Slimmer: The New Mediterranean Way to Lose Weight

Papas grew up in Athens, Greece a slim and popular young man. But during his first year in college, stress and depression drove him "to reach for junk food for comfort and chocolate for fulfillment;" in one year, he gained 110 pounds. Desperate to find a solution, he switched his major from economics to nutrition, lost the added weight, and began developing this delicious program, a "southern Greek diet%E2%80%A6revised along the lines of modern science and nutrition." The diet is based on meals that emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and protein, and Papas dutifully includes recipes for dishes like turkey phyllo pot pie, Mediterranean chicken fricass%C3%A9e, and garlic aioli shrimp. If readers follow the "Slimmer" plan, which is organized into three 21-day cycles, Papas claims most dieters will drop 10% of their body weight in the first month, and 5% each month after. Built into the program are "Free Days" and "Happy Moments" (things like ice cream, wine, and coffee), elements that anyone used to strict diet regimens will surely appreciate. Even those unwilling to follow Papas's plan to the letter will find plenty of cogent advice and delicious dishes here. (June)