Lose your Christmas stuffing

Did you enjoy a little too much pie and eggnog this season? Five new diet books promise to help lose the weight —but are the results ho-ho-ho or simply ho-hum?

Dana Humphrey, 30

Lost 9 pounds!

After a recent breakup, the Astoria-based publicist and runner was determined to shed the 20 pounds she gained during her two-year relationship, during which food — like rich, caloric Moroccan dishes — was front and center. Humphrey gravitated to “The One One One Diet,” which author Rania Batayneh considers “an ex-carb lover’s diet.” Says Humphrey, “That’s me to a tee!”

With a burger (accompanied by either a bun or fries) as a typical meal, Humphrey says her new “diet food” fills her up enough to stave off late-night cravings: “If I eat a burger at 6, it keeps me full so I won’t snack at 10.” Breakfast typically consists of yogurt (a protein, fat and carb at once); lunch could be pizza with any kind of veggie (considered a “free food”), followed by grilled chicken, rice and steamed veggies for dinner.

The best part? “The daily diary is so helpful — it reminds me to have a healthy snack to stay full,” says Humphrey. Working out at a few times a week — a mix of cardio and weight-lifting — kept her feeling great.

Book Grade: A-

“With one free night a week and no foods off the table, the diet is not good for people who need structure. If you keep with it, you’ll lose weight.”

Personal Grade: B

“Cheating was my downfall — I already had three ‘free nights’ this week! — but I plan to stick with it.”

Ella Leitner, 41

Lost 5 pounds!

The working mom of two was determined to lose 30 pounds — stubborn baby weight from giving birth to her 4- and 6-year-old children — on Rocco DiSpirito’s “The Pound a Day Diet.” But working long days in digital marketing then coming home to the Lower East Side to cook for her family made this “demanding diet” (as Leitner describes it) difficult to follow.

Although initially drawn to the “lose a pound a day” premise, she found it “expensive to follow, and it’s incredibly time-consuming.” The Rocco DiSpirito fan was disappointed, partly due to the recipes’ hard-to-find ingredients: “I live in NYC, and I still couldn’t find organic fat-free milk powder or egg white powder, and Fresh Direct didn’t recognize ‘monk fruit extract.’ ”

And then there was the calorie cap: “I loved the morning almond milk smoothies with protein powder for energy, but I still got hungry later.”

Book Grade: B-

“The prep and the cooking is really hard for a working mom, and the calorie caps are unrealistic.”

Personal Grade: B-

“I definitely cheated — because I didn’t want to starve.”

Josh Lehrhaupt, 39

Lost 10 pounds!

The Upper West Side IT security specialist had packed on 10 pounds from inactivity due to an injury. And traveling for work for weeks at a time made it difficult to follow “The 3-1-2-1 Diet” by Dolvett Quince.

“Dolvett’s advice when eating on the road was to not even look at the menu and order grilled chicken with steamed veggies,” Lehrhaupt gripes. His biggest problem was the expense: “Gluten-free breads cost up to $8 a loaf compared to my regular $2 a loaf. I live alone, and Dolvett doesn’t think about how to use extra food.”

Book Grade: B-

“It’s great if you have a personal chef.”

Personal Grade: B

“I’m back to my pre-injury weight.”

Cherie Dennis, 31

Lost 14 pounds!

The Harlem-based actress was on a mission to lose 50 pounds: “My weight was holding me back professionally,” she says. “7 Years Younger” did the trick. Dennis’ pastry addiction was promptly kicked to the curb.

Now, it’s all about colorful, nutrition-rich foods: “My tastebuds have changed. I can taste the chemicals in my former favorite foods now.” The holidays were the biggest hurdle — she cheated during Thanksgiving — but she got herself together right away. Working out at NYSC five times a week — including cardio and Zumba — helped Dennis feel more alert.

Book Grade: A-

“It’s easy to read and is broad in a good way.”

Personal Grade: A

“Before, I would treat myself with cake after a workout, but now I eat for fuel, not to feel full.”

Berenice Magallanes, 37

Lost 7 pounds!

Even with 10 marathons behind her, the Long Island City mom and personal trainer needed to rein in her poor diet and shed 20 pounds: “As much as I exercise, it doesn’t give me the right to eat whatever I want, especially ice cream and pizza.” She’d never gone on Atkins before, but she’s embracing her healthier diet with “The New Atkins Made Easy,” by Colette Heimowitz.

“My normal breakfasts were fatty pastries,” Magallanes says. “My new breakfast — egg whites or tuna in a whole-wheat wrap — gives me more energy. I used to think I could just exercise the carbs away, but I don’t even crave them anymore.”

Book Grade: A

“The tasty recipes are easy, and the science is explained well.”

Personal Grade: B

“I excused myself for the holidays, but I’m proud at how far I’ve come.”