Weightwatchers

Created in the 1960s, Weightwatchers has become one of the most popular diet plans in the world. It is often the top-rated diet in research or magazine pieces, and is constantly evolving to meet the challenges of the modern lifestyle.

Currently endorsed by former British Royal Sarah Ferguson, it combines the simple premise of calorie counting with a comprehensive support system.

The best thing about Weightwatchers is the way that it can fit into your lifestyle long term. Unlike some crash diets, Weightwatchers allows you to eat out in restaurants and even have some of your favorite foods!

Weightwatchers: Basics

Foundation

Weightwatchers attempts to match calories consumed with those calories expended through exercise or your base metabolism. Dieters can expect to lose a steady 1/2 to 2 pounds a week if they stick to the plan! Dieters go to weekly meetings, which include a private weigh-in and advice from your personal Meetings Leader.

By offering much more support to the dieter, and by giving him/her the tools to limit calorific intake, the Weightwatchers diet aims to help us lose weight steadily and consistently. There is a very wide range of books and support materials to help dieters.

Diet

Weightwatchers has two plans:

Flex Points Plan: This diet is based on portion control, and depends on the inevitable calorie counting. You have to keep track of everything you eat throughout the day (no cheating!), and make sure that your daily total comes in under your target.

Core Foods Plan: This plan does away with some of the calorie counting and instead focuses on restricting your diet to certain healthy foods.

Weightwatchers does not specifically use calories, rather their own Points system which is pretty similar. You have a daily or weekly Points target (depending on which plan you choose), against which you can actually earn credits by doing exercise.

Weightwatchers: Pros

• Weightwatchers is a nutritionally balanced diet that will keep you healthy. Unlike some other diets, it does not exclude any food groups and you should not feel any cravings.
• The flexible nature of the Points system means that you can still eat out!
• There is excellent support available for dieters, including tools on the website, literature and regular meetings.
• Dieters routinely report weight losses of 1/2 to 2 pounds per week. These losses are usually sustainable and involve few sacrifices in lifestyle.
• Weightwatchers is an excellent teaching resource. Even if you leave the plan, its lessons in healthy eating will stay with you.

Weightwatchers: Cons

• This diet can be expensive, when you add up all the support materials and the weekly discussion groups! The meetings will cost about $12 per week, and the online program another $5.
• Weight loss is not especially rapid, compared to some other diets, however it is arguably more sustainable.
• Calorie counting is far from a perfect system and does not account for nutritional content. However, other aspects of the Weightwatchers plan do try to educate dieters in healthy eating.
• Weekly meetings are not everyone's cup of tea, and much depends on the group and the personality of the group leader.

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The Zone Diet

The Zone is one of those diets that has scientists scratching their heads - many say that it is working because people are simply eating less junk food. But for whatever reason, it has been of enormous help to so many people now that its effectiveness can't be doubted.

Created by Dr. Barry Sears, the diet is based around the consumption of correct ratios of food groups.

The theory goes that by regulating your insulin levels, you keep your body's metabolism performing at its optimum level and the weight falls off!

Zone: Basics

Foundation

Our genetic profile was created well before the first McDonald's opened. Obvious I know, but the point is that our bodies are not fundamentally set up to process junk food well. Although we live in this modern world, our bodies are stuck in the past, expecting us to feed them foods like lean protein and natural carbohydrates, exactly the foods that our ancestors would have eaten

In the Zone Diet, we stick to the correct ratios of carbs, fats and protein, helping the body to regulate insulin. And keeping insulin at the right levels speeds up your body's metabolism, so you lose weight. All you are really doing is feeding the body what it expects to be fed. The ratio of food groups is:

40% Carbs - 30% Fat - 30% Protein

This is designed to be close to the diet our predecessors might have eaten. Of course, in their time getting a good meal might have involved a day hunting dangerous wildlife across the plain. Thankfully in this modern age we can just have it delivered!

Diet

Building a Zone meal is a little tricky at first - the best thing to do is to buy a Zone cookbook. The ingredients have to be measured quite precisely. Food groups are broken into 'blocks' and then further into 'mini-blocks'. For a typical meal you might use one block of Carbohydrates, but this is broken down further into three mini-blocks comprising 1 cup of green beans, 2 cups of yellow squash and (here's the best part) 1 glass of red wine.

Actually, although The Zone does allow for two snacks a day and the occasional glass of wine, calorific intake tends to be much lower when on the diet. In that respect it is more restrictive than the South Beach Diet.

Zone: Pros

• Dieters get all the nutrients they need, as fruits and vegetables are OK to eat. Smaller portion sizes also help to build a healthier lifestyle and maintain weight loss.
• Cravings for carbs tend to disappear after a few days as the body adjusts to a new high protein diet.
• The focus on lean proteins and "good cholesterol" is healthy for your heart.
• Weight loss on The Zone can be very rapid! It is essentially a low-carb, low-calorie diet and is not suitable for long term dieting, but can give great results in a short period of time.

Zone: Cons

• Coming off the diet can result in putting the weight back on very fast as dieters return to their previous eating habits. Successful long term dieters keep carb intake below their "pre-Zone" levels.
• The diet can work out to be quite expensive. Building Zone meals requires buying cookbooks and other materials.
• The Zone can be time-consuming, as food preparation is sometimes a complicated process! It is therefore not practical for some people.
• Eating out in restaurants can be tough, as the Zone may limit your options on the menu.

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The South Beach Diet

Rather than cutting out carbs or fats completely as other diets do, the South Beach Diet instead emphasizes the differences between 'good carbs' and 'bad carbs', 'good fats' and 'bad fats'.

Developed in Miami by a licensed cardiologist, specifically for his patients, the diet aims to both help you lose weight and reduce the risks of heart disease.

Similarly to Atkins, the South Beach Diet does not greatly restrict portion size, so many bigger eaters find it an easier diet to stick to. Personally, I think the South beach Diet is a very sensible lifestyle choice.

South Beach: Basics

Foundation

The South Beach diet tells us that the excess consumption of 'bad carbs' impair the body's ability to process fat. Carbs with a high Glycemic Index create an 'insulin resistance' syndrome, whereby insulin can no longer process fat or sugar. In addition, 'bad fats' such as saturated and trans fat contribute to an increase in the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.

The theory goes that cutting out those fats and carbs will help your body both lose weight and become less prone to heart disease. So you become healthier and thinner!

Diet

Eat only carbs that are high in fiber, and that are digested slowly with a low glycemic index. For example, brown rice is allowed but white rice is definitely not.

As for fats, eat polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats, not saturated or trans fats. Unlike some carbs which are gradually reintroduced during the stages of the diet, the so-called 'bad fats' are never allowed.

The South Beach Diet has 3 phases:

Phase 1. The strictest phase - dieters cut out sugar, candy, bread, potatoes, fruit, cereals and grains.
Phase 2. Whole grain foods and fruits are gradually returned to the diet as the dieter approaches his/her desired weight.
Phase 3. Whole grain foods and fruits are now fully returned to the diet as the dieter adopts his/her long-term eating plan.

Phase 1

Here is a brief guide to both the foods you can enjoy, and those that you should avoid in Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. This Phase should last 3-4 weeks.

