Don’t fall victim to fad diets that produce results that don’t last. Any diet that promises “quick and easy” weight loss should raise a red flag. Suspect a fad that’s more promise than substance if the diet plan says you must: avoid an entire food group or a specific food; take pills or supplements; eat certain foods because they’ll “cure” a disease; avoid certain foods because they’ll “cause” a disease; eat foods only at certain times or in specific combinations; eat only foods prepared in a certain way.

We've all done fad diets--which ones have you tried and what were the outcomes? Funny stories particularly welcome!

I did the Candida diet once--not to lose weight, but for health reasons. I wasn't allowed to eat anything that would encourage yeast to grow: no sugar, refined grains or processed foods, no alcohol, no aged or fermented foods of any kind (cheese, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard...), no mushrooms, no caffeine, no sweet fruit... It's amazing that I found enough to eat. But I did and trying to avoid sugar for a couple of weeks was an eye-opening experience.

I went on a diet once that said eat as much fruit as you want for breakfast, but do it within one hour. Then eat whatever you want the rest of the day. I ate way too much fruit (I know that sounds strange) because the diet said I could. I think I ended up gaining about 8 lbs and really got sick of fruit after one week. Thank goodness, now I eat very healthy, incorporating fruit daily in more sensible servings.

I'm trying to maintain my weight by eating well. I especially liked the healthy cakes section. My husband wants a butter cream icing on his carrot cake for his birthday. I'd rather make some low fat but pass it off as butter cream. Any suggestions?