We spoke with the coauthor of the Flat Belly Diet¸ whose Cinch: Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds, and Lose Inches is due January 1 from HarperOne.
PW: What's the biggest misconception about nutrition today?
CS: That weight loss is as simple as eating less. Nutrition is a complex science. We continue to learn more each day about how powerful certain foods, nutrients, and even combinations of foods are for weight loss success and optimal health.
PW: What impressed you most about reader reaction to The Flat Belly Diet? Did you incorporate that feedback into Cinch?
CS: I was moved by the personal stories—readers not only lost weight but also gained energy and confidence and saw improvements in their health. I knew that Cinch! had to offer the same, but with a strategy that didn't require counting calories, which many people told me they did not like.
PW: What's one surprising diet tweak that can yield big results?
CS: Eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day! In Cinch! a daily dark chocolate escape is mandatory. Research suggests, and I've seen with my own clients, that this strategy is effective for curbing cravings for both sweet and salty foods.