Foods to Eat	Foods to Avoid
Lean Cuts of Beef or Pork (Tenderloin, Sirloin)	Fatty Cuts of Beef or Lamb, Pork Sausages and Liver
Chicken (no skin)	All Rice, Bread & Pasta
Turkey (no skin)	Duck, Goose, Chicken Wings
Low Carb Vegetables (Broccoli, Pepper, Mushroom, Spinach)	Starchy Vegetables (Potatoes, Corn, Yam, Beets, Peas)
Low Fat Cheeses (e.g. Cottage, Cheddar, Feta)	High Fat Dairy (Brie, Edam, Camembert)
Low Fat Yogurt	Ice Cream
Eggs	Alcohol
Skimmed Milk	High Calorie Sodas
Fish & Shellfish	Fruits & Fruit Juices
Handful of Nuts (e.g. peanuts, pistachio)	Simple Carbs (Cakes, Cereal, Cookies, Candy, Chocolate)

Phase 2

Phase 2 allows you gradually to reintroduce some whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables to your diet. You can still use the table from Phase 1 as a basic guide, but here are a few things that you can start to eat again!

Foods to Reintroduce	Foods to Eat Sparingly
Whole Fresh Fruits (Apples, Bananas, Berries, Grapes, Oranges, Pears, Plums)	Dried Fruits (ex. apricots), Canned Fruit, Fruit Juice, Watermelon, Raisins, Pineapple
Selected Starchy Vegetables (Carrots, Green Peas, Sweet Potatoes)	Other Starchy Vegetables (Beets, Parsnips, White Potatoes, Sweetcorn)
Wholegrain Breads/Bagels (Multigrain, Oat/Bran, Rye Crispbread, Wholemeal Pitta)	Brown or White Bread, White Bagels and Rolls
Whole grains (Barley, Brown/Wild Rice)	White Rice, Rice Cakes
Wholewheat Pasta	White Pasta
High Fiber, Low Sugar Cereals (All-Bran, Porridge)	Cornflakes, Cheerios, Rice Crispies

Phase 3

When you have achieved your weight loss goal, Phase 3 begins. By the time you reach this Phase, you have already learned how to control your weight through balancing your consumption of certain important food groups.

Phase 3 has no restrictions on food, but rather it is where you take this knowledge and use it to shape your lifestyle and maintain your weight loss in the long term.

South Beach: Pros

• The focus on 'good carbs' and 'bad carbs' reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, and can help dieters with type 2 diabetes.
• There is no need to count calories or measure foods on this diet! Once you get your head around the list of foods to eat and avoid, its quite simple to follow.
• You do not need to totally cut out carbs, so its easier to feel full with South Beach than it is on the Atkins diet.
• A South Beach diet can work out quite cheap - just read this page, buy the book and you can cook for yourself.

South Beach: Cons

• South Beach doesn't have the structure and support groups of diets like Weightwatchers. For some people this is a positive, for others it makes it harder to stick to.
• Phase 1 is a tough introduction as lots of foods groups are eliminated from your diet. However this Phase only needs to last a few weeks.
• Like the Atkins diet, leaving this diet can sometimes result in rapid weight gain. Its important to stick to the principles of Phases 1 & 2 to maintain your weight loss.

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The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is more than just a diet - its really a lifestyle change that replaces empty processed food with delicious, natural gourmet food. For fashion models this diet makes perfect sense, as it is packed full of antioxidants to stay young, beautiful, and energetic.

The Greeks, Italians, Cypriots and Turks enjoy longer, more disease-free lives than those following the Western European diet lifestyle. Many doctors also recommend the Mediterranean Diet to patients that have heart problems .

Mediterranean Diet: Basics

Foundation

This diet is known as the heart-healthy and longevity diet according to many researchers. It is low in cholesterol and high in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fat.

It contains a higher proportion of grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts than most other diets. Fish, poultry, olive oil, yogurt and cheese can be consumed in moderation, along with minimal amounts of red meat and heart healthy red wine. If you love fish, fresh gourmet food and a daily drink, this diet is for you!

Foods on the Diet

The great thing about the Mediterranean diet is the way you can eat a delicious variety of food. Here are a few tips for meals you should be eating.

• Steamed fish or grilled poultry a few times each week.
• Lean cuts of red meat perhaps once a week.
• Whole grains, cereals (pasta, bread, rice, bulgar, couscous) and potatoes.
• A variety of fresh fruit, legumes, nuts, vegetables and herbs, with an emphasis on local produce.
• Eggs a few times a week, boiled, scrambled or pan-fried.
• Always use olive oil instead of butter or other oils!
• Small amounts of yogurt and cheese (feta, goat and sheep cheese) are OK.
• Red wine - 1 glass a day for women and 2 glasses for men. Red wine has antioxidant properties that help prevent blood clots and plaque formation in arteries.
• Feel like dessert? Stick to fresh fruit. Sweets containing refined sugar are rarely consumed.
• Fresh fruit juice and coffee without sugar.

Foods Not on the Diet

On the Mediterranean diet you should steer clear of anything fried or very processed. That includes many foods that are advertised as low-fat or low-calorie, such as diet sodas and desserts. Here's a more complete list:

• Junk/fast food fried in trans fat.
• Hot dogs, hamburgers.
• Any deep fried food.
• Doughnuts, cookies, muffins, cakes.
• Processed food.
• Sugary drinks.
• Pork bacon and other high-fat, processed meats.

Mediterranean Diet: Pros

• This diet is on top of the tasty list - there is no need to feel as deprived as you might from a bland and repetitive diet.
• This diet is more humane as the consumption of animal meat is limited.
• The Mediterranean diet helps to prevent coronary disease.
• With so many options on the Mediterranean diet, finding something on the menu when you eat out shouldn't be too difficult.

Mediterranean Diet: Cons

You'll need a little extra meal planning, since ingredients need to be fresh, not frozen or canned. Frequent trips to the farmers' market are necessary. It's always a good excuse to exercise though

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The Raw Food Diet

At 34 supermodel Carol Alt was feeling unhealthy, fatigued, and was having difficulty maintaining her swimsuit-ready figure. She decided it was time to make some dietary changes, so she consulted a holistic doctor and took her diet in a whole new direction.

Now 45, Carol Alt maintains that the raw food diet has really turned back the clock and took her on a path to renewed health and vitality.

Another celebrity adherent, Donna Karan, used the diet to pick herself up after the loss of her husband. She regained her emotional strength with the help of the raw food diet, and lost 20 lbs in the process.

Raw Food Diet: Basics

Foundation

It makes sense that all the 'Frankenstein food' we eat could be unhealthy, just as eating food in its natural state makes complete sense.

Fresh, uncooked food contains more nutrients than when cooked or processed. Once heated up or chemically altered, food is depleted of its nutritional enzymes and nutritional value.

Diet

• Vegetables
  Raw and frozen vegetables
  Sprouts
  Sprouted legumes
• Fruit
  Raw and frozen fruits
  Dried fruits and seaweeds
  Fresh juices
  Cold pressed oils
• Herbs
• Meat
  Steak Tartar or Steak Carpaccio
• Fish
  Ceviche
  Sashimi
  Fish tartar
• Dairy
  Raw eggs
  Unpasteurized milk
  Yogurt/cheese
• Nuts & Grains

Raw Food Diet Tips

• Invest in a decent quality juicer and consume juices within 30 minutes to gain the full benefits.
• You need a blender to make fruit and veggie smoothies, veggie dips, salad dressings, soups, raw ice cream, nut milks, etc.
• Why not preserve some of those backyard fruits with a dehydrator?

