The Fat Smash Diet

The Fat Smash Diet began as a plan that celebs followed in a competition to lose weight on the VH1 hit show Celebrity Fit Club. Now, the program's diet doctor, Ian K. Smith, M.D., has developed a plan for anyone who wants to lose weight. Smith’s diet book guides you through four phases, each of which comes with lists of permissible and prohibited foods. During the initial detox phase, you eat mostly fruits and vegetables. Detox also comes with a prescription for 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week. In the foundation phase, which lasts three weeks, more foods appear on the permissible list and exercise is kicked up 10 to 15 percent above phase one. The four-week construction phase allows for an occasional treat, and exercise jumps 25 percent over phase two. Once dieters reach the lifetime temple phase, Smith claims they will have constructed a routine of good habits that will last a lifetime.

Smith should be commended for his lifestyle approach to weight loss and emphasis on physical activity. But with a cover line that promises to be the last diet you'll ever need, Fat Smash is on the skimpy side. There are few menus, details, specifics, or pages for that matter. And his laundry lists of prohibited foods may be overwhelming and intimidating for an inexperienced dieter. In fact, the early phases may turn many dieters off the plan long before they reach the maintenance phase. Detox mumbo jumbo aside, Smith's advice regarding whole foods, fruits and vegetables, lean meats, portion control and physical activity is based on sound science. And he offers some fabulous recipes for those with a culinary bent.