More Fad Diets to Ignore

The economy is in freefall and the stock market is anything but booming. But if there's one thing our country is never at a loss for, it's the latest get-skinny-in-no-time-flat diet plan.

The year 2008 was chock full of them, and Health magazine recently released their Top 10 Diet and Weight Loss Stories of 2008.

When I was reading the article, however, I couldn't help but wonder which ones didn't make the list. Which diets were so out-of-this-world that the Health editors simply said, "Pish, posh" and marked them as a no-no?

I decided to delve into the world of fad diets—a scary world, indeed—and dish about some of the weight loss plans that didn't make the cut. Keep in mind that I am not a health expert—just a health-oriented gal who likes to give her two cents.

* The Bead Diet: This newfangled diet involves the purchase of a beaded bracelet or you can get creative and make your own. Each bead equals 100 calories, so if you want to eat 1,600 calories a day, then you slide 16 beads onto one of the strings on the bracelet. As you eat, you slide your beads onto the second, bare string of the bracelet. The concept may serve as a helpful reminder, but to me it just comes right back to counting calories. While the process sounds simple enough—just slide a bead—you still need to know how many calories are in your food, and that requires a lot of work.

* Toning shoes: If you aren't familiar with shoes-that-help-you-get-fit fad, then check out FitFlops. The manufacturers claim a special sole technology helps to make legs long, lean and more toned. I say it's a bunch of hoopla. I have a pair of FitFlops and I have not noticed any difference other than the fact that they are extra comfy and I do more walking in them. Maybe that's why people report such results—they are moving more!

* The Soul Diet: Based on principles of the Torah (the Jewish book of prayer), The Soul Diet works to help you "eliminate the clutter," leading to weight loss and optimum health. While it's a notable idea, it's a diet that is far beyond the average dieting Joe's weight loss wishes. Linking health and soulful activity is interesting, and you don't have to be Jewish to learn the book's concepts, but when it comes to dieting we might need something a little less complex.

Next to these "interesting" 2008 diets, I am also opposed to any diet that requires you to eliminate whole food groups (think carbohydrates) or withhold from eating food for a number of days. While some of these diets have proven to be effective, like juice cleansing or veganism, I don't think they are suited for the average dieter. Best to consult a doctor or dietitian if you are looking to try one of those weight loss plans.

What's the wackiest diet you've ever tried?

—Caroline Shannon