Pound-Melting Miracle or Just Another Fad Diet?

While some people swear by their fat-zapping powers, I've never been bit by the fad-diet bug. To me, there's nothing less appetizing than cabbage soup or more boring than Subway subs. I don't like red meat, so Adkins was never an option. Math's not my strong suit, so I never got my head around The Zone's percentages. I tried South Beach awhile back with my mom, and while I did drop some lb's during Phase 1, the food options just weren't practical for my busy (then) high-school life. So when a new fad diet--the Alternate-day diet--started making headlines, I thought I'd at least take a look (while preparing for disappointment).

Created by New Orleans plastic surgeon James B. Johnson, the diet's mantra is "no restriction necessary" and the concept is simple--every other day, eat as you please. Yes, absolutely however you want. Craving pizza? Go for it. Sweeting on ice cream? Add an extra scoop. The catch? (Because obviously there has to be one.) Those other days you've got to cut your cals--big time.

Johnson got the idea from animal studies that have shown weight and health benefits from fasting every other day. As an overweight and mindless eater himself, Johnson tested the animal-based theories and saw dramatic results (35 pounds in 3 months!). Instead of fasting like the test mice and primates did, Johnson stuck to a calorie-restricted diet (approximately 20 to 30 percent of his daily caloric intake) of low-cal foods like yogurt, fruit and salads. The best result for him? The one-day-at-a-time mentality was doable and he never felt deprived.

I'm all for anything that lets me enjoy the "forbidden foods" that have been exiled by other diets, but something about this on-off approach has me thinking twice. On the one hand, I'd be a perfect candidate. I can't seem to say goodbye for good to taboo foods, I have great short-term discipline, and I'm an eater who laments every time I "mess up" on my diet (causing a downward, devastating blow to my progress). On the other hand, I see red flags all over this diet plan. My be-healthy intuition leans toward making balanced and nutritious choices everyday, while giving yourself room to enjoy the things you crave in moderation. This diet certainly doesn't teach a healthy mentality; instead it teaches that you can eat absolutely anything--just as long as you don't eat the next day. When I dug around Johnson's website, I found a calorie calculator to breakdown the "up" and "down" days based on my info. While I tend to nibble into the 1,200-1,600 daily calorie range, I could eat my way up to 1,900 calories if I wanted to on the "up" days. But on the "down" days, I'd be looking at a 350-calorie allowance. I really don't see how that could get me through 24 hours.

My verdict's still out on this one while I read into what other people have to say. What do you think? Is this a legit, get-slim-quick plan or just another fad diet gone wrong?

Portion Sizes attack!

They're merciless, they're uncontrollable and they're here to menace your figure! It doesn't take a registered nutritionist or public health lobbyist to explain our country's weight problem--our food does all the talking. Take this "Portion Distortion" quiz courtesy of the FDA and you'll see the direct and every-expanding line that links our waists to our plates.

All it takes is...nothing!

Whenever I hear of easy dieting tips to make a different without drastically changing my routine, I'm all for it. After reading these "Nine surprising slim-down tricks" by Good Housekeeping's Jim Karas, I thought they were good enough to share.

#2 and #5 were completely new to me (and I'm not sure if taking a walk outside will curb my sweet tooth), but I was already a big fan of #7.

What's your favorite do-nothing dieting trick?

Fat's the new black

I'm going to go out on a limb here and acknowledge the HUGE white elephant in this country: America has a weight issue. While the thin-is-in mentality has faced harsh criticism for its role in the fashion industry and Hollywood, the rest of the nation is dealing with a different, but equally dangerous mindset--that fat's the new black.

As long as I can remember, flipping through magazines meant looking at young girls with bodies that seemed too good to be true (only to find out that they are--mostly every image placed in women's magazines are retouched and fixed to look "better"). Sure, I probably wished my legs were that skinny, or that long, or my hair was that silky, or my lips that perfectly pouty. Maybe I got a complex from all the images, but it was the same complex I got from my gorgeous best friends and my perfectly beautiful classmates.

Flash forward to today. In an attempt to combat the emaciated starlets and models, the country has launched a plus-size counterattack. What began as a fantastic idea in the beginning, has had some unforeseen side effects. With roughly two-thirds of the population overweight or obese (and no, that's not in skinny model terms, that's in professional doctor terms), there are new concerns that our cultural connotations of healthy have shifted into dangerous waters. Take some time to read MSNBC's "Is fat the new normal?" by Karen Collins, which looks at a study from the July issue of Economic Inquiry. It seems as though as our country packs on the pounds, the cultural ideas of "healthy weight" tip the scales as well.

Now don't get the wrong idea here. I don't think it's okay that we let size 00 models stomp (or should I say, dizzily stumble) down runways. I'm still trying to understand how we have sizes like 00. It's uncomfortable to watch Project Runway and hear designers say that their model is harder to work with because she is a healthy size 4. But I also think that telling young women to completely disregard their health as long as they are proud of their bigger bodies isn't the solution either. Despite what some would like to believe, there is a line that no one should cross (on both extremes). There is such a thing as being too fat, just as there is a limit to how thin is too thin. It reaches a point where the curves become dangerous, and the health risks become serious.

I'm all for supporting women of all shapes and sizes, and being proud of who we are despite what the media has to say about it, but I think it's more important to be honest with yourself. Are you within a healthy weight range, or do you need to make some changes?

Pay Less and Weigh Less!

Pick up almost any magazine on the stands, and you can read about celebrities and their magical weight-loss solutions, from fantastic personal chefs and trainers to private gym memberships and procedures. While their tips and tricks may be unique, their hefty price tags aren't. I don't know about you, but it always leaves me feeling less than inspired--how are WE supposed to look like THEM when they have the luxury of spending thousands and millions of dollars to look that way? But now there's good news for the weight-loss-craving girl on a budget--a new New Zealand study shows that you may not weigh less just because you pay more.

The study group targeted middle-age women who had lost 5 percent of their body weight, dividing them into two groups: a $3000 per person elite program equipped with personal consultations with nutritionists and trainers, and use of a personal gym, and a $750 per person basic plan involving daily weigh-ins with a registered nurse, and bi-weekly phone calls.

What did the study find? Just because you opt for a VIP weight-loss plan, doesn't mean you'll shed more pounds than a fee-free variety. In fact, the two diets proved equally effective! Women on the pricey plan lost 2.5kg on average, and those on the basic plan lost 3.6kg. The difference was not considered statistically significant, but what it revealed about weight loss was.

Personal trainers, gyms, chefs, and nutritionists are great outlets for those that can afford them, but they can't guarantee weight loss. In the end, it seemed the key component to successful weight loss was support. Many people said what they really needed was someone to simply "keep an eye on them" to help them stay focused and on track. Get support from a friend or family member who has a similar goal in mind, or check out an online support community like Self's Forums where you can swap fitness tricks and find weight-loss buddies. Plan scheduled weigh-ins, workouts, and meal plans together, and do it all without breaking the bank!