The 2007 diet winners and what really works
Chosen by Consumer Reports “The Volumetrics Eating Plan†by Barbara Rolls came in first followed by the Weight Watchers.
if you’re looking to shed pounds, there’s some solid science on which to base your choice of a diet plan or book, or create a do-it-yourself approach.
- The basic formula for losing weight has not changed: Consume fewer calories than you burn–about 500 fewer every day, to lose about a pound a week.
- While dieters might prefer to save calories by skipping breakfast, eating a substantial morning meal is recommended by every diet book.
- Scientists now distinguish good fats from bad, based on copious evidence about their effect on blood cholesterol. Those good fats include olive and other monounsaturated oils, nuts, avocados, and omega-3 oils from seafood and plant sources.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and some lean meat and fish, healthy fats, and whole grains.
- 60 to 90 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous exercise. But increasing the time you spend out of your chair–in formal exercise and activities such as housework and yard work–helps you burn at least some calories.