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Is the REALity Diet for Real?

With the number of diets out there that tout effective weight loss, it's really not unreasonable—in fact it may be prudent—to question whether or not the latest thing in the diet world is worth trying. Even some diets that were developed by doctors have come under fire for practices that, to some, seem pretty unhealthy. And now there's a new doctor-developed diet on the market that has caught the attention of the thousands of people looking for an easy way to lose some extra pounds.

The REALity Diet (Catchy name, huh? Kind of makes you think of popular shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race—we're guessing that wasn't a mistake, but a marketing savvy move to capitalize on the booming reality television trend.) was created by Dr. Steven A. Schnur who also founded the largest cardiology practice in South Florida. The diet doesn't advocate cutting carbs or fat and it doesn't promote excessive eating of protein. Instead, it recommends a balanced diet with a focus on increasing your fiber intake.

How Does the REALity Diet Work?
Dr. Schnur professes the diet to be for "real people living in the real world." It doesn't involve starving yourself, eating pre-packaged food only available through the creators of the diet, or depriving yourself of an occasional treat. Instead, the REALity Diet includes a plan for purchasing food from the supermarket in your hometown and even offers advice for choosing healthy foods when you eat at a restaurant (hmmm...no guilt and no dishes? There just may be something to this diet!). Furthermore, with this diet, there's no harm in occasionally enjoying a yummy dessert or even an alcoholic drink—you'll simply need to follow the guidelines to compensate for the indulgence.

The real key to the diet is the 2:90 rule for fiber intake. This rule helps you to purchase foods high in fiber so that you naturally follow the increased fiber intake that is essential to weight loss (fiber helps you feel more full and assists your body in fighting fat). The rule goes like this—when you purchase starchy foods, like pasta and bread, choose those products that have at least 2 grams of fat for each 90-calorie serving.

Are There Any Downfalls to the REALity Diet?
If you're looking for a way to drop 10 pounds in a week, this may be the wrong diet for you. Followers of the REALity Diet should expect to lose around 2 pounds per week, with a loss of 30 pounds over 3 months. That may sound like slow going, but it's just the rate most experts recommend for a healthy weight loss that will stay off. That's bad news for anyone hoping to drop quick weight before the big class reunion, but it's excellent news for anyone hoping to "get real" and make a meaningful lifestyle change.