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Eat to Lose Weight
Top 5 Diets to Watch in 2012
The hottest diets of the New Year promote a back-to-basics approach to eating and weight loss, and are (mostly) fad-free
By
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The Future of Dieting
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1
Science-Based Slim-Downs
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2
Commercial Weight Loss Programs
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3
Gluten-Free and Wheat-Free Diets
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4
Back to the Land Diets
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5
“Real Food” Diets
Back to the Land Diets
Some health professionals suggest we should look back, rather than forward, to get our bodies into peak physical form. The principle of this style of eating—often called Paleo—is to consume only what was available to our ancestors. This means cutting out food that comes in a cellophane wrapper, and often grains or dairy.
Video: How eating like a caveman can help you lose
What It Is: A few diets fall under this category, but the general approach is defined by a handful of simple rules: No processed foods, no cereal grains, no legumes, no dairy, and no starchy vegetables. These plans aren’t typically set up as a weight loss programs per se, but because they eliminate excess carbohydrates, many followers—particularly those who have weight to lose—often do drop pounds on the diets.
How It Works: Paleo proponents believe that our bodies are genetically adapted to best function on the same foods our prehistoric ancestors ate. For an overview and “beginner’s guide,” to the Paleo Diet, check out The Paleo Answer: 7 Days to Lose Weight, Feel Great, Stay Young by Loren Cordain ($16.71). For recipes to try at home, consider The Primal Blueprint Cookbook: Primal, Low Carb, Paleo, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free (by Mark Sisson, $16.31).
What You’ll Eat: No calorie limits. The calorie count on this plan is largely up to you, so if you want to lose weight make sure your daily intake totals less than your traditional diet. On this plan you’ll have an open pass to meats and veggies, plus some fruits and nuts. Meals might include a steak or fish with a side salad. Critics of the plan question the elimination of grains, legumes, and dairy, as those foods all offer nutritional benefits and are not typically the worst culprits of weight gain in the American diet. For a slightly less stringent approach, you may be interested in The Hunter/Farmer Diet Solution (April 2012) by Mark Liponis, MD, of Canyon Ranch ($13.57), which allows grains.
Bottom Line: If you liked the Atkins Diet, a Paleo-style plan might be for you. You’ll consume a similar amount of protein, but more fruits and veggies. Because of the focus on eating meats, you may see your grocery bill go up.
8 Fresh Foods That Are Surprisingly Cheap
Video: How eating like a caveman can help you lose
What It Is: A few diets fall under this category, but the general approach is defined by a handful of simple rules: No processed foods, no cereal grains, no legumes, no dairy, and no starchy vegetables. These plans aren’t typically set up as a weight loss programs per se, but because they eliminate excess carbohydrates, many followers—particularly those who have weight to lose—often do drop pounds on the diets.
How It Works: Paleo proponents believe that our bodies are genetically adapted to best function on the same foods our prehistoric ancestors ate. For an overview and “beginner’s guide,” to the Paleo Diet, check out The Paleo Answer: 7 Days to Lose Weight, Feel Great, Stay Young by Loren Cordain ($16.71). For recipes to try at home, consider The Primal Blueprint Cookbook: Primal, Low Carb, Paleo, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free (by Mark Sisson, $16.31).
What You’ll Eat: No calorie limits. The calorie count on this plan is largely up to you, so if you want to lose weight make sure your daily intake totals less than your traditional diet. On this plan you’ll have an open pass to meats and veggies, plus some fruits and nuts. Meals might include a steak or fish with a side salad. Critics of the plan question the elimination of grains, legumes, and dairy, as those foods all offer nutritional benefits and are not typically the worst culprits of weight gain in the American diet. For a slightly less stringent approach, you may be interested in The Hunter/Farmer Diet Solution (April 2012) by Mark Liponis, MD, of Canyon Ranch ($13.57), which allows grains.
Bottom Line: If you liked the Atkins Diet, a Paleo-style plan might be for you. You’ll consume a similar amount of protein, but more fruits and veggies. Because of the focus on eating meats, you may see your grocery bill go up.
8 Fresh Foods That Are Surprisingly Cheap
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