If you can afford organic produce it is much more beneficial, especially if it is local. Organic food contains fewer toxins and it is up to 40% more nutritionally superior than inorganic produce.

Soaking seeds, nuts, legumes, and grains deactivates enzyme inhibitors and creates digestible enzymes. Cover with water at room temperature for 8-12 hours.

Sprouting seeds, beans, legumes, and grains increases their nutrients and digestible enzymes.

Raw Food Diet: Pros

• Dieters report losing weight and when deciding to adapt this diet moving forward as a lifestyle desired weight is easily maintained.
• With the increase of antioxidants, premature aging is slowed down and a more youthful complexion is evident.
• Increased energy since all nutrient empty food is now replaced by nutrient dense.
• Recent research has shown eating a diet high in raw foods can help prevent illness and cancer.
• Improved digestion and other digestive disorders.

Raw Food Diet: Cons

• You will need to replenish your groceries every 3-4 days since this is all perishable food.
• Try to be creative - eat a variety to keep this diet interesting.

Liver Detox Drink Recipe

This a delicious, easy drink to make. Add all ingredients into the blender and voila! For a little variety, try it with some cilantro, parsley, mint or any other raw food of your choice.

A handful of spinach
1 apple
1 banana
1 lemon (squeezed)
Half a chili pepper (optional)
1 garlic clove or as much as desired (optional)
1 glass of water

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The Low Fat Diet

Dietary fat plays an important role in maintaining optimal health. It is needed to maintain healthy skin and hair, provide insulation and regulate body temperature, hormones and cell membrane development.

However, excess fat consumption can be harmful to your health and is an important contributing factor to increasing rates of heart disease throughout the developed world.

This diet will both improve your health and help you to lose weight. Fat doesn't just contain double the calories of both carbohydrate and protein, it can also pose a serious risk to your cardiovascular system.

Low Fat: Basics

Foundation

The typical modern diet is far from being low fat. As a consequence more than 50% of Americans, for example, are overweight.

No low fat diet suggests cutting out fats completely though - its more a matter of limiting your consumption to small amounts of 'good fats'. The fats that should be avoided are trans fats, which raise cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease. Saturated fats have a similar effect, but we do actually need small amounts of these.

So how do you know what foods to avoid? The answer is that you need to start reading labels very carefully, and look for suitable low fat foods.

You can still eat a fairly varied diet, in fact many low fat dieters find they only need to make a few minor adjustments to substantially reduce their fat intake.

Remember - weight loss isn't the only benefit. Limit your fat consumption to 25 % of your daily calorific intake and you should enjoy long term cardiovascular health.

Foods to avoid

The most important fat to avoid is trans fat. These used to only occur naturally in meat, before the processed food industry started to chemically alter vegetable oils to increase shelf life and make the food appear more appetizing. Sources include pastries, pies, muffins, cookies, crackers, cereals, potato chips and french fries. You should skip any deep fried foods and be sure to check the label of any processed food.

Second on the list are saturated fats, which you should limit to around 10% of your daily calorific intake. Moderate your consumption of full-fat dairy products like butter, cream, eggs and cheese. Think twice before you reach for the coconut or palm oil - a small amount of canola oil is a much better option.

Be careful when eating in restaurants while on the low fat diet, as foods can often contain hidden sources of fat. Even a humble Caesar salad can contain more fat than a burger! Try a low fat (or fat free) dressing such as balsamic vinaigrette on your salad instead. Another tip is to order your food steamed, baked, grilled, or poached instead of fried.

A common mistake that dieters make when watching their fat intake is to compensate by consuming more calories from sugar. Its important to pay attention to your sugar intake, as a low fat diet means nothing if you eat double the calories! If you get a craving for sweet food, reach for fruits or sorbet.

Foods to eat

The fats that you should have in your diet are monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3. Get your healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocadoes and olives. Oils like flax and canola are also good options, while fish like salmon, mackerel and herring are excellent sources of omega-3.

There are plenty of fatty foods that have low fat versions. Try dairy products such as fat free milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream and low fat cheeses. Keep reading those labels though - its best to stay below 3g fat or less per day from this food group.

In limited amounts, meat can actually be part of a good low fat diet. Low fat deli cuts are great for snacks, while leaner cuts of beef, pork and lamb are fine for mealtimes. Just be sure that the fat has been trimmed off. Poultry like chicken and turkey are good as long as the fatty skin has been removed.

In addition, remember to eat a variety of grains, vegetables and fruits. These are naturally low in fat and packed full of nutrition.

Low Fat: Pros

• Limiting your fat intake is great for your long term cardiovascular health.
• This diet naturally steers you towards a balanced diet of unprocessed foods and high nutritional value.
• You can still eat a fairly varied diet, including low fat meats and dairy products. The low fat craze has also led to many snacks being released in low fat versions.

Low Fat: Cons

• Low fat dieters often compensate by increasing their sugar intake and actually gaining weight. Remember to keep reading labels and it won't happen to you!
• You may find that several of your favorite foods (potato chips, fried foods etc) may be on the 'do not touch' list.
• Reducing your fat intake too far can lead to some vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Remember that your body needs around 25% of your daily calories in good fats to stay healthy.

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The Jenny Craig Diet

The Jenny Craig Diet has hit the headlines recently due to Kirstie Alley's dramatic weight loss. Kirstie shed an amazing 75 pounds on the Jenny Craig Diet, all the while updating her blog and sharing each day with her online readers, then appeared on Oprah in just a bikini!

This diet aims to help you lose 1-2 pounds a week, a healthy and sustainable weight loss. It also teaches you sensible dietary habits that will maintain your weight loss in the long term.

So who is Jenny Craig? She is an ordinary American with no formal training or academic degree, born in New Orleans in 1932, who knew that no matter how old you are, its never too late for a change. She took a lifetime of experience and put it all into a sensible diet plan that really works.

Jenny Craig: Basics

Foundation

One of the largest and most successful weight loss management companies, Jenny Craig has approximately 650 centres located across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand. This diet program provides weekly face to face meetings or a phone consultation if you are not located near a centre.

Your Jenny Craig counsellor will design a balanced weight loss plan and encourage you through any weight loss challenges. They will provide assistance with questions related to diet, lifestyle and personalizing an exercise plan. There's also a 24/7 online message board where you can find diet buddies or just exchange thoughts and tips.

This diet program is wonderful for someone who has put healthy living in the backseat and needs some help getting back on track. It encourages you to create a healthy relationship with food - you learn how to make food your ally, not your enemy. Jenny will encourage you to chart your journey by recording thoughts, identifying negative and positive eating patterns, and making strategic changes to ensure the success of your diet.

Diet

The Jenny Craig Diet is a reduced calorie plan, relying on a fixed proportion diet (60% carbs, 20% fat, 20% protein) and smaller portion sizes. The relatively high proportion of carbs, relative to other diets, is not a problem as the reduced portion sizes prevent weight gain.

