Okay, no more free passes. The holidays have come and gone, and now it's resolution season. What's at the top of everyone's list? Change that diet, drop off the excess baggage and look good in 2010!
To help you get started on your New Year's resolutions, here's a list of the best-selling diet books of 2009, as well as a few of the hottest diet books that will arrive in 2010.
Make the jump below to pick out the best diet book for you, and here's to a healthy and fit 2010.
Here we go, counting down the best-selling diet books of 2009, in approximate order of sales:
#7
British PhD Paul McKenna--sometimes referred to as the "Dr. Phil" of the UK--has sold over three million books across the pond in only a few years. Now he brings his pop psychology expertise to the U.S. in
I Can Make You Thin, a handbook for weight loss that McKenna nonetheless insists is not a "diet book" per se. Instead, McKenna presents an unconventional--albeit highly simplified--approach in which he instructs readers to re-program themselves through basic use of hypnotic suggestion. McKenna essentially insists that losing weight comes down to the four tenets of 1) eating when you're hungry; 2) eating what you want; 3) being mindful while you're eating; and 4) stopping when you're full. The key, then, is recognizing the difference between real hunger and emotional eating, as well as truly defining the "full" feeling. The book includes a CD that features guided meditation to help reinforce the re-programming.
#6
Dr. Ian K. Smith, the resident diet guru on VH1's
Celebrity Fit Club, follows-up his best-selling diet book
The Fat Smash Diet with
The 4 Day Diet, a series of diet modules designed for dieters who can't stand the potential monotony of most weight-loss plans. While readers won't lose any significant weight in just four days (there's gotta be a hook, you know), the plan is actually seven phases of four days each. Each phase introduces a new focus to keep dieters actively participating, rather than fall into a boring routine that can plateau or regress. The first two phases have specific purposes: first detoxifying, then re-introducing each of the food groups. From there, the final five phases can be performed in any order: adding proteins to avoid plateauing, eating previously forbidden food (although with proper portion control), diving into a stricter diet, expanding that strict diet a little, then finally pushing a very strict diet to lose the final pounds. The book includes dozens of recipes and exercise tips to accompany the customizable diet plan.
#5
The View co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck struggled with health problems her whole life prior to her star-making appearance on
Survivor. Oddly enough, being deprived of normal food on the show
improved Hasselbeck's health, which eventually convinced her that she was suffering from celiac disease, an allergy to gluten. In
The G Free Diet, Hasselbeck shares the remarkable transformation she underwent as a result of giving up foods containing gluten (anything made from wheat). The book explains just what gluten is, where it is found, what it does to the body, and how it can be avoided. The book also helps readers create gluten-free meals with helpful shopping lists and recipes. Hasselbeck insists that a gluten-free diet is not only beneficial for sufferers of celiac, but that everyone can enjoy weight loss, increased energy, and improved health by adopting it.
#4
Actress Alicia Silverstone has over the years become an outspoken advocate of veganism and an activist for animals and the ecology. In
The Kind Diet, Silverstone outlines the various reasons behind her decision to go vegan, especially focusing on the damage that eating animal proteins does not only to the human body, but also the planet itself. Silverstone endorses a vegan diet (strictly eating only food derived from plant sources) for its health benefits--better skin, increased energy, heart health, and weight loss--while demonstrating through a number of delicious recipes that the shift away from meat doesn't have to mean deprivation of enjoyment or key nutrients. Silverstone acknowledges that making a permanent shift can be intimidating and challenging, and so presents three progressive levels of commitment for the would-be vegan:
Flirt, in which the reader slowly adopts substitute products;
Vegan, in which the reader goes all the way to eliminating all animal products; and
Superhero, in which the reader adopts a stringent macriobiotic diet of whole grains and vegetables.
#3
While not a diet book per se,
The End of Overeating by Dr. David A. Kessler--commissioner of the FDA during the Bush Adminstration--is an in-depth critical examination of how the American food and advertising industries have colluded to suppress the average American's ability to regulate their food intake. By endlessly producing and promoting foods saturated in sugar, fat, and sodium, which together stoke the body's desire to insatiably eat--regardless of need--restaurant chains and food corporations have sparked an epidemic of what Dr. Kessler terms as the disease "conditioned hypereating." Furthermore, the endless combinations of food containing salt, fat and sugar are at the root of a large chunk of the country's health problems. Dr. Kessler endorses a food rehabilitation program, and provides readers with tips, tools and guidance to resist the relentless pressure to consume these foods.
