The Best Diets for Fast Weight Loss

A 2007 Harvard study examined the most popular and well-known diet plans with the hope of ranking them in effectiveness. The researchers came to the conclusion that there is no "best" diet plan; that the overall effectiveness of the diet is based on the circumstances of the individual engaging in the diet. Here are three of the highest-rated plans.

Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

This diet can spur people to lose 10 pounds or more in two weeks. Here's how it works: Take one to three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before eating all of your meals. In the first two or three days, you should stick to one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar before increasing the amount. The vinegar is an appetite suppressant and will slow how much you eat at meals. A couple of points are noteworthy: Apple cider vinegar should not be taken for more than two weeks at a time because of its acidic nature. Additionally, the apple cider vinegar can have a corrosive effect on the teeth. Try to put it on the back of the tongue before swallowing it.

Medifast

Medifast tells its customers that they will lose 5-to-10 pounds in the early stages of the diet--the first week--and then lose about 2-3 pounds in each ensuing week. The initial surge is attractive to many customers and clients. The diet is based on a calorie intake of about 800-to-1,000 calories each week. Medifast provides the meals, and the customer eats six small meals per day.

3-Day Diet

The three-day diet is becoming one of the most popular diets available. Its sudden drop in calorie intake can lead to quick weight reduction. Some people call this a yo-yo diet because, while it can knock off the pounds, people tend to eat more after the three days are up.
The Day 1 menu includes coffee, grapefruit or grapefruit juice or a piece of toast with peanut butter for breakfast; 1/2 cup of tuna with one slice of toast and coffee for lunch; and 3 ounces of lean meat, 1 cup of green beans, 1 cup of carrots, 1 apple and 1 cup of coffee for dinner. The other days are similar.