Top Ten Fad Diets - Are They Healthy? Are They Fast and Do Any of Them Really Work?

1. The Beck Diet Solution
The Beck Diet Solution is more about how you think about eating and food as opposed to diets that focus on the foods, calories, etc. It uses Cognitive Therapy methods to solve most diet failure causes. You know, overeating, cheating, etc. While an interesting theory, good thoughts combined with bad foods can still make you fat.

2. The South Beach Diet Supercharged

This has been a very popular diet for a while. I only listed the most recent Super charged version as it is their "latest and greatest". In addition to their "good carbs, good fats, etc. this diet integrates a workout program, which I believe is a good compliment to any weight loss plan.

3. The New Cabbage Soup Diet

In my opinion, this is the faddist of all the diets. So while many people have lost weight on it, I can't imagine most dieters not gaining most if not all of the weight back. You can't just keep eating cabbage soup forever.

4. The Abs Diet for Women

In a way, this diet sounds somewhat like the South Beach Diet in that it seems complicated and may frustrate many women. On the positive side, it takes into account women's body chemistry (hormones, menopause, sexual function, even joint pain).

5. Diet Pills

Now I know you're thinking. "Diet Pills aren't a fad diet." Maybe, maybe not but they certainly are a part of many people's attempt to lose weight. I therefore felt they needed to be included. This type weight loss approach is in my opinion dangerous. An acquaintance of mine suffered permanent heart damage from diet pills. Too risky for me.

6. The Ultimate Tea Diet

According to Amazon, "The Ultimate Tea Diet harnesses tea's incredible weight-loss potential in a straightforward plan for losing weight in a safe and healthy way. Simply find a tea you love, drink it all day, follow an easy food plan, and see the pounds fall off." Now I will admit, tea has a lot of good benefits but I seriously doubt tea alone, with a little change in our eating habits will produce significant weight loss.

7. The Fat Smash Diet

This diet claims to not be a diet but rather a program for a permanent lifestyle change. Dr. Smith combines an eating plan with an exercise plan. It also says that there is no counting of calories but a "slow, progressive change of eating habits and lifestyle." Sounds like a good diet, although many people want fast weight loss.

8. The Eat-Clean Diet, Expanded Edition

According to Amazon, "With The Eat-Clean Diet, the diet that fitness professionals rely on, readers will transform themselves from sluggish, exhausted and overweight to energetic, lean and fabulous! Just like the author and cover girl According to the author, Tosca Reno the secret is all about "eating clean" and often and revving up your metabolism." While very difficult even if you cook from scratch (who would guess most flour contains Aluminum!), I like this idea.

9. The Best Life Diet

The Best Life Diet is from the diet guru who helped Oprah loose weight so it has what I call "star power". As to staying power, who knows? According to the product description on Amazon "Bob's plan, easily tailored to an array of tastes, lifestyles, and activity levels, acts as your personal trainer and private nutritionist."

10. The Ultra Simple Diet

This diet claims to be an accelerated plan for quick, safe, and healthy weight loss--as much as 10 pounds in one week. It has detailed (the author calls it "simple") if not rigid daily regimens to follow, which might be tough for many people's hectic daily life. The key to this plan is revving up your metabolism, which is critical for weight loss.

*Based primarily on Amazon Book rankings. Some of you may be asking, "Where are Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and NutriSystem? While many call them diets, I really consider them more in the way of meal plans. But that's just my opinion.

Georgette is a Lifestyle Specialists. One of her specialties is food and nutrition, including evaluating diet plans. Most of her top ten fad diet plans have some good elements to them. Her personal favorite however is not on the list as it is not available at Amazon, used as a rating source. One reason I favor a diet other than the above top ten diet plans is its ability to help you loose significant weight very quickly and safely and keep it off. You can find out more about this great program at http://www.9-lbs-11-days.com/