#2
Belly fat is not only unsightly and difficult to lose, it is also the main culprit in contributing to a number of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses. Liz Vaccariello, chief editor of the health and nutrition-focused
magazine
Prevention, teams with her nutrition director Cynthina Sass to specifically target belly fat in
Flat Belly Diet! Together they endorse the consumption of foods high in mono-unsaturated fatty acid ("good fats"), which have been proven to be the only foods that can reduce belly fat. After discussing different types of fat--and making a point to explain "visceral fat"--the authors provide explicit instructions in how to adopt this diet, highlighting shopping lists and recipes for the somewhat restrictive diet. By adhering to this diet, readers can get a flat, attractive tummy, and set themselves up to avoid long-term health issues.
Read more on The Flat Belly Diet >> #1
Hard-body fitness queen Jillian Michaels reigns supreme on the weight-loss reality show
The Biggest Loser, cracking the whip to make miraculous changes in obese people through intense exercise. In
Master Your Metabolism, however, Michaels stresses instead the critical importance that metabolism plays in balancing the body's hormones. Michaels insists that adjusting the body's chemistry is the only way to lose weight
and keep it off. Michaels provides guidance for choosing a proper diet to do just that, making sure to help the reader eschew foods and chemicals that will wreak havoc on the body's hormones--like testosterone, estrogen, insulin, and cortisol. Bringing these hormones back into balance will allow the body to lose weight effortlessly, gun up its metabolism, and keep its trim figure once and for all.
Here's a few diet books to look for in 2010:
Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen present a revised version of their hit book
You: On a Diet, updated with the latest information on medical breakthroughs to help readers understand their bodies in relation to weight loss. The doctors present this comprehensive knowledge to help the reader make the best choice for their diet. The book is available now.

Dr. Daniel G. Amen, the author of
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, presents a book demonstrating how the power of the brain can change the body.
Change Your Brain, Change Your Body will be available on February 16.

The Atkins diet is back again, refreshed and refurbished.
The New Atkins for a New You is streamlined and flexible, and boasts the backing of dozens of studies that endorse its low-carbohydrate approach. Filled with a bevy of success stories, the new Atkins will be on bookshelves March 2.
Only a Couple Days Left in our "10 till 2010" Sweepstakes! Enter to Win
Comments page 1 of 2
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Jennifer said 1-06-2010 @5:12PM
Good list of books. The challenge for me has never been to lose weight, but to keep it off. I have tried just about every diet out there, and had some great successes, but none of them have helped me keep the weight off. I have come to the conclusion that I need to make permanent changes to my lifestyle if I want to lose weight and keep it off.
replyI am reading a new book and trying a new diet in 2010. It looks promising. The key is to make a small change to your lifestyle each week. By implementing small changes over time, your body will adapt and won't be shocked into losing weight. Also, these small changes are something I need to be able to live with. No diet will succeed if you starve yourself.
This is the diet I am trying:
http://www.youforeverslim.com/
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Paula said 1-08-2010 @4:02PM
I had been overweight for the past five years. I had tried almost everything in the market, right from taking diet pills to enrolling in a gym but nothing really worked. Yes I did lose a few pounds but nothing substantial. It was then that a friend recommended Acai Natura ( Http://tiny.cc/AcaiNatura ) to me. I have been using the product for about a month now and have slimmed down considerably. I have actually started to wear all those dresses that I had put off for so long. The product is definitely one of the best weight loss products in the market today. I have already finished two bottles of Acai Pure and am on my third bottle now. It totally changed my life! Not only did I lose a lot of weight quickly, I have also never felt more energetic and so full of life!
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EmmaJ said 1-08-2010 @4:02PM
I have struggled with weight for my whole life and finally have a grip on it after 30 years of suffering from diet-itis!! It really helps to know what you are doing and you don't have to work nearly as hard when you do. Go to this site http://tinyurl.com/StripThatFat44 It was recommended to me by a friend and it really changed my thinking and helped me turn the tide and finally lose weight and keep it off without the constant struggle and fluctuations. I have lost over 50 lbs and kept it off. I finally have enough energy to keep up with my children. Best of luck to every one of you who knows what it is like to struggle to lose weight...hope this makes your life easier!!
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Sally said 1-08-2010 @4:58PM
http://weightlossoptionsreview.com/
I have tried many different weightloss products and books but Fat Loss 4 Idiots has been the easiest and makes it easy to understand what nyou need to do to lose weight.
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cn said 1-08-2010 @8:18PM
To all of you working through weight issues. I have lost 40 lbs in the last year. I have done this with the Atkins plan.
For the first time I was able to make a diet plan work for me.
That's the secret. You have to find a plan that works with your body and life style. Sounds easy I know (sure right!)
Although it has taken me a year to lose those 40 lbs, it has been an "EASY" thing for me to do. I am off this year to lose at least 20 more and am actually looking forward to doing so.
During the holidays I "experimented" okay, "cheated" and to my amazement I only gained 2 lbs????? So it seems to be working for me. I pray each and every one of you fine "YOUR" program.
