Weight Loss Diets Examined

Fad Diets & Dieting Fads: Do they work?

The Six Week Body Makeover: Does it Live up to its Promise?

Is it possible to lose up to thirty pounds in six weeks? Michael Thurmond seems to think so. In fact he offers a money back guarantee if you fail. The Six Week Body Makeover (SWBM) program has helped fat people reprogram their metabolism and lose weight for over twenty years.

The first step is to fill out your body blueprint questionnaire. This will let you know what body type you are, whether A, B, C, D or E. It would seem that most people are either body type A or B. Thurmond explains all these body types. He tells what foods will work best for you. Then you design your blueprint body to tailor your strength training to get the results that you need. Within six weeks you should have reprogrammed your body’s metabolism and can move on to the “Living Lean” program.

The Six Week Body Make Over has similarities with the “Eat Right For Your Body” diet. The difference is that the “Eat Right for Your Body” diet analyzes your blood type only, it does not ask any of the questions the SWBM does. People have complained that SWBM is too restrictive as far as food goes. While it does give you three options to follow for each meal and snack, it would appear that the choices are too limited. After all there are only so many eggs one can eat. This plan also forbids salt, sugar and for most body types milk and other dairy products are not allowed.

SWBM is not a low carb diet, but it adheres to a lot of the low carb principles. Your body type determines what type of carbs you can eat. SWBM distinguishes between good carbs and bad carbs, avoiding the bad. Bread (whole grain) is allowed for certain body types. Oatmeal is allowed but only at certain meals. The same with potatoes.

SWBM encourages you to eat six small meals throughout the day with only a few hours (3 or less) between them. The logic is you won't be hungry. Studies show that smaller meals through out the day is better than eating a big breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dr. Siegrist's book “The Physician's No-Starving Weight Loss Secret” believes the same and she recommends eating 5 small meals throughout the day. (Every 3 to 4 hours).

Compared to other diets available today, most people claim this diet is a lot of work. The food preparation and cooking that is involved can be time consuming for people with busy lifestyles. Most people who follow this plan say they spend at least one day cooking and preparing their food for the coming week. With the limited food choices and the work preparing the food, many users claimed it was not worth the effort although those who stuck with it did lose weight. Ask yourself if you really want to try a diet that you may not be able to stick to. If you do, be careful to follow through so you don't set yourself up for failure.