HEALTH
Time Magazine: NOVEMBER 1, 1999 VOL. 154 NO. 18 Weighing The Diets
There's a system for every taste, lifestyle and level of willpower. Here's a pound watcher's guide to some of the most popular
BY ALICE PARK Low Carbohydrate
ATKINS DIET
PHILOSOPHY Cut out the carbs (no more than 20g a day, or what's found in one corn muffin) so you burn off your stored fat MANIFESTO Sequel to the 1972 best seller, Atkins' latest has 6 million copies in print SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Scrambled eggs and bacon, decaf coffee or tea (but no o.j.) LUNCH Bacon cheeseburger, no bun, no fries, small salad DINNER Shrimp cocktail, clear consomme, steak, salad with dressing, sugarless Jell-O with whipped, artificially sweetened heavy cream RISKS Loss of vitamin B, calcium and potassium, owing to lack of carbs. Also risk of heart disease from eating more high-protein foods, which are also high in fat WHO'S TRIED IT Kenny Rogers DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY First 14 days brutal for carb lovers, but all the beef and cheese you crave CARB ADDICT'S
PHILOSOPHY Limit consumption of carbs by eating them less frequently (once or twice a day) and more quickly (within an hour) MANIFESTO Authors Richard and Rachael Heller have penned seven books; one is now a No. 1 best seller SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Carbohydrate Addict's brand French toast and syrup (both low carb), coffee, tea or diet soda LUNCH Baked fish, steamed cauliflower with butter, Carbohydrate Addict's bread, diet soda DINNER Reward yourself; eat anything but finish within an hour RISKS Loss of vitamin B, calcium and potassium, owing to lack of carbs. Also risk of heart disease from eating more high-protein foods, which are also high in fat WHO'S TRIED IT Oprah Winfrey DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Reward meal makes it easier than Atkins, but no snacking for two weeks THE ZONE
PHILOSOPHY Lower your carbohydrate consumption, but balance it with the right amount of protein and fat MANIFESTO Author Barry Sears updates his 1995 The Zone with diet plans for Olympic athletes SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Four scrambled egg whites with nonfat cheese, grapes, rye toast with peanut butter LUNCH Green salad, shrimp-salad sandwich in pita bread with mayo, apple DINNER Lean-beef chili with nonfat cheese, onions, mushrooms, bell pepper, beans, tomatoes RISKS Loss of vitamin B, calcium and potassium, owing to lack of carbs. Also risk of heart disease from eating more high-protein foods, which are also high in fat WHO'S TRIED IT Kristin Davis, actress DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Tallying the right carb-protein-and-fat balance takes time and effort SUGAR BUSTERS
PHILOSOPHY Sugar is the enemy, so say goodbye to white rice, potatoes, carrots and beer; stick with lean meats high in protein MANIFESTO 65 weeks on the best-seller list; also a cookbook and grocery-shopping guide SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Orange juice, instant oatmeal with skim milk, coffee or tea LUNCH Turkey on whole-grain bread with mustard or light mayo, lettuce, tomato, diet soda DINNER Grilled pork, brown rice, steamed fresh green beans, water RISKS Loss of vitamin B, calcium and potassium, owing to lack of carbs. Also risk of heart disease from eating more high-protein foods, which are also high in fat WHO'S TRIED IT Founders claim celeb followers, but none will fess up DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY You'll have to give up your sweets along with your favorite fruits Combo Diets
SCHWARZBEIN
PHILOSOPHY Eating proteins and nonstarchy carbohydrates together will keep the food from being stored as fat MANIFESTO The latest to join the low-carb library, written by endocrinologist Diana Schwarzbein SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Scrambled eggs, nitrate-free sausages, oatmeal with butter and cream LUNCH Cobb salad with chicken, nitrate-free bacon, hard-boiled egg, salad greens, tomatoes, blue cheese DINNER Roast pork loin, brown rice with butter, asparagus with butter, salad with dressing RISKS Loss of vitamin B, calcium and potassium, owing to lack of carbs. Also risk of heart disease from eating more high-protein foods, which are also high in fat WHO'S TRIED IT Larry Hagman DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Limited carbs but plenty of protein, fat and nonstarchy veggies SUZANNE SOMERS
PHILOSOPHY Don't eat fats with carbs, and if you eat fruit, wait at least 20 min. before eating additional carbs MANIFESTO In a sequel to her No. 1 best seller, Somers enlists the help of an M.D.--Schwarzbein SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Whole-grain toast with tomato, nonfat (because of the carbs in toast) cottage cheese or yogurt LUNCH BLT, but replace the bread with iceberg lettuce DINNER Swedish meatballs made from lean beef and pork, tomatoes roasted in olive oil RISKS Loss of vitamin B, calcium and potassium, owing to lack of carbs. Also risk of heart disease from eating more high-protein foods, which are also high in fat WHO'S TRIED IT Guess who DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Keeping track of the right combo of foods at the right time can get tedious Low Fat
DEAN ORNISH
PHILOSOPHY Stay away from fat and eat natural, whole foods like fruits and veggies to lose weight and lead a healthier, longer life MANIFESTO Published in 1993, Ornish's plan is backed by solid scientific studies SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Oatmeal with sliced bananas, grapefruit, decaf coffee or tea LUNCH Soyburger on whole-wheat bun with trimmings, corn on the cob, pears poached in red wine DINNER White-bean soup with winter greens, mixed-vegetable enchiladas, fruit tart RISKS None, just fat fantasies WHO'S TRIED IT Clint Eastwood DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Giving up your favorite fatty foods takes sheer self-discipline Low Calorie
WEIGHT WATCHERS
PHILOSOPHY Foods are assigned points, and you eat only those that don't exceed a total based on your weight-loss goal MANIFESTO 1-2-3 Success Plan, with 600,000 people attending weekly meetings SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Bagel with light cream cheese, artificially sweetened yogurt LUNCH Roast-beef sandwich with nonfat cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomato, artificially sweetened yogurt, fruit DINNER Salad with low-fat dressing, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli RISKS None. You get all your nutrients with fewer calories WHO'S TRIED IT Sarah Ferguson DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Calorie counting is done for you, and you don't have to rule out any foods JENNY CRAIG
PHILOSOPHY Make carbohydrates 60% of your daily diet; denser ones fill you up and require more calories to digest MANIFESTO ABC Program, available at more than 760 centers around the world SAMPLE MENU
BREAKFAST Half a toasted bagel with margarine, strawberries, skim milk LUNCH 2 oz. turkey on rye with mustard, lettuce and tomato, apple, iced tea DINNER 4 oz. roasted chicken breast, 2/3 cup seasoned brown rice, 1/2 cup steamed vegetables RISKS None. You get all your nutrients with fewer calories WHO'S TRIED IT Monica Lewinsky DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY No snacking on cookies, just granola, yogurt or raw vegetables | 
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