The Reverse Diet

What it is: Tricia Cunningham developed the reverse diet in her attempts to lose weight. She reversed everything about the way she had been eating and dieting, and lost almost 130 pounds, all of which she has been able to keep off.

How it works: Most people eating their largest meal for dinner, several hours before going to bed, which does not allow enough time for the body to burn off calories and fat. On the reverse diet, you eat your largest meal at the start of the day, giving you energy throughout the day.

What you do: Dieters are told to eat their meals in reverse: dinner foods for breakfast, a moderate lunch and breakfast foods for dinner. The diet book outlines meal ideas and recipes, all of which are designed to be low-fat and nutritious. There is also a partner website for the diet, where you can gain support from other dieters, participate in weigh-ins and journal your process.

Benefits: The author has personal experience with this diet plan, and all of the meals within the plan are designed to be healthy. In addition, the support from the online community may be beneficial to people undertaking the diet alone.

The Down Side: The diet is not scientifically proven and contains no recommended exercise program. It may also be difficult for dieters to adjust to the reverse schedule and it may not be preferable over the long term.