You can try this method at home to see if it works for you, but you don't have to just eat apples. Instead, pick low calorie density foods that are high in water content. They'll fill you up without packing in the calories. Here are some examples:

• broth-based soups
• salad, heavy on veggies, with just a touch of dressing
• water-rich fruits like melons, oranges or strawberries
• water, tea and fat-free milk

Volumetrics is a diet plan that incorporates low-density foods into the diet, carrying this concept from pre-meal to the meal itself. Since water has zero calories per gram -- as opposed to nine calories per gram for fat -- replacing some of the fat or carbohydrates in your meal with water just makes sense.

Finally, if you want to learn more about choosing, serving and keeping apples, check out How Stuff Works.

Have you ever tried eating fruit before a meal to curb your hunger? What kinds of tips and tricks can you share with our readers to make this healthy habit stick?

Got a Walking the Walk idea you'd like to see Bethany try for seven days? Share it with us in comments!

Capitalizing on New Year's weight loss resolutions, Weight Watchers recently unveiled their newest weight loss plan: Momentum.

Momentum marries Weight Watcher's popular Core plan, which lets you eat as much food as you want off lists of filling but low-cal foods, and their Flex plan, which gives each food a point value. The new plan focuses on "filling foods" that will help you feel satisfied and resist temptation.

Momentum curiously doesn't depend much on protein to keep a dieter full, requiring only one to two servings a day, and instead seems to be depending more on volume and fiber. I don't know about you, but protein keeps me full longer than just about anything else.

Weight Watchers never worked for me, but if you need help with portion control and food choices, it is a solid program. What do you think about their new program?

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Did you know that when you don't drink enough water, you can actually gain weight? That's because when you aren't well hydrated, your body will hold on to water.

The advice about how much water one should drink can get pretty murky. Some say 6 glasses a day, others say 8. Still others say only drink when you are thirsty, while some advice will tell you to drink as much as you can. Though it's less than pleasant to talk about, I tend to agree with the experts who say that your urine will tell you if you're well-hydrated: Clear and pale is good. Dark or cloudy means it's time to increase your level of fluids each day.

If getting in enough water is tough for you, don't forget that you can load up on fluids through the foods you eat as well. For instance, did you know that watermelon is roughly 90% water? Maybe that's why it tastes so good on a hot summer day! According to CNN, about 20 to 30% of the water we need come through our food. Check out their advice on eating your fluids to stay hydrated.

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If you find yourself consistently overeating at meal time, try this little trick: Eat a bowl of low-calorie broth-based soup as your first course.

A recent study found that those who ate soup before a meal reduced their total calories for the entire meal by 20%. According to the study, it doesn't appear to matter whether the soup is chunky or smooth.

If you're out to dinner, you can order it as an appetizer. At home, try to eat the soup about 20 minutes before your main meal.

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Have you ever noticed that after eating certain foods -- especially those that are low in fiber and high in sugar -- you tend to get hungry rather quickly, while other foods keep you full for a longer period of time? Australian researcher Dr. Susanne Holt noticed, and her research led her to develop the satiety index. You can read more about the study here, but what it boils down to is that some foods keep you fuller longer than others.

Foods that are high in volume, fiber, and protein tend to stick with you and reduce your appetite, even hours later. Foods that have the same number of calories, may be lower on the satiety index because they lack one of those three characteristics. It's interesting research, and I'm looking forward to her adding additional foods to the list. Until then, you can see some of the foods she tested and their satiety ranking in the gallery below.

White bread is the reference point, with a satiety of 100. Foods are either less filling than white bread (under 100) or more filling (over 100).

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The Volumetrics Diet was rated the best diet of 2007, so what's all the fuss about? The Volumetrics Diet is based on this very true principle: "people like to eat. And if people are given the choice between eating more and eating less, they'll take more almost every time." Developed by nutritionist Barbara Rolls, PhD., the plan focuses on foods that have fewer calories per serving, so people can eat more and feel more satisfied. In some cases people eat more while on the Volumetrics plan, instead of less, and they still lose weight!

Although people may eat more, they are not eating more of the same foods they were eating before. The trick to eating on the Volumetrics Diet is to choose foods that have a low energy density (few calories per serving) like non-starchy vegetables, soup broth, and non-fat milk to give just a few examples.

Of course there's much more to the plan, including physical activity and keeping a food and activity journal. And of course even if it was rated "diet of the year" it still isn't for everybody. But if your particular dieting hang-up is that you always feel hungry, then Volumetrics might be worth a try.

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Consumer Reports is famous for having reliable rankings and estimations of a products quality and value. So when I read that they had published findings on which diet was the best, and which diet book was the best, it definitely peaked my interest to know what they had to say. Here are their results:

The best diet: Volumetrics wins this category as the "best carefully researched diet plan." Based on the research of Penn State professor Barbara Rolls, PhD., it's biggest focus is eating foods with "low energy density," meaning low calories per serving -- things like fruits, salads, and soups.

The best diet book: The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene. It stresses exercise, gives recipes and has suggested eating schedules, plus gives personalized advice.

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As we've discussed time and again on That's Fit, if you're interested in losing weight, there's no quick-fix solution. You're never going to find a diet that magically makes the pounds disappear if you're not willing to work hard, exercise, and eat healthier on the whole.

That being said, about 41% of American adults are trying to lose weight, and there are tons of diets out there for us to try. As you might suspect, some work better than others.

Consumer Reports ranks the best diets in their upcoming summer issue, but here's a quick breakdown on who they chose for those looking to shed pounds.

Volumetrics: a diet that focuses on eating "low-density" foods like fruits and vegetables.
Weight Watchers: participants attend weekly meetings and weigh-ins as motivation.
Jenny Craig: with a combination of one-to-one meetings and pre-packaged food, this is a great diet for those who can stick with it.
Slim-Fast: another one that's tough to stick with, but will help you in the long run by replacing meals with shakes and energy bars.

Bottom line is, you'll have to find the approach that works for you, but hopefully this will help you weed out the fad diets from those that actually have a chance of working.

[via CBS News]

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