Like any other red-blooded, American, 41-year-old woman, I've tried just about every diet on the planet.  After battling weight issues since I was about 8 years old, I've decided to settle into the most logical of options, a lifestyle change, including healthy diet and exercise (at my 6 week mark, I haven't lost a ton of POUNDS, but I've decreased my body fat percentage by 1.5%.  Imagine where I'll be in 6 more weeks!).

ThinkStock / Amy Walters
ThinkStock / Amy Walters
loading...

Based on success rate, how healthy they are, and how easy they are to follow, US News & World Report just released it's annual list of best and worst diets.

For the 6th year in a row, the "DASH Diet" topped the list of best diets to follow.  Naturally, it focuses on what you SHOULD be focused on anyway:  fruits and veggies, grains, cutting down on salt, and avoiding red meat.  It was also relatively easy to follow and more affordable.

That being said, here are the five diets to AVOID, because they came in last:

  1. The "Whole 30" Diet -- it's a one-month low car plan, high in protein.  It's tough to hang on to it though, because you must give up grains, dairy, sugar, and booze.
  2. The Paleo Diet -- muscle-headed beefcakes will defend this one to the death, but it's second-worst, partly because it's so expensive.  YOu basically just eat meat and vegetables.
  3. The Dukan Diet -- it also involves lots of protein, but also comes with LOTS of rules, and it's also pretty costly.
  4. The Raw Food Diet -- Sure you'll lose weight on it, but again, there are lots of rules, the food doesn't always taste great, and preparing it all can take up a big chunk of time.
  5. The Atkins Diet -- It's also about limiting carbs, and many have lost weight on it.  But, according to experts, it's not real healthy.

More From The New 96.1 WTSS