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Karen said 1-08-2010 @9:51PM
jennifer,congrats on the 2010 new you and I know exactly how you feel. Everyday is a struggle and at times I do stray of the path. I am bound and determined that this will be my year, not to be skinny, but to feel healthy.Lets show ourselves that we can do it, take it one day at a time. This is to you and everyone else out there,this will be our year.
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carriemccm said 1-08-2010 @11:24PM
I have struggled with weight for my whole life and finally have a grip on it after 30 years of suffering from diet-itis!! It really helps to know what you are doing and you don't have to work nearly as hard when you do. Go to this site Http://cli.gs/LifeChangingWeightLoss It was recommended to me by a friend and it really changed my thinking and helped me turn the tide and finally lose weight and keep it off without the constant struggle and fluctuations. I have lost over 50 lbs and kept it off. I finally have enough energy to keep up with my children. Best of luck to every one of you who knows what it is like to struggle to lose weight...hope this makes your life easier!!
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pamela said 1-08-2010 @4:34PM
good list..i am not doing Tonique and Sylwia is coming soon with a book called no diet - Tonique is a way of living that make Sylwia and people who do Tonique and live Tonique way looking forever slim and young
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Al Schrader said 1-08-2010 @5:45PM
I figured out a way to put buttons on that Snuggie blankie & now you can wear it like a robe..Al-
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sarah said 1-08-2010 @6:24PM
I have read 3 of the books you mentioned and the Perfect 10 Diet and thinks this diet will take over as it really addresses the root of tge obesity problem in the US, hormones.
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criterion29 said 1-08-2010 @7:39PM
are you on the shue and t shirt diet ??
replythats to much fiber .........
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Suzi said 1-08-2010 @7:41PM
I've been up and down so many times and now that I am in my 50's, it's been getting harder to lose. Through this amazing in-home test, I found out that my cortisol level was high through all the stress going on in my life.I was then able to address it. WEight startedcoming off once my level became balanced.
replyIdeal Health has many in-home test that are quite revealing. This one is called the StressTest. It's easy, affordable and right -on!
http://idealhealth.com/Custom-Test/StressTest.aspx?sponsor=6007355&bety02
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mb said 1-08-2010 @8:26PM
I was embarrassed by my weight until I lost 47 pounds in 6 weeks using the Rapidthin diet at www.rapidthin.com. Good luck to all. Use what works for you.
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george said 1-08-2010 @8:40PM
Attention to detail...I think not! It's Elisabeth Hasselbeck, not Elizabeth
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Jessie said 1-08-2010 @9:00PM
I am not a big fan of diets and short term gimmicks and fixes. You need to take in less calories and move more.
replyI walk daily for exercise wearing body toning insoles that help you tone muscles and help you to burn more calories while you walk They are called Smartsole( http://www.smartsole.com ) I like that I am getting a work out and toning my legs and butt even when just running errands. They are similar to the EasyTone Sneaker by Reebok , but they cost under $30 and you can wear in any flat shoe or sneaker.
I read about them in Prevention mag in an article on exercise shoes. They listed the code jm10 to get 10% off.
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Lisa Elkins said 1-08-2010 @9:02PM
Whatever happened to the Scarsdale diet? I joined my mother on this one even though I didn't actually need to at the time. Every morning was black coffee, dry toast and 1/2 grapefruit. (I cheated and used cream and sugar!) Lunches and dinners consisted of things like all the fruit you can eat, all the fish you can eat, etc...I remember losing 10 pounds in the two weeks and don't recall ever eating so much. SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!
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meg said 1-08-2010 @10:08PM
YOUR BEAUTIFUL
replyoperationbeautiful.com
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Holly Oyler said 1-08-2010 @10:47PM
I have loss 42 pounds and 15 inches on the Jorge Cruise program, The Belly
replyFat Cure. You can find more information at www.jorgecruise.com. It is a quick and easy read, and the program is easy to follow.
While shopping for books, give the BFC a look.
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Edward said 1-09-2010 @1:39AM
I have a problem with weight. I have read and been following the Flat Belly Diet for Men book and have discovered tremendous results. It the first 4 days with the Jump Start Program I was able to reduce my waist by 4 inches and drop from 314 to 298. I followed to letter the diet instructions and workout on a regular basis. I am looking forward to further results. The menu is not to bad and the book really offers up some great advice and encouragement. I have tried many diets and routines but this is the first time I have really enjoyed being healthy.
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Samantha said 1-09-2010 @2:18AM
Celiac disease is not an allergy to wheat. It is an auto-immune disease in which the white blood cells attack the villi in the small intestines, killing them, after eating wheat gluten. The villi are what obsorb the nutriants and vitamins our bodies need to function daily.
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