The Flat Belly Diet

This diet promises to slim down your waistline without a single crunch required in just 32 days.

What it is: Written by Liz Vaccariello, editor in chief of Prevention magazine along with nutritionist Cynthia Sass, the Flat Belly Diet is a 28-day 1,600 calorie plan based on the Mediterranean diet emphasizing unrefined foods, fruit, vegetables, beans and lean protein.

How it works: The cornerstone of this Mediterranean-style diet plan is a monounsaturated fat (MUFA) at every meal in the form of olives, avocado, nuts, seeds and even dark chocolate. According to the author, MUFAs target belly fat and help people feel full for longer.

What you do: Before beginning the main diet plan, practitioners do a four-day, anti-bloat diet of 1,200-1,400 calories a day and drink plenty of their signature “sassy water,” with cucumber, spices, herbs and citrus. The main 28-diet calls for four 400 calories meals spaced every four hours, with each including a MUFA. Exercise is also encouraged.

Benefits: Eighty recipes are included with the plan, which is flexible to vegetarians, those who are lactose intolerant and those with food allergies. The diet incorporates healthy fats, which helps make dieting easier and more sustainable.

Downside: The plan, especially if you incorporate exercise, will likely help you lose weight but not necessarily because of the MUFAs. You may simply lose weight form your midsection first. You can easily overeat high-calories foods such as nuts, so be careful.