Dieters can choose from several different plans, all with fixed calorie intakes. These range from 1200-1500 calories per day. The diet encourages eating a varied diet, with a healthy amount of vitamins and minerals.

Choose your food once a week from a diverse menu that is full of options even for the pickiest eater. The personalized menu is convenient online - just a few clicks for your choices and voila it arrives at your door within a few days, pre-packaged and ready to heat and eat.

Dieters are encouraged to eat fruits, milk, yogurt, fish, and whole/sprouted/malted wheat. Unlimited amounts of non-starchy vegetables can be consumed since they are very low in calories. High fat meats should be eaten in moderation. Jenny Craig also has a wide selection of delicious desserts such as crème brulee, chocolate pudding, pumpkin pie and lemon cream pie, all permissible on this diet.

Once you achieve half of your weight loss goal, counsellors progressively wean you off the pre-packaged food and guide you through the transition to shopping and cooking on your own. Weekly meetings ensure that you stay on track and your diet is well balanced

The total cost of this diet is approximately $100 per month. The cost falls when you stop the food deliveries and are nutritionally educated enough to follow the Jenny Craig diet on your own.

Jenny Craig: Pros

• Convenient, nutritional meals that are pre-made and delivered to your door, with calorific needs tailored to your weight loss goals.
• A diverse menu of foods that has options for vegetarians and is sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
• There's no need to give up your favorite foods - just learn how to control your portions.
• Jenny Craig offers great support for your exercise routine, including motivational DVDs and tools such as weights and resistance cords.
• Eating the pre-packaged meals educates the dieter on what it takes to lose weight. Once the program ends, it is relatively easy to continue managing your weight.
• Jenny has a range of great cookbooks with delicious low calorie/fat/cholesterol recipes, including holiday recipes that ensure no weight gain on those special occasions!

Jenny Craig: Cons

• This diet takes commitment and determination to have success.
• The first phase of Jenny Craig can be expensive while you are eating the pre-packaged food. However, when you have learned enough about the diet you can make the transition to planning your own menu, shopping and cooking within your budget.
• Pre-packaged, delivered food may not be ideal for those with frequently scheduled business trips and client dinners.

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The French Diet

It's no secret that France has created some of the world's most talented artists, but they apparently also know something the rest of us don't about enjoying food and staying fit without effort.

The French Diet is not a fad diet like Atkins or The Zone, but rather a balanced lifestyle that has been developed and perfected by a nation of real food lovers.

Mireille Guiliano's latest book "The French Women Don't Get Fat, The Secret Of Eating For pleasure" reveals the reasons why French woman can eat delicious foods, indulge in wine and still stay trim and beautiful.

Eating is one of life's greatest pleasures - creating a healthy relationship with food will do wonders for your senses and your waistline. The French Diet is very appealing as there are no restrictions on carbs or fat and no calorie counting, just good quality food eaten in moderation. The key here really is quality not quantity.

The French Diet: Foundation

The French are very particular about what they eat. Their diet contains all fresh whole foods and avoids processed foods, junk foods, and sugary drinks. Back-to-basics, natural food is the key. When cooking for themselves or friends, the French go to great lengths to seek out the best produce and ingredients for their meal. This is usually done on foot by walking around the farmers' markets, boulangeries and fromageries, burning calories and contributing even more to a healthy lifestyle.

Importantly, French portions are a fraction of the size of those in the United States. While a French woman would be happy to savor a small plate of delicious quality food, the rest of us would rather wolf down a plate double the size, and often of lesser quality. That means at least double the calories.

Mireille Guiliano's advice is to sit down and eat as if it is a ritual, avoiding distractions such as TV, laptops and newspapers. Eat consciously and slowly, make sure you savor each mouthful. By stopping to enjoy your meal, you will feel satisfied faster and not overeat. Relax while eating and your body will metabolize food more efficiently, whereas hurriedly wolfing down your food will lead your body to secrete Cortisol and store excess fat.

French woman drink plenty of water too. As well as prolonging your life and keeping your internal organs (liver, kidney etc) clean and healthy, water speeds up your metabolism and aids weight loss.

Another important philosophy of the French Diet is to forgive your lapses. There will always be a time when you lack willpower and indulge, but the key is just to cut back on your next meal. Don't feel guilty, don't return to your old eating habits, just get back on track. If you do need a snack, follow the French way and keep some low fat yogurt in the fridge.

The French Diet: Which Foods are Allowed?

You can eat a huge variety of unprocessed meat, fish, poultry, grains, bread, dairy, veggies and fruit. A varied diet is essential, as each food contains different vitamins and minerals essential for long term health. It's really ALL about portions.

Keep in mind that your protein at each sitting shouldn't be much larger than a deck of cards, and should be eaten with salads and vegetables.

Desserts are allowed too. Instead of everybody ordering an individual piece of cheese cake though, order one for the table. Eat it slowly, let it linger on your tongue and you will be satisfied with less. Even better, opt for the fruit salad.

Croissants, pastries and even baguettes are fine, but in very small portions. Croissants in France are a mere 1 ounce! Not monster size as they are in many countries.

Real cheese is certainly allowed - the French love to go to the fromagerie. Eating a small portion of cheese will keep you full and satisfied and dissuade you from snacking. Processed cheesed is the most consumed cheese in the United States but is definitely NOT allowed. Examples of what not to eat include Cheez Whiz and Velveeta.

Red wine is packed with antioxidants and has recently been proven to be heart healthy. The French have a low incidence of heart disease and many cite red wine as the reason. Just 1-2 glasses a day remember, not a whole bottle.

Lastly, the French eat a large proportion of vegetables and fruits. These are low in calories and nutritionally dense. They also use heart healthy Olive Oil, rather than artery-clogging hydrogenated cooking oils.

The French Diet: Which Foods are Not Allowed?

All processed snack food like potato or corn chips, pork rinds and snack bars. All snacks are out, besides perhaps a low calorie snack to get you through to the next meal. If you have to, opt for a bit of fruit or a low fat yogurt.

Soda and other sugary drinks, high calorie cocktails, Frappucinos (a Starbucks 20-ounce Frappuccino with added whipped contains a whopping 650 calories and 25 grams of fat!).

Stay off the fast food and turn your back on McDonalds and KFC. The French would turn their nose up at this low quality junk food in a second, and for good reason. Fast food is unnatural and packed with preservatives. Not on the French diet!

Pre-packaged meals and Frozen meals. The French like to prepare their meals carefully from only the freshest ingredients. You know the big aisle with the frozen dinners in your local market? That aisle is much, much smaller in a French supermarket.

The French Diet: Pros

• This diet is not really a diet but a healthy and happy way of living. There is no deprivation, calorie or carb counting.
• Adapting the French eating lifestyle makes you really stop and smell the roses (or the red wine for that matter!).
• This diet is exciting as it's full of lavish wholesome diverse food.

The French Diet: Cons

• Time.. Set aside time to relax, eat slowly and savor each bite. Eating under stress leads to weight gain, so no more rushing down the street eating your lunch on the go!
• Effort.. Frequent trips to the farmers' market, fromagerie and boulangerie will take some time, but you will burn calories and source the freshest ingredients.
• Money.. Fresh, high quality ingredients tend to cost more money than convenience food. But where's the sense in spending $150 dollars on a gym membership and then eating McDonalds?

