Popular Diets Reviewed: The Cheaters Diet

Dr. Rivas encourages followers to be as physically active as possible during the week. He suggests being active through everyday activities like washing the car, playing touch football and gardening rather than going to the gym.

He also provides a list of medications that help support or hinder weight loss efforts as well as supplements that help weight loss.

My Thoughts

While I don’t believe there is research to support cheat days, I do believe that long-term weight control is about balancing your caloric intake over several days rather than every single day. However, I question his recommendations for supplements to support weight loss, because research does not support their efficacy.

During the week, the plan is generally healthy, though I would like to see it include whole grains Monday through Friday. I don’t understand the reasoning behind the cheat foods he specifies, particularly the cinnamon bun. It also leads me to wonder if that just happens to be one of his favorite foods and so he included it. It doesn’t seem to fit in with the other foods, which provide more nutrients and are not pure sugar.

I also think he should let people choose their own cheat foods, otherwise it doesn’t really fit his reason for including cheat days. If they are indeed meant to keep people interested in the diet, than shouldn’t you let people pick their own foods.

* Grade: B+. This diet does recommend an overall healthy diet during the week and encourages moderation. It also recommends being physically active on a daily basis.

* Popular Diet Rating System

A: This diet meets accepted standards for a healthy well-balanced diet. It recommends food from all food groups with an emphasis on healthy choices within each food group.
B: This diet meets most accepted standards for a healthy well-balanced diet. It emphasizes healthy foods but does not include food from all food groups.
C: This diet only meets some accepted standards for a healthy well-balanced diet. It does not differentiate between food choices in each food group and therefore does not emphasize healthy foods.
D: This diet does only meets one or two accepted standards for a healthy well-balanced diet.
F: This diet does not meet any accepted standards for a healthy well-balanced diet. It does not differentiate between healthy foods and unhealthy foods and/or does not meet caloric needs.