If you're looking for a way to lose pounds fast, this might be the answer. Going against conventional wisdom that it's not healthy to lose weight quickly, Extreme Makeover's David Kirsch maintains his low fat, low carb plan is healthy and can actually motivate overweight folks to stick with the program.

The first two weeks on the program are very restrictive. After that it loosens up a bit, but is still quite limited in what you are and aren't allowed to eat. If you can stick with it, you'll undoubtedly lose weight, just like countless clients of Kirsch's including his own mother who has dropped over 100 pounds.

One thing I really like about the program is that Kirsch stresses the importance of exercise along with proper eating and this book is just as much an exercise guide as it is an eating plan. There are even exercises that parents can do while holding their infant and toddler children, so there's never an excuse for not working out.

As with all diets, the best one for you is the one you can stick with. The fast weight loss you'll see on Kirsch's plan (up to 14 pounds in the first 2 weeks) can definitely be a big motivator, but the limited food choices of essentially low carb veggies and lean meats might be difficult for some to stick with over the long haul.