The French Diet: Recipe

Easy Goat Cheese Salad
Rocket lettuce
Tomato, sliced in half
Goat cheese
Pesto

Cut tomato in half and place on a bed of rocket. Drizzle some pesto sauce on it, then add a slice of goat cheese. Put in the oven for a few minutes until cheese softens.

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Cleansing/Fasting

Cleansing is a detoxification technique that many models use throughout their careers - not only do you lose weight but you look great too! It actually helps to clear your complexion and gives you strong, healthy hair.

Over the course of my modeling career I have fasted every year to keep my skin glowing and shed unwanted pounds. By fasting for a week on juice and soup, I have lost around 5 lbs each time.

I don't recommend fasting on water alone, as detoxing too quickly can cause severe headaches and nausea from the poisons being flushed quickly out of your body.

I used to go to Thailand once a year when I lived in Asia, just to go to a spa and detox for seven days. Although this is obviously not practical for everyone, just doing a cleanse and treating yourself to a few relaxing days at home can have the same effect.

Cleansing: Basics

Foundation

You can do liver, kidney or colon cleanses, but the most popular for models is certainly the colon cleanse. Imagine your body as a sewer system, where all the waste can occasionally get backed up. That's exactly what happens in your colon when old fecal matter gets solidified. Some people can have up to 20lbs of this matter in their body! This layer of waste actually releases toxins back into your bloodstream, so its very important to use a cleanse and get it out.

On a cleansing diet, you might expect some of the following improvements in the way you look:

Shinier nails, Stronger hair, Reduced body odor, Weight loss, Reduced cellulite, Glowing complexion, More beautiful eyes.

Your liver is constantly trying to rid your body of harmful toxins. Giving it a break from constant digestion lets it really purge these pollutants quickly, to get you on your way to feeling great. Cleansing should not be confused with 'starvation diets though! Cleansing is a great short term fix for cleaning your body and losing some excess weight.

This diet allow the liver and kidneys to recover from all the toxic food additives and preservatives, pollution and smoke that enter our system every day without us even realizing. When the body is not worried about digestion it concentrates on correcting sick cells and correcting them.

Fasting is also a great way to break bad eating habits and start all over again with a clean and natural diet. When you come off the fast, you can quit all those fast food and junk food crutches. Physical and mental revitalization will encourage you to continue on the same path and not revert bad to old eating and lifestyle habits.

Diet

Combinations of fresh carrot, celery, beet, spinach, apple and coconut are ideal. However much you like citrus or tomato juice, these are really too acidic to drink while fasting. Remember also to drink plenty of water and avoid consuming anything other than the broth, juice, water, and unnecessary medications/supplements.

You can add something to make the drink more exciting - ginger is my favorite. I also have a great recipe for vegetable broth (see below).

Juice can be consumed throughout the day as needed. Drinking less juice will speed up the detoxification process, whereas more will slow it down. It's not set in stone, so go with what feels right.

When doing a cleanse, you should take colon-cleansing herbs and Psyllium husks - the Psyllium will help you to feel a little more full while also gently scraping the old fecal matter out of your colon. Excellent Psyllium products can be found online.

This diet should normally last only 3 days to a week, after which you should go back to your normal diet or consumption. Hopefully you will feel so great that you will make some changes in your diet going forward, maybe introduce some fresh vegetables, to prolong the positive effects of the cleanse.

Vegetable Broth Recipe

This is a great vegetable broth recipe that you can use for a 3-7 day cleanse. Drink it whenever you feel hungry! Try to use organic ingredients as much as possible.

Ingredients:
2 litres of water
2 large potatoes (peeled)
1 onion
3 carrots
4 garlic cloves

Chop all the vegetables and add to water. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, then drain the vegetables. I like to add a little cayenne pepper but this is optional.

Cleansing: Pros

• You will feel fresher and more energetic, with a renewed sense of mental and physical vitality.
• A cleaner liver metabolizes food faster, and sets up your body to lose weight in the long term!
• It is a short, relatively simple and inexpensive diet.
• Cleansing can help with alcohol, drug and nicotine addiction, by accelerating the detoxification process and shortening the length of withdrawal symptoms.
• Cleansing is a great way to break bad eating habits and start all over again with a clean and natural diet.

Cleansing: Cons

• This diet is a little hard to stick to - make sure to drink plenty of fruit juice.
• You may temporarily feel hungry, tired and perhaps a little dizzy. That's why its a great diet to do on holiday!

source : modeldietplan

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The Great Skin Diet

Women across the world can spend thousands of dollars on facials, skin creams and potions. However, what many people don't realize is that your skin mirrors the health of your body on the inside.

If you want to have a beautiful complexion, step one is to nourish your body with a balanced healthy diet.

Simple steps like adding antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, making sure you get enough protein, and cutting down on alcohol, can make a world of difference to the face that looks back at you in the mirror each morning!

Protein

Eating protein is essential for beautiful skin as it is a building block. We need protein to maintain and regenerate our skin, increase its elasticity and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. A protein deficiency can reduce the elasticity of your skin. An important protein named Collagen plays a key role in cellular structure, giving it its strength and elasticity. Without it, our skin becomes saggy, wrinkled and aged.

A hugely important substance for the body, protein is fortunately abundant in most diets. Today's diets are heavy on animal sources and tend to provide all that we need. However it is good to diversify your protein sources between vegetable and animal sources. Protein is found in all animal meat, plus fish and dairy. High sources of vegetarian protein can be found in nuts, seeds, beans, peas, tofu, and soya milk.

Antioxidants

Foods containing Antioxidants combat free radicals and unstable cells that become loose and wreak havoc with your skin and cellular structure. Keeping your diet consistently packed with Antioxidants will prevent damage to your cells and keep them healthy. Specifically look for Vitamins A, C and E and beta carotene.

Antioxidants are found in tea, nuts, beans, cereals, fruits and vegetables. There are certain foods that are particularly rich in these life-saving chemicals. These include berries (blueberry, blackcurrant, cherry), walnuts ,red kidney and pinto beans, artichokes, sunflower seeds, pomegranate and ginger.

Green tea is especially high in antioxidants and now proven to reduce UV damage to the skin. Try to incorporate green tea into your daily routine. I like to make a green tea, then mix with pomegranate juice and refrigerate for a refreshing jug of healthiness.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live, healthy bacteria. They are found in fermented dairy products such as yogurt and probiotic drinks like Yacult and Activia. Probiotics keep the balance of healthy bacteria in your colon allowing the body to process and utilize nutrients efficiently.

Keeping your body well balanced body inside will reward you with a beautiful complexion on the outside. The latest word is that probiotics applied directly to your skin can reduce sun damage and slow the effects of aging. Try a quick mask of plain yogurt before your shower. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties could make a difference to your skin.

One source of probiotics, a cultured milk named Kefir, has been in the news recently as a 'superfood'. It contains more probiotics than yogurt, as well as having a healthy dose of calcium. Its a great option for those of you who may be lactose-intolerant, as it contains lactase, the enzyme that you are missing.

