Fasting Every Other Day: A Quick Way To Slim Down?

Interested in a diet that allows you to eat whatever you want, but still helps you lose around 6 pounds a month? It is possible, according to one small study. The catch? You'll have to fast every other day. Dr. Krista A. Varady of the University of Illinois at Chicago and her colleagues had 16 obese adults alternate days of eating normally with with days of eating only 25 percent of the calories required to maintain their weight for eight weeks, and the results were pretty impressive. Not only did the dieters lose an average of 12 pounds over the eight-week period, they also reduced their overall cholesterol by 21 percent.

Varady attributes the positive results to an overall change in eating habits; "I think it's probably because their stomachs kind of shrunk," she told Reuters. Still, don't give up on food just yet -- further research is needed as the study was relatively small. What's more, it's not clear whether this is a weight-loss approach that can be maintained in the long run.

But even if fasting does work, is it healthy? It can be and many leading researchers believe it's actually good for you. If you can handle it, that is -- dealing with a grumbling tummy all day and going to bed hungry aren't all that much fun. Nonetheless, if you're interested in fasting, make sure you speak to your doctor first.

Can't handle fasting? Take some dieting tips from Liz Hurley.