Whole30 was on everyone's mind this year, but popularity doesn't necessarily yield good results: The fad diet was last on U.S. News' report for the second year in a row. It's meant to be a lifestyle transformation, changing the way you think about food and even claiming to help with medical conditions. You'll restrict yourself to no sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, or dairy, for 30 days. It's a difficult plan to maintain if you're not accustomed to cooking all your meals yourself or shopping for very specific ingredients. There are also no "cheat" snacks: No hemp cookies or chia pudding, because the plan hopes to change the way you think about food. On the bright side, plenty who have attempted Whole30 agreed that the month was a challenge, and are still thrilled to have survived those 30 days. There isn't much independent research on Whole30 specifically, but a survey by the company claims that 96 percent of dieters lost between 6 and 15 pounds. The plan does have sample grocery lists and plenty of online support groups, so if nothing else, you'll be in it with a team.