Omega-3 Oils

You may have heard of "good fats" and "bad fats" - well Omega 3 fatty acids are the "good fats". As well as a host of other health benefits, Omega 3 oils strengthen the cell membrane and enable the healthy passage of nutrients and waste products through your skin. They also influences the skin's ability to hold water.

The best natural sources include walnuts, canola oil and flax seed. Other great sources of this metabolism-boosting acid can be found in flaxseed and flaxseed oil, canola oil, hemp seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, salmon, mackerel and herring. You should also be able to find Omega-3 supplements in your local health food store. Flaxseed oil is popular and its tasty on salads, in soups, or in smoothies.

Water

Water is a natural body cleanser and can do wonders for your complexion, but it is also an important element in keeping your skin young and beautiful. Be one of the few people to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water per day and you will notice your skin looking rejuvenated and younger. Carry a bottle around with you or always have one in your car. Keep a bottle on your desk.

When your skin dries out it becomes less elastic and more prone to wrinkles. It also makes it more susceptible to damage from the sun or from smoke. All this means that it is extremely important to keep your skin hydrated all the time, so that it can protect itself against the world. Juice, soups, and smoothies are other great ways to keep up with your water intake.

Alcohol

We all know that alcohol can dehydrate your skin, leaving it red or blotchy both during drinking and in the morning. But drinking also has longer term effects on your skin. Drinking alcohol tends to permanently enlarge the blood vessels near the skin's surface, causing itchiness, uneven tone and red spots. If you've ever seen the skin of a long-term alcoholic, you'll recognize exactly this redness.

Some Final Tips

Foods to be be wary of are those that are high in fat and sugar. All junk food, processed foods, and food containing preservatives are destructive to your skin.

Avoid yo-yo dieting as well. Gaining weight and losing weight can contribute to loose skin and wrinkling. Try to eat a consistent well balanced diet if you want to maintain taut skin.

Last but not even close to being the least important measure on maintaining beautiful skin is this.. Don't suntan and if you do make sure you diligently wear sunscreen and be sure to wear a hat!

source : modeldietplan

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The Atkins Diet

Equally popular with men and women, the Atkins diet is widely used throughout the fashion and entertainment industries.

I have used the Atkins Diet many times, and in fact even when not dieting strictly I always try to follow some of its basic rules, like cutting down on carbs.

The Atkins Diet has become the most widespread of all the 'low-carb' diets and is used by dieters all over the world, including celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Minnie Driver.

Atkins: Basics

Foundation

The Atkins Diet tells us that obesity is the result of eating refined carbohydrates, particularly sugar, flour and corn syrups. Because the body burns carbohydrates first, cutting back on them forces the body to burn other energy stores, in the form of fat. This mode of fat burning is called ketosis.

When the body is in a state of ketosis, appetite is naturally suppressed, causing a reduction in hunger pangs. A disadvantage is that it can cause bad breath and constipation in certain people.

The Atkins diet controls blood sugar levels and as a result reduces false hunger pangs and cravings. By eating fewer carbohydrates, blood sugar levels are regulated and less insulin is secreted. In turn, these lower insulin levels direct the body to burn stored fat instead of carbohydrates.

Another basic idea behind the Atkins Diet is that we need not worry about saturated fats, and that trans fats are what should really concern us. The recent spread of trans fat bans around the world, starting with cities like New York, justifies this belief.

Diet

Here's the best part of the Atkins Diet, and one of the reasons why it is so popular - followers can eat reasonable quantities of meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables, nuts and fish. So you can keep eating those burgers (minus the bun!).

Now the tough bit - foods that are restricted include potatoes, fruit, rice, pasta, bread, caffeine, alcohol. So you may need to put your social life on hold for a while.

You have to be careful of certain foods when you're on Atkins. Highly processed foods like deli meats often contain hidden sugars that will increase your carb intake without you even realizing.

Phases

The Atkins Diet follows 4 stages:

1. Induction
The first and most challenging phase, but when followers often report the greatest weight loss. Induction involves a carb intake of less than 20 net grams per day, of which leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables should account for 12-15. This part of the diet should last 14 days but can be extended if you have feel ok and want to lose weight faster.

2. Ongoing Weight Loss
An increase in carb intake of about 5 grams per day.

3. Pre-maintenance
A consolidation phase, where carb intake is increased to the new long-term level.

4. Lifetime maintenance
Long-term maintenance of the lower weight at this new lower carb intake. Here's the rub - you've got to stick with it! Changing back to your old eating habits can result in a very fast weight gain.

Atkins: Pros

• Once you master the carbohydrate content of different foods, Atkins is straightforward and uncomplicated compared with other diet plans.
• With such a diverse selection of fish, meat and cheese, this diet is so satisfying that it doesn't feel like a diet.
• Eating protein controls hunger and cravings, meaning that you need to snack less often.
• This diet is so popular that many restaurants now have an "Atkins" page on the menu. There is also no need to worry about hidden oils and fats in foods on the menu, as you would for other diet plans.
• There are many Atkins products available, such as tasty shakes, chocolate and bars, to satisfy your sweet tooth in moments of weakness. They are also great to take on the run so you are not tempted to cheat.
• This diet has proven effective in controlling insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Atkins: Cons

• A lower carb intake can lead to reduced energy levels.
• Deviation from the diet, i.e. eating carbs again, can put the weight back on very quickly.
• By not eating enough fruits and veggies, your body could be missing out on essential vitamins and minerals.
• This diet can be high in saturated fat, which can lead to heart disease in the long term.
• The Atkins diet lacks adequate fiber, sometimes causing constipation and bowel problems. Taking a tablespoon of Psyllium husks every day can help.
• Drinking alcohol can be a difficult habit to break, especially in social situations!

Atkins: Recipe

Easy Goat Cheese Salad
Rocket lettuce
Tomato, sliced in half
Goat cheese
Pesto

source : modeldietplan

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The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

Apple Cider Vinegar has long been used as a helpful natural cure, but recent studies have shown that it can be a very powerful weight loss supplement. Celebrities like Megan Fox and Fergie also swear by its fat-reducing properties.

Many models find that adding a little Apple Cider Vinegar dressing to salads can help boost their metabolism and help them lose weight. Combine it with a healthy diet and exercise regime and it can do the same for you.

Suppress your appetite

Apple Cider Vinegar is a great fat reducing tool. It can be helpful in getting rid of those last few stubborn pounds that a healthy diet and adequate exercise program can’t seem to shift. It suppresses your appetite if you get hungry between meals, and discourages you from attacking that second helping.

Increase your energy levels

Apple Cider Vinegar is also excellent to give you a little pep for your exercise regime. Many find increased energy levels and better stamina in the gym.. which means burning more calories of course.

Increase your metabolism

Apple Cider Vinegar also has been shown to increase your metabolism. It is thought that this is something to do with its potent combination of vitamins, minerals and trace minerals. Apple Cider Vinegar is especially high in potassium.

Reduce bloating

ACV is a powerful diuretic, so it will also ensure you aren’t carrying around any unnecessary water weight. Megan Fox spoke recently about her ACV cleanse, "It's just water and raw apple cider vinegar, and it just cleans out your system entirely. It will get rid of, for women who retain water weight, from your menstrual cycle and all that, it gets rid of it really fast."

