10 Diets That Don't Work

At least four out of five of your loved ones will resolve to lose weight in 2012. But making the decision to lose weight is one that comes with a multitude of psychological, emotional, and physical ramifications.

"Everyone is looking for the silver bullet [when it comes to dieting]," explains John Bock, nutritionist and dietitian at the Integrated Nutrition Therapy center in Southern New Jersey.

And it's true — for the past few decades our culture has become obsessed with finding the secret to shedding the pounds. We've tried juice cleanses, eaten only grapefruit for every meal, and even purchased countless dehydrated meal plans from infomercials on TV. And most likely, we've even lost weight from them. The bad news?

"Thing is, there is no 'super food' that will save the day, ever," promises Bock. "None of these diets are conducive to a long-term lifestyle change — something that you can stick too."

The worse news: Many diets are detrimental to your health and mental stability. In our desperation to find said "silver bullet," we've put ourselves in harm's way, especially when it comes to fad dieting. Some have tried everything from drinking 64 fluid ounces of water daily to literally chewing food and spitting it out. By restricting ourselves, we mentally create a conflict for a successfully healthy lifestyle, Bock explains.

"A nutritionist is just as essential as a family doctor," he insists. "We can measure metabolic rates and design a plan that will work with your lifestyle to achieve long-lasting results."

While some of these diets may help you lose weight in the short term, their methods can be unhealthy, and the pounds you shed usually don't stay off for long.

Click here to see the 10 Diets That Don't Work Slideshow. 

This story was originally published December 12, 2011.