The You Diet

In an industry where improbable claims are made every day, the You Diet stands out. It's a sensible diet that incorporates all of the food groups and promotes slow, steady weight loss. The diet is science-based, and forms its meal plans around research about appetite, fat storage and bodily processes that affect fat storage.

Eating Strategy

The You Diet is designed for a person who burns approximately 2,000 calories each day. To find out how many calories you burn each day, find your basal metabolic rate using an online calculator such as the one listed below and add the number of calories you burn exercising. On the You Diet, you eat three meals a day and are allowed small snacks. You may not eat within three hours of your bedtime, and desserts are allowed on an every-other-day basis. The diet is based around whole grains, lean proteins and fibrous fruits and vegetables.

Foods to Avoid

On the You Diet, you can eat a moderate amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, found in foods such as almonds, avocados and olive oil. Saturated and polyunsaturated fats are allowed only in small amounts. Foods that are absolutely verboten are refined carbohydrates, high-fructose corn syrup and foods with added sugar. Refined carbohydrates contribute to weight gain, and can certainly slow weight loss when included in a weight-loss diet. This is because they cause the body to release hormones that cause up to a third of sugars to be stored in the form of fat.

Exercise

Like any sensible diet, the You Diet encourages people to exercise. If you're new to exercise, the You Diet starts out by requiring that you walk for 30 minutes every day until you feel capable of doing more strenuous aerobic activity such as jogging or swimming. You'll also be doing 20 minutes of stretching and strength exercises three times each week. Exercise has many benefits beyond burning calories -- you'll become stronger and reduce stress levels while your clothes become looser.

Coping With Stalls

The You Diet doesn't claim to be a panacea for weight loss. The authors acknowledge that weight loss may stall. In this case, they recommend paying a visit to a weight loss specialist who can prescribe medications to help you get past the stall. You Diet author medication suggestions include the antidepressant Wellbutrin, the fat-blocking medication orlistat and glucophage, a drug that assists with insulin control. Nicotine patches, which are highly addictive, can also help people to lose weight by stimulating metabolism, and have been prescribed by the authors in their private practices. The authors also recommend caffeine in the form of two cups of coffee to help boost metabolism.