Stabilize your sugar levels

Apple Cider Vinegar has been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce insulin spikes after eating. These insulin spikes signal the body to store fat, so you're much better off without them! This is one reason why Apple Cider Vinegar has touted as a natural supplement for Diabetes sufferers.

How do you take Apple Cider Vinegar?

You have two options for taking ACV. Either take it before you eat, added to water or a fruit juice, or add it to your meal as a dressing or ingredient.

Before your meal

Try adding 2-3 teaspoons of ACV in a large glass of water or your favorite juice. It works well with tomato juice.

Be sure to dilute Apple Cider Vinegar as it is highly acidic. Don’t drink it straight or you could damage your tooth enamel. Ideally, drink the diluted ACV with a straw to protect your teeth.

If you can’t bear the taste or if it feels uncomfortable to drink alternately you can buy capsules from your local health food store.

During your meal

Apple Cider Vinegar can also be used to dress a whole array of foods. Here are a couple of really easy recipes for dressings.

ACV & Olive Oil Dressing
3 Tbsp ACV
3 Tbsp olive oil
salt, pepper to taste

ACV, Garlic & Canola Oil Dressing
3 Tbsp ACV
3 Tbsp canola oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
Salt, pepper to taste

ACV, Honey & Yogurt Dressing
3 Tbsp. ACV
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
3 Tbsp. organic yogurt
1/4 Tsp. honey
Salt, pepper to taste

Mix ingredients well, ideally in something you can really shake up. Add to salads, grilled veggies, fish and chicken, then enjoy!

source : modeldietplan

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The Grapefruit Diet

This diet has been been passed around for the last 3 to 4 generations - my grandma actually passed this version on to me!

One of the most widely recognized fad diets, it originated in the 1930's and has always been popular with Hollywood celebrities.

My version of the grapefruit diet is not as strict as some you might read. The grapefruit diet has received some criticism for containing too few calories and nutritional content, but my adaptation is more balanced and healthy

Grapefruit Diet: Basics

Grapefruit contains fat burning enzymes responsible for reducing insulin levels and encouraging weight loss. The idea is to eat half a grapefruit, or drink a glass of grapefruit juice, with each meal.

This diet is only recommended for those who can live without complex carbs and sweets. The grapefruit diet is pretty low in carbs, like the Atkins diet, but it is not as strict - a little deviation is OK!

Diet

Breakfast
8 oz. unsweetened grapefruit juice or half a grapefruit
2 eggs any style (poached, boiled or scrambled)
2 slices of lean pork or turkey bacon
Coffee or tea (1 cup)

Lunch
8 oz. unsweetened grapefruit juice or half a grapefruit
Fresh, raw salad with any low carb dressing
Fish or meat, e.g beefburger (no bun), chicken, turkey, lamb or fish
Coffee or tea (1 cup)

Breakfast
8 oz. unsweetened grapefruit juice or half a grapefruit
Salad with low carb dressing, or a red or green vegetable cooked in minimal butter or oil
Fish or meat, e.g beefburger (no bun), chicken, turkey, lamb or fish
Coffee or tea (1 cup)

Bedtime Snack
8 oz. skimmed milk

Other Tips

• It's very important to drink 8 glasses of water a day
• Eating between meals is not allowed
• Coffee is limited to mealtimes only and 1 cup is allowed
• Salt, pepper, and minimal butter and oil are allowed
• You can eat as much salad as you want, plus reasonable amounts of protein at lunch and dinner
• Nothing should be deep fried. Grilled, pan fried, boiled and baked are better options
• You can have a bit of cheese or nuts on your salad at lunch and dinner

Grapefruit Diet: Foods Allowed

Protein
All meat (except for processed meat), eggs, cheese, nuts.

Vegetables
Red onions, bell peppers, radishes, broccoli, asparagas, zucchini, mushrooms, cucumbers, green oinions, leaf spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, green beans, lettuce, coleslaw, green beans, dill pickles.

Dressings
Mayonnaise, low carb dressing.

Grapefruit Diet: Foods Not Allowed

Carbs
Bread, rice, crackers, chips, french fries, pretzels,pizza,pasta, doughnuts,cereal, potatoes, sweet potatoes, all fruit except grapefruit.

Vegetables
Corn,carrots, beans, peas, artichokes, parsnips, pumpkin, sweet pickles.

Other
High carb salad dressing,chocolate, candy, jams.

Grapfruit Diet: Pros

• Grapefruit has a natural selection of vitamins that can do wonders for your general health. It is a great source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, fibre and antioxidants. It is also a natural diuretic and will help to eliminate water retention.
• This diet produces results if you have the willpower to follow it. It is claimed that you can lose up to 10 pounds very quickly - I have never had such a dramatic result, but I have always lost weight on this diet.
• The meals are pretty easy to prepare and the menu is easy to follow.
• You are allowed to eat as much of your favorite meat, fish, and non starchy veggies as you like, so there is no need to starve. This diet also controls blood sugar levels, therefore reducing false hunger pangs and cravings.

Grapefruit Diet: Cons

• This diet is difficult to follow if you frequently eat out at restaurants. You can take grapefruit capsules as a supplement if you are in a position where you do need to eat out.
• A good, nutritious diet should be varied and balanced. This diet can be repetitive and restrictive, so try to vary the selection of veggies and meat. A little variety will mean a healthier balance, and you'll have a better chance of sticking to the grapefruit diet successfully.
• No alcohol is allowed on this diet plan.
• Grapefruit can interfere with some medication, so you should consult your physician before trying this diet.

source : modeldietplan

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The Slimfast Diet

This is one of those diets that everyone knows about. The company has been on TV for years reporting success stories, so it must be true right? Well actually Slimfast is one of the more reputable, sensible and effective diet plans around.

No one would suggest that Slimfast is a long term diet - its more of a quick solution to lose a few pounds before Summer, before a holiday, or in the case of aspiring models, before an important casting or job.

But it is a very effective solution for rapid weight loss, and a good diet technique to keep up your sleeve for when you need to drop some pounds fast.

Slimfast: Basics

Foundation

Slimfast is one of the few diets to have successfully completed clinical trials. That means that dieters were proven to lose weight, in a controlled environment and under the supervision of doctors. Some diets make claims that they can't back up, but Slimfast has the science to back its diet.

Slimfast uses meal replacements to restrict the caloric intake of its dieters. Dieters are encouraged to have one normal meal per day to provide some of their nutritional needs, then to use Slimfast products for the rest of the day to satisfy and control their appetite.

These products contain a balanced mixture of proteins, carbs and healthy fats, along with vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Slimfast is essentially a light Calorie Restriction diet, but much of the hard work (meal plans, portion control) is done for you. Slimfast is not a difficult diet to stick to.

Diet

"A shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch and a sensible dinner."

These are familiar words to anyone who watches television. These commercials have been spreading the Slimfast message for years. However, the diet has been continually developing and now offers much more flexibility. Slimfast offers such products as low calorie protein bars and snack bars, as well as the traditional range of shakes.

