As we evolve as a society, more and more people are realizing that diets simply don’t work. If there was a tried and true formula, wouldn’t everyone be doing it? And wouldn’t everyone be at their ideal weight, side-stepping obesity and heart disease? In 1982, Bob Schwartz figured this out and wrote a book, Diets Don’t Work, which has been updated several times.

In his book, Bob discusses an approach to weight loss without dieting. He advocates eating only delicious foods and claims that dieting damages your natural system of satiety and metabolism. He emphasizes the relationship between food and lifestyle, and encourages dieters to develop a positive relationship with themselves in order to end their weight struggles for good.

Foods to include:

Vegetables
Fruits
Whole grains
Refined grains (in moderation)
Meat
Poultry
Fish
Eggs
Beans
Dairy
Nuts and seeds
Healthy oils
Sugar (in moderation)

Foods to avoid:

Processed foods
Trans fats

Pros:

Honors bio-individuality and self-awareness
Considers primary food
Can be a lifestyle rather than a diet
Supports sustained weight loss

Cons:

Some may prefer a structured diet plan
Only works for those ready to explore their relationship with food
Not a quick fix for weight loss

Sources:

Bob Schwartz’s Diets Don’t Work www.paperbackswap.com
Reasons Not to Diet in the New Year www.sheerbalance.com