“Don’t Read Weight-Loss Books: Eat Them. They’re a better source of fiber than information on permanent weight loss. If you eat them, they’ll stay with you longer and be generally better for your bowels than the plans they offer.   Ditch Your Diet. Research shows that no diet works for long, and constantly trying and failing at dieting is depressing, unhealthy, and ends up making you even fatter. Use the SWELMM system of “Stop Worrying, Eat Less, Move More.”