Simply start your day with a shake or snack bar, do the same for lunch (Slimfast allows you to add a 200 calorie treat of your choice), then eat a sensible, early dinner. You are also encouraged to eat snacks between meals. They don't have to be Slimfast snacks either - small portions of fruit and vegetables are OK. Slimfast suggests that you eat at least 1200 calories per day, including their products.

Slimfast: Pros

• Slimfast is an easy diet. Most of the hard work like portion control and meal plans is done for you.
• Slimfast is not expensive. The snack bars and shakes are widely available and usually quite cheap.
• You may find that eating preprepared snacks and meals frees up more of your schedule for personal time.
• Slimfast is great for frequent travellers who don't have time to shop for food and prepare meals.
• Lastly, there's no doubt that Slimfast works, the science proves it.

Slimfast: Cons

• The Slimfast products taste OK, but nothing special. For example a Slimfast brownie won't taste like the brownies your mom used to make!
• Its tough to do Slimfast in the long term, as the foods do eventually become quite repetitive.
• Slimfast products do contain lots of vitamins and minerals, but some doctors say that they are no replacement for a proper varied diet.

source : modeldietplan

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The Green Tea Diet

In my experience, there are really only two ways to lose weight - you reduce your calorie intake, or you increase your body's energy consumption. The Green Tea Diet follows both paths, and is perhaps the easiest diet on the market. With no carbs and no calories, it can also be used in conjunction with any other diet on this site.

This diet uses Green Tea extract to both increase your metabolism and reduce your appetite! I have used Green Tea throughout my career to limit my appetite and curb hunger pangs. A mug of green tea before or after each meal could be the best diet tip you've ever tried.

Green Tea: Basics

Foundation

Green Tea has been used for more than 4,000 years in Chinese culture and medicine, to treat everything from headaches to depression. More recent studies have found it to be helpful in conditions like cancer, arthritis, high cholesterol and heart disease. Green tea can also help to boost your immune system and combat all kinds of viruses.

The health benefits of green tea are beyond dispute, but how does it help you to stay slim and burn off those extra pounds? Green tea can actually help you lose weight in two ways:

• Firstly, Green tea regulates blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of insulin produced. This prevents fat being stored and keeps your appetite under control.
• Secondly, a 1999 study showed that Green Tea extract results in a significant increase in energy expenditure. EGCG, the main polyphenol in green tea, is an effective thermogenic which increases the metabolism of fat. This was not just as a result of the caffeine in the tea, because those who lost weight on Green Tea lost more than those who were given caffeine alone.

Diet

Just drink Green Tea with each meal. Its that simple! You should find that it helps to suppress your appetite, while increasing your metabolic rate.

Studies tend to agree that 4-5 cups a day of Green Tea is enough to get the maximum benefits. Or you can order the extract in a capsule form. If you drink it as a tea, add some honey, lemon juice and ice for a refreshing summer drink. You can even carry it in a thermos to drink wherever you are.

So where to buy Green Tea? It is available in many shops and internet retailers. Try to buy the more concentrated type if you can!

Green Tea: Pros

• The diet is simple to follow and can be used in conjunction with other diet plans. It can easily fit around your eating habits.
• Studies have shown its effectiveness as a diet aid. New research continued to shed light on green tea's usefulness as a medicinal supplement.
• The health benefits of drinking Green Tea every day are more than just weight loss. It boosts your immune system and can help with conditions as varied as heart disease and tooth decay.

Green Tea: Cons

• Weight loss is not as dramatic as with other diets, however green tea is easily combined with other diets to give your weight loss a boost.
• It helps if you like Green Tea, but you can always buy the capsules instead.
• Some dieters may have trouble sleeping as their caffeine intake is increased. If you're caffeine sensitive, don't drink it in the evening.

source : modeldietplan

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Blood Type Diet

There are 4 blood groups - A, B, AB and O - and we each belong to one of them. The blood type diet dictates that each blood type has a susceptibility to certain diseases, benefits from specific exercises and should only eat certain foods.

The blood type diet has become enormously popular recently, and makes a lot of sense intuitively to many people, with its references to human history and evolution.

Many find that by switching their diet, the weight falls off while hardly trying.

Blood Type Diet: Basics

Foundation

The blood type diet comes from the evolutionary theory of blood groups, first proposed by William C. Boyd. It states that our blood types have evolved in the same way as our species. In other words, we can draw a line from the earliest blood type, O, through history to the most recent, AB.

The naturapathic doctor Peter D'Adamo took this theory and expanded it. He researched for many years the connection between food and blood types, and wrote a best selling diet book called "Eat 4 Your Blood Type".

There are many who are skeptical of this diet as it is largely theoretical, rather than based on any credible scientific studies. However, many swear by the diet and enjoy positive results like a slimmer physique and increased energy.

The order of evolution dictates the diet for each blood type. The idea is that we should look back in history and try, to some degree, to replicate the diet from the time of each blood type's evolution.

Much of the theory of the blood type diet rests on the actions of lectins, proteins found on the surfaces of foods that react differently with certain blood types. Peter D'Adamo believes each blood type has different levels of stomach acid and digestive enzymes. This variation creates a difference on how food is digested and absorbed, and how fat is metabolized.

Diet

Here are the recommended diets for each blood type:

Blood Type O Diet (The Hunter)
The earliest blood group, associated with the hunter, tending to be muscular and active. Engaging in intense physical exercise is fundamental to the health of those in this blood type.

Type O dieters should stick to a high-protein diet heavy in meat but light on vegetables. Dairy and wheat products will lead to weight gain and should be avoided if possible. Foods in the brassica family such as cabbage, brussel spouts, cauliflower, and mustard greens inhibit thyroid function which leads to fatigue and weight gain. Coffee is also a strict no.

Blood Type A Diet (The Cultivator)
Type A evolved when humans began to build settlements and cultivate the land. The Type A diet therefore moves away from meat and emphasises vegetables. Carbs are fine, but meals should be very low fat. Dairy is also to be avoided, but coffee is beneficial.

Type A should ideally adhere to a strict vegetarian diet of complex carbs, fruits and vegetables. Type A has trouble digesting any type of animal protein, including dairy, so source protein from nuts, seeds, legumes and soy based products such as tofu.

Blood Type B Diet (The Nomad)
Blood type B supposedly evolved at a similar time to A, but is associated with a nomadic lifestyle and the herding of livestock. Dairy products are therefore an important part of this diet, along with a limited amount of meat.

Blood Type AB Diet (The Enigma)
Blood type AB is the most recently evolved type, and as you might expect its a combination of diets A and B. It is the most balanced diet, with a mixture of dairy, vegetables and meat.

Blood Type Diet: Pros

• There is no calorie counting on the blood type diet. You find the foods that suit you and can pretty much eat the quantity that you want. Your body is able to process these foods very efficiently.
• The blood type diet is inexpensive. You just need to buy the book, or even do some research online.
• This diet is full of natural, healthy foods packed with nutrients.

Blood Type Diet: Cons

• The blood type diet has no scientific studies to back up its claims. Some scientists dispute the effects of lectins that Peter D'Adamo proposes.
• If you don't know your blookdtype you will need to find out what it is. Homepathic doctors believe in this diet, and they are often the easiest place to get your test.

source: modeldietplan

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