Simple Diets

Choosing the right diet plan can make the difference between successful weight loss and a waste of time. Even simple diets require commitment, avoiding certain foods and sometimes purchasing books and foods made just so people can diet. In addition to various expenses, some simple diets may not result in lasting weight loss and can even be unhealthy.

Cabbage Soup Diet

• The cabbage soup diet is simple enough, the dieter can eat as much soup made of onions, cabbage, some peppers and water as she chooses. On certain day, the dieter supplements this soup with tomatoes, vegetables and skim milk, but the basic foundation of the diet is a specific cabbage soup recipe. This diet works because it restricts the dieter's calorie intake, but it is nutritionally unbalanced. Dieters should only follow the cabbage soup diet for one week at a time.

Grapefruit Diet

• Grapefruits are a great part of a healthy diet because they are naturally high in fiber and vitamin C. The grapefruit diet bases the meal plan entirely around this one type of food, requiring dieters to eat half of a grapefruit or 4 oz. of grapefruit juice with every meal. In addition, dieters can have a small serving of meat and vegetables or a salad, as long as they avoid desserts, potatoes, onions and celery. While the grapefruit supposedly works to speed up the fat-burning process, dieters are encouraged to stuff themselves on this plan.

Sonoma Diet

• Coastal California and Mediterranean living inspired the Sonoma Diet. This plan emphasizes the importance of making a life change involving flavorful ingredients and making eating a pleasurable experience. The New Sonoma Diet has three waves. The first covers the first 10 days and requires that dieters change their bad eating habits. The second wave lasts until the dieter reaches his goal weight; the third Wave is a maintenance plan. Dieters must purchase Dr. Connie Guttersen's book, "The New Sonoma Diet: Trimmer Waist, More Energy in Just 10 Days," for details, tips, menus and guides to dining out and grocery shopping.

Meal Replacement Diets

• One of the simplest diet plans involves replacing at least one meal with a nutritionally balanced product. A downside of these diet plans is that dieters must purchase marketed diet food products. Two popular examples of these simple diet plans are Slim-Fast and the Special K cereal diet. The Slim-Fast Diet allows dieters to enjoy three snacks, two meal replacement shakes or bars and one low-calorie meal that is less than 500 calories. The Special K diet requires dieters to eat any Special K cereal, protein shake or protein bar for two meals, while enjoying two snacks and one normal meal. Dieters can choose which meals they replace with cereal or protein options and the plan encourages them to drink fluids normally.