The Thin Commandments Diet: The 10 No-Fail Strategies for Permanent Weight Loss, by Stephen Gullo, Ph.D. (Rodale, 2005)

The skinny No, this is not a faith-based weight-loss plan. It's the latest book by Stephen Gullo, author of best seller Thin Tastes Better (Dell, 1998) and former chairman of the National Obesity and Weight Control Education Program at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. In part one of the book, Gullo outlines the 10 behavioral strategies ("commandments") that lead to successful weight loss. Part two offers the "ABC Eating Plan," featuring a 10-day "TurboCharge" diet, meal plans and recipes.

Thumbs-up advice The commandments are sensible and accompanied by strategies to combat various overeating triggers and entrenched bad habits. For example, "Stop Feeling Deprived" teaches "Thinspeak": Instead of thinking, "I'm missing out on the fun," say to yourself, "What fun? You had [these foods] for years and [they] didn't make you happy." Another commandment features binge-busters like Listerine breath strips to occupy your taste buds until a craving passes.

Thumbs-down advice Many of the suggested meals on the 10-day Turbo-Charge diet lack vital stats such as calories, carbohydrates, protein and fiber, but they appear light on "good" carbs like whole grains and fruit. Most experts recommend getting 45-65 percent of your calories from complex carbs to ensure that you get the nutrients your body needs every day.

Odds for weight-loss success Adopt the behavior-modification commandments and forget the 10-day diet, and your chances are good.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group