Weight Trimmers- a Slippery Way to Cut Calories from Your Diet

Losing weight is a tough battle, to say the least. What works for some of us, does not necessarily work for others, and we all have to find a plan that works for us. However, I think fad diets simply sets a dieter up for failure. Most experts agree that the key to permanent weight loss is sound nutrition and exercise, which doesn't mean you can't enjoy a piece of cake or pizza on occasion.

I have seen many friends lose as much as 60 pounds by cutting out foods like potatoes, bread, rice, etc., a la Atkin's Diet Style, only to gain them back a few months later. I don't like the concepts of fad diets like the Atkin's Diet, which has been proven to be unhealthy in many ways by medical and nutrition experts. For one, it lacks fiber because it restricts carbohydrates drastically, and we all need complex carbohydrates for energy. The recommended daily allowance for fiber is at least 30-35 grams, which should come from food, not supplements. The initial phase of the Atkin's Diet restricts fiber to as little as 2 grams, which over time, can lead to constipation.

I am not saying Atkin's hasn't worked for millions, because I have seen the results, I just can't endorse cutting out certain foods because I feel this isn't a principle anyone can stick with for life, which is why many people re-gain their weight, plus a high-fat diet simply isn't healthy. The Surgeon General and The world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals believe the Atkin's Diet is unhealthy and can even be dangerous, and I agree with them. I also don't feel that putting your health in danger is worth any short-term weight loss.

Cynthia Sass, co-author of Your Diet is Driving Me Crazy and Women's Health Magazine offers some healthy solutions to cutting calories from your everyday diet in a healthy, yet "sneaky" manner:

Watch out when you dine out! Opt for steamed veggies, grilled, poached, or broiled lean proteins like Chicken and fish. Ask the chef to prepare your food without oil. (Women's Health, September, 2006.) Oil hiding in your food can add as much as 500 calories!