Finding The Best Diet Book: When Calories Count

As we posted a few days ago, the latest research for weight loss shows that total calories is what ultimately counts when it comes to weight loss, not the proportions of fat, protein or carbs. So when shopping for a new diet book, be sure to keep this in mind.

There are so many diet books out there, how do we choose?

What works and what doesn’t depends just as much on the reader as it does on the author. Aside from the two biggies, diet and exercise, the rest is about preference, individual needs and motivation. While high-impact aerobics and Mediterranean cuisine might be all right for some, interval training and old-fashioned comfort foods are preferred by others – it’s increased activity and decreased calories that works for everybody.

See our post on 11 easy ways to cut calories.

Here are a few diet books currently on the market today that promote healthy lifestyle strategies, rather than food fads:

The No S Diet: The Strikingly Simple Weight-Loss Strategy That Has Dieters Raving–and Dropping Pounds by Reinhard Engels (Paperback – March 4, 2008)

No Sweets No Snacks No Seconds except on Saturdays, Sundays and Special occasions.
This book is about cutting calories by changing eating habits, rather than focusing on food types and counting carbs. While habits may seem hard to change at first, it is change that can be not only effective but lasting. This simple strategy also avoids calorie counting or radically altering what you normally cook at home.

Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds–or More!
Men’s Health Magazine

This is a handy reference for those who eat out. The book itself is compact and easily portable, while the information is presented in a way that’s quick and easy to read. As the title suggests, this is all about what food choices are high calories/high fat, and recommends healthier options.

The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter
by Allan Borushek

This is a great general reference if one’s not used to counting calories. Small and compact, it fits easily into a handbag. Aside from the calorie content of hundreds of foods (from rabbit to corn dogs to Yoplait) it includes many handy tables and charts, for example: BMI table, recommended calories for weight loss, explanation of food pyramids, reading food labels, etc…

The Abs Diet Get Fit Stay Fit Plan: The Exercise Program to Flatten Your Belly, Reshape Your Body, and Give You Abs for Life! by David Zinczenko (Hardcover – December 13, 2005)

This is not only a very popular program but also a pretty decent one, if you can stick with it. It includes advice for healthier, well-balanced eating habits, with an emphasis on moderation, and offers a workout program emphasizing interval training.

Fitness Book: Fatness to Fitness – Former Fat Kid Reveals His Most Powerful Personal Strategies and Techniques to Help You Quickly and Sa… by Joey Atlas (Paperback – May 22, 2008)

This author offers more than just advice. He also shares his personal experiences with weight loss, from being an obese child, to food being an integral part of his family life, to his battles with binge eating as an adult. He emphasizes the importance of making healthier food choices a habit, and also includes an exercise cd that anybody can do at home. If you’re looking for weight loss advice and weight loss inspiration, this book has both.

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Tanya Wilson

Tanya Wilson is a freelance writer and author for dietivity.com. You may contact her at admin@dietivity.com.