NEW YORK - One plan advises you to follow it three times a week. Another allows no snacks - except on certain days. And a third advocates for eating up to 20 per cent less.
All the philosophies in the latest bunch of diet books promise to help you shed the winter weight. Here are some of the new titles, their plans and some perspective from Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
"The Alternate-Day Diet," Dr. James B. Johnson with Dr. Donald R. Laub Sr. (Putnam Adult)
The plan: Diet every other day. During the two-week induction phase, dieters limit calories to about 500 on down days and then eat whatever they want on off days. You can then increase the down-day calories to about 25 or 35 per cent of normal caloric intake.
Some perspective: There's no restriction on specific foods in this diet, and that's good, says Blatner. But she worries about the all-or-nothing approach, saying balance and moderation is important.
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"The No S Diet," Reinhard Engels and Ben Kallen (Perigee Trade)
The plan: No, the "s" does not stand for something unprintable. Rather, Engels, a software engineer, and Kallen, a nutrition writer, offer a diet that has three rules and one exception, all of which begin with the letter S: no sweets, snacks or seconds except on Saturdays, Sundays and Special days (birthdays, holidays).
Some perspective: The book preaches three daily meals, says Blatner. But the book allows no snacks except on weekends and holidays. "We do know that snacking controls hunger," she says. People who lose weight successfully eat about four to five times a day, she says.
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"The CR Way: Using the Secrets of Calorie Restriction for a Longer, Healthier Life," Paul McGlothin and Meredith Averill (Marlowe & Company)
The plan: The husband-and-wife team advocate for reducing calorie intake to between five and 20 per cent below normal for a person's sex, age, height and activity level, saying that calorie restriction slows the aging process, protects against disease and helps people lose weight and keep it off.
Some perspective: "They're saying, 'We're not telling you to eat a lot of calories, so we would like these calories to be quality calories,"' she says. "As long as they are hitting all the servings on their food guide pyramid, it can be a healthy balanced way to live."
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"The South Beach Diet Supercharged: Faster Weight Loss and Better Health for Life," Dr. Arthur Agatston with Joseph Signorile (Rodale Books)
The plan: Five years after publication of "The South Beach Diet," Agatston collaborates with Signorile, an exercise physiologist, to add a fitness component to the program. The book includes a cardio interval walking program and toning exercises that work with each of the diet's three phases. The South Beach Diet Supercharged Workout DVD goes on sale May 13.
Some perspective: Exercise is an important component of weight loss, says Blatner, and the bulk of the diet is healthy and balanced, promoting healthy whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables and lean protein.
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"The Wall Street Diet," Heather Bauer and Kathy Matthews (Hyperion)
The plan: Bauer, a registered dietitian who works with high-profile clients, presents a weight-loss plan for people who don't have time to count calories or weigh food. She presents strategies for tough moments, such as entertaining clients, long hungry commutes home and being stuck in an airport for several hours.
