THE DIETER
Debra Beauford, 44
Height: 5-foot-6
Before: 182.2 pounds
THE DIET
“The Women’s Health Big Book of Abs” ($26.99), by Adam Bornstein, is a six-week guide meant to sculpt abs, strengthen the core and tone the whole body through various excercise moves and diet changes.
Jonathan Baskin
2 of 8
After: 168.4 pounds
Lost: 13.8 pounds
THE RESULTS
Beauford, an associate at Morgan Stanley, has lost 18 pounds since Nov. 1 working with a personal trainer, but wanted to speed up her springtime slimdown and lose an additional 14 pounds — and whittle her middle, which for her has been a constant roadblock to building a better bod.
Overall, the Livingston, NJ resident says the book — which emphasizes core-strengthening moves like planks and mountain climbers — was a perfect fit for her lifestyle because it was consistent with moves she works on during her weekly personal training sessions. She supplements those workouts with twice-weekly spin classes and cardio on Sundays.
Although Beauford was already following a healthy diet low in carbs, refined sugar and red meat — “I love seafood, and I try not to eat carbs after 6 p.m.,” she says — the book lent her a few nutritional nuggets, like drinking two glasses of water before chowing down (to feel fuller) and supplementing protein with whey.
Every day, for instance, she whipped up a strawberry smoothie and ate a diet rich in omega-3s. “At this point, my family can’t stand salmon!” she laughs.
THE GRADE: A
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Christian Johnston
3 of 8
THE DIETER
Wesley Ross, 23
Height: 5-foot-11
Before: 213.8 pounds
THE DIET
“The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet,” by Barbara Rolls ($27.50), shows dieters how to feel fuller on fewer calories, offering 105 original recipes and game plans for eating out.
Tamara Beckwith
4 of 8
After: 211.6 pounds
Lost: 2.2 pounds
THE RESULTS
Ross, a 23-year-old software developer, was hoping to shed 20 pounds by Memorial Day. His struggles included portion control, cutting out excessive red meat, carbs and sweets, and big late-night meals — often in the form of a second dinner.
Three weeks in, he dropped 10 pounds by eating more yogurt and cooking at home — but gained most of it back in the form of muscle mass while bulking up for a Tough Mudder competition that featured a 10-mile obstacle course. “I decided to start lifting weights to bulk up for the race,” says the Williamsburg resident, “and I think that’s why I gained most of the weight back.”
Overall, though, Ross was impressed with the book’s philosophy of swapping unhealthy foods for healthier ones so he could eat more. It convinced him to ditch his steak-and-potatoes routine in favor of salads and ground turkey. The result? More restful evenings. “I used to have sleeping problems, but they totally went away,” he explains, “and I think that’s due to eating more cleanly — I don’t eat out and I avoid fast food.
THE GRADE: B+
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Jonathan Baskin
5 of 8
THE DIETER
Amy Vega Guobadia, 32
Height: 5-foot-8
Before: 244.8 pounds
THE DIET
“The Starch Solution” ($26.99), by John and Mary McDougall, is a starch rich, vegan plan that helps drop pounds and prevent sickness by fueling the body with carbs instead of proteins and fats — a stark contrast to beliefs popularized by diets like the Atkins.
Jonathan Baskin
6 of 8
After: 239 pounds
Lost: 5.8 pounds
THE RESULTS
Guobadia sought an alternative diet plan when she hit a plateau after shedding 30 pounds in 10 months through Weight Watchers. Her goal was to drop 10 more by Memorial Day — but with “The Starch Solution,” the Belmont, Bronx resident struggled to find recipes her 11-, 5- and 3-year-old kids would enjoy. “My neighborhood doesn’t offer a lot of vegan products,” explains the teacher’s assistant, “and there are only so many ways you can eat beans.”
Still, Guobadia saw the benefits of eliminating meat and dairy from her diet. She suffered from fewer stomachaches, thanks to swapping bagels with cream cheese for oatmeal, herbal tea and apples for breakfast, and veggie burgers and salads topped with sundried tomato dressing for lunch. She supplemented the diet plan by riding her bike for an hour every day in preparation for the Five Boro Bike Tour, a 40-mile ride she completed three weeks ago.
THE GRADE: B
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Christian Johnston
7 of 8
THE DIETER
Danessa Torres, 38
Height: 5-foot-4
Before: 149.6 pounds
THE DIET
“The Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous Project” ($14.95), by Esther Blum, creates awareness of what one eats by using a food diary as a way to identify imbalances in proteins, carbs and fat ratios, while offering strategies for curtailing mindless munching.
Jonathan Baskin
8 of 8
After: 147.4 pounds
Lost: 2.2 pounds
THE RESULTS
Torres, a New York Sports Club membership consultant, started dieting around the holidays with the hopes of zipping into a new Nicole Miller dress for a June wedding. After losing 18 pounds, she was struggling with dropping the last five. Although she didn’t lose all of it through this plan, she says the book helped her tremendously: Twice a day — during her 20-minute train ride to work and at the end of the day — Torres would jot down what she ate. “It really makes you realize, ‘Wow, I had two Oreos today,’ ” she says.
The Upper West Side resident became more aware of what she consumed. “When I go to restaurants now, I look at everything that has more protein,” she adds, “and I eat all my protein before carbs. It fi lls me faster so I don’t have to crave the bread.”
Torres also completely cut out nightly cocktails in favor of a more waistline-friendly glass of red wine two or three nights a week. But socializing presented major challenges: “On Cinco de Mayo, I couldn’t have a margarita or a beer,” she says. “And when I went to a friend’s barbecue, I had to bring my own turkey burger.”
THE GRADE: B
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David Rosenzweig
