETRICS Balanced plan -- fills you up on high water and high air volume foods (fruits, veggies, grains, poultry, soups) Shaves off 500 calories daily if plan is followed 1-2 pounds off per week -- 70% keep it off Easy to use and healthy, but does require kitchen time

3. DIETING FOR DUMMIES Balanced plan 1200, 1500 or 1800 calorie plans to choose from 1 -2 pounds per week lost -- 70% keep it off Easy to use and healthy No specific meal plan -- uses lowfat foods Offers tips on cravings, fitting in exercise and use of 7 condiments that add flavor, not fat

4. WEIGHT WATCHERS Group support program 1200 to 1500 calories daily 1-2 pounds per week -- 70% keep it off Easy to use and healthy -- Duchess of York promotes Can become expensive -- membership fees, sign-up fees, boxed foods Program uses point system -- foods are worth so many points/ exercise earn points to “spend” Detail oriented, but provides social interaction

5. JENNY CRAIG Counselor support program -- required eating plan 1,000 to 2,300 calories daily 1 to 2 pounds a week -- 70% keep it off Healthy but more difficult program to use Must purchase “Jenny’s” foods and supplement with your own F,V and Dairy Start with boxed foods, then switch to exchange plans Teaches portion sizes

6. CHOOSE TO LOSE Focuses on cutting fat -- basically use of fat budgeting theory 1,000 to 2,200 calories daily Use of a variety of low-fat foods 1-2 pounds per week lost Healthy but difficult to monitor all those numbers

7. ORIGIN DIET Claims that women should eat like their pre- historic ancestors 1/3 protein and 2/3 plants and grains Basically healthy diet with a little cave painting as garnish Encourages exercise

8. DR. SHAPIRO’S PICTURE PERFECT WEIGHT LOSS Visual guide to how many calories different foods contain No set amount of calories daily Variable weight loss due to above -- less than 50% keep it off Fairly healthy and easy Structured, but visual -- use book of comparison pictures -- not planning Really helps with portion control

9. EAT MORE, WEIGH LESS (Ornish Diet) Extremely low fat vegetariandiet 1250 calories 1-2 pounds lost weekly -- less than 50% keep it off Borders on not healthy and not easy to use Uses fiber rich carbs, F, V, and nonfat dairy -- low in calcium Very hard to stay with this plan long

10. THE ZONE Must follow correct ratio of carbs to protein to fat (40:30:30) Supposedly keeps insulin levels “in zone” Low fat protein, F,V, only olive or canola oil Low in grains and calcium 1,000 calories daily -- only 30% keep it off

11. THE PRITIKIN PRINCIPLE Cutting calories density 1,500 to 2,200 calories daily 30% keep it off F, V, pasta, oatmeal, soups, salads, low-fat dairy -- limited lowfat poultry and meat and dry foods Low in calcium

12. EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR TYPE Eat certain foods based on your blood type 1,150 to 1250 calories daily 2-3 pounds per week -- less than 10% keep it off Not too healthy, difficult to use Difficult to live with others and stay on this plan

13. THE BURN RATE DIET First cyberdiet -- must log onto book’s no- fee website to figure out what they should eat to maximize their “burn rate” (BMR) Ignores overeating and lack of exercise Very difficult rules to live by

14. Sugar Busters! Low carb, high protein diet that bans sugar and starch, including most veggies 1300 calories daily, with 1 pound loss weekly No one has kept weight off Not healthy but not to difficult to use Trading sugar for fat is not smart

15. SUZANNE SOMERS’ GET SKINNY ON FABULOUS FOOD High protein plan that eliminates starches and has elaborate food rules 1,700 calories daily 203 pounds per week less than 20% keep it off, not healthy and can be difficult Weird rules (eat fruit separately to avoid spoiling in gut)

16. PROTEIN POWER Low carb, high protein 1,100 calories daily up to 10 pounds a week -- mostly water Few keep it off, not healthy, difficult Fancy formulas to calculate protein needs Only allows 30 to 50 grams of carbs (2 apples)

17. THE CARBOHYRDRATE ADDICT’S DIET Very low carb, high protein plan 1400 to 2000 calories 1 to 2 pounds lost weekly Few keep it off, very unhealthy, but easy to use Leads to bingeing

18. ENTER THE ZONE Low carb, high protein plan consisting of specific amount of protein, fat and carbs to prevent the “zone” 800 to 1200 calories daily up to 10 pounds lost per week Few keep it off, very unhealthy and moderately difficult No such zone exists

19. DR. ATKIN’S NEW DIET REVOLUTION Low carb, high protein, high fat diet 1400 to 2000 calories daily Up to 10 pounds lost weekly, mostly water Few keep it off, very unhealthy and very difficult to use Puts you in danger of ketosis -- bad breath and constipation Low in calcium and fiber