Leslie Sansone's Eat Smart, Walk Strong: The Secrets to Effortless Weight Loss

The "secrets" revealed in this friendly volume won't surprise many readers: losing weight requires burning more calories and consuming fewer. But given that the obesity epidemic is getting, well, bigger, the helpful tips and ideas are needed, even if they aren't particularly newsworthy. Sansone, creator of the Walk Away the Pounds book and video series, begins by explaining healthy dieting habits, highlighting typical stumbling blocks and outlining her PERFECT support system (an acronym for plan, educate, repeat, flex, exercise, celebrate and transform) that details steps she believes are key to straightforward weight loss. Then she introduces a six-week plan, complete with workbook pages for each day, designed to eradicate bad habits and promote good ones. She also includes dozens of reasonably tempting recipes (e.g., Apricot Lentil Stew, Chicken Mole, and Oatmeal-Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies) to make in conjunction with the plan. Except for the depressing suggestion that "people do best if they spend most of their exercise time on indoor walking... walking in place... in complete privacy," this is an uplifting diet guide that can help anyone currently in the nonactive population segment—as long as they stick to it. Photos. (Jan.)