Fast weight loss diet plans that work

When it's your job to look good, there's no telling what you'll do to get there. U.S. News, which publishes annual Best Diets rankings, has rounded up some of the wackiest celebrity diets and weight-loss tricks of recent years. Warning: Most of these don't reflect widely accepted guidelines for weight loss or a healthy lifestyle, and some are downright dangerous, even if they do provide fast results. Here are seven:

Watercress Soup Diet. Elizabeth Hurley's secret to dropping 10 pounds in seven days: a diet of watercress soup. "I drink at least six cups a day when I am eager to lose a few pounds, " she told London's Daily Mail in 2007. "It's fat-less, low-calorie, full of vitamins and iron, and delicious enough to serve at a dinner party." Watercress soup typically consists of onions, light chicken stock, three large bunches of watercress, and salt and pepper. Such a restrictive diet, however, could open the door to nutrient deficiencies, a weakened immune system, and rebound weight gain.

The Facial Analysis Diet. Kate Winslet shed pregnancy weight with the Facial Analysis Diet, created by celebrity nutritionist Elizabeth Gibaud. The premise is that differently shaped faces need different diets, and that facial imperfections, such as forehead wrinkles or large pores, can signal dietary needs. Red or puffy cheeks, for example, are considered signs of dairy intolerance. And people with shiny noses are advised to avoid mangoes, chocolate, yeast-related products, red wine, and white flour, while sticking to apples, cucumbers, potatoes, and oats. A facial analyst will first examine skin for markings, color, and texture, and then create a customized plan that begins with a two-day detox. Most versions of the diet are low in calories, but claims in the book aren't backed by scientific research.

The "Bleak Diet." In 2007, Mariah Carey told reporters that she'd dropped two dress sizes by following a "bleak diet" built around fish and soup prepared very blandly—no oil or butter, for example. On the plus side, the diet emphasizes lean protein, which is a healthy choice. But neglecting flavor makes for a monotonous diet that will likely prove difficult to stick to over the long term.