Today Rachael Ray featured a new twist on a tried and true method of weight loss:  calorie counting. Created by health experts at Prevention Magazine, the 400 Calorie Fix Diet suggest that you eat four meals daily, each containing  around 400 calories. The diet focuses less on what you eat  and more on the size of your portions. The book (which is scheduled to be released in January) provides a variety of easy to make recipes.

Advantages:

• The plan is simple and easy to follow. No points to keep track of or foods that are completely off limits.
• There is a lot of flexibility.  You can eat just about anything any time, any place. 
• Diets that give specific meal plans do not always account for dietary restrictions or preferences.

Drawbacks:

• This diet can encourage junk food eating.  A tall White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino at Starbuck's is around 400 calories but hardly constitutes a balanced meal.
• When eating at restaurants, it may be difficult to obtain the exact calorie content of a meal.
• Many find calorie counting to be tedious and have difficulty staying on track.

The bottom line is that losing weight hinges on burning more calories than than you consume. The best diet in the world is the one you will stay on!