“It seems that most meals these days revolve around some sort of fad diet trend. Atkins, South Beach and the Zone can all be great ways to rid yourself of excess weight, but what happens when you actually succeed in dropping the 20 pounds you sought to lose? It doesn’t mean you can go back to eating fried Twinkies everyday!

In Charles Stuart Platkin’s book, “The Automatic Diet,” he urges readers to view weight loss differently from “dieting” and presents a 10-step process for breaking stubborn fat patterns. Weaving through reasons why diet fads don’t work when it comes to maintaining weight loss, the book helps readers create a reasonable meal plan that they can live by. After all, if you say you are on a diet and still crave chile con queso, what is the first thing you’re likely to indulge in once you’ve lost the weight? Bring on the Mexican food! Platkin wants readers to know there is no need for deprivation and he stresses the importance of creating and hopefully sticking with a livable eating program.

For instance, he describes a man who craved Ben and Jerry’s ice cream after every meal. By simply eating low-calorie ice cream and “calorie bargaining,” he saved about 200 calories a day and eventually lost 18 pounds over the course of a year.

Another part of Platkin’s plan is mastering diet traps. This includes things like mindless eating — munching on candy bars at work or picking at leftovers while cleaning the dishes. Platkins says routinely engaging in these kinds of activities makes you unaware of the actions, ultimately leading to excess calories.

Another good tip is to work through your “diet busters.” Platkin asks readers to think ahead about their meals and plan healthy options into their day. For example, pack a lunch for a layover, so you aren’t inhaling fatty airport food. Also, be mindful of your eating habits during major life changes, such as moving or marriage, since they are typically triggers for overeating and comfort foods. According to Platkin, there are ways to maintain healthy habits during these times as well.

This book brings new light to real weight loss options. However, if swift weight loss is your primary goal, this is not the book for you; Platkin’s tips are designed to change your health permanently. If you’ve bounced around from diet to diet, gaining and regaining pounds, and you’re looking for a lifestyle change, this is an excellent resource to help take, and keep the weight off.