by Chris Dobbs

Created on: June 09, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

I exited the shower, looked in the mirror and screamed. I was going on vacation in a few months and I was quickly becoming the cellulite capital of the world. My fear was that if I went swimming I would be harpooned and dragged aboard a Japanese fishing trawler.

A life decision was made: change my eating habits and embark on a weight loss and exercise program. The golden rule to getting in shape, they say, is to choose a regimen that will fit your personality and schedule.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a commercially endorsed "drink beer, eat donuts, and slam pizza" fat reduction plan. By doing some superficial research I found the most popular diets and evaluated them.

The most widespread food plans advocate the complete opposite of each other and none of them have any research or concrete medical evidence to back up their health claims.

One is low in carbohydrates and high in protein. The other is high in carbs, low in protein.

The first category promotes eating an over abundance of food like meats, butter, eggs, and sour cream. This sounds tasty but it might cause the liver or kidney to shutdown. Even though I am not medically certified, I have a feeling this could kill me.

The second category demands high grain foods. At first glance this seems like a healthy way to eat but it offers a very bland menu, and without protein it will lead to energy loss. The pounds will fall off but you won't have the strength to get out of bed.

There is also the very popular Raw Food diet. This movement advocates all foods eaten in their raw state with almost a complete absence of cooking. This includes morning java. I knew I would become a bean pole following this regime, I didn't a want to be a miserable bean pole with a migraine.

The herbal remedies for portly of body are not subjected to regulated standards and therefore might damage parts of your anatomy that you didn't even know existed.

Herbs loosen up the body's exit ramp to the point where you have to plan your day's activities around known water closet locations.

After studying the different blubber cures, I started to formulate my own fat reduction plan and at the same time began to investigate exercise programs.

As we have all seen, there is a plethora of work out videos and books on getting healthy. I knew that the right program could increase my energy level, improve sleep and have a positive effect on sexual potency (OH, BABY!).

There are videos that promote aerobics, bicycling, facial exercises ( I guess it's for the person

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