Tried and True: Health Tips That Really Work

Do you want to lose weight, enjoy more energy, and transform your health, but don’t know where to start? A.J. Jacobs, author of Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Quest for Bodily Perfection, spent 2 full years testing every major diet, cutting-edge product, and miracle workout trend on the market. Before embarking on this health challenge, he was overweight, had high cholesterol, and had never seen the inside of a gym. Now, he’s in the best shape of his life. Here, he shares what really worked for him, along with his incredible before-and-after numbers:

BEFORE:

Weight: 172 lbs

Body Fat: 18%

LDL Cholesterol: 77 mg/dl (with statin drug)

AFTER:

Weight: 156.5 lbs

Body Fat: 7%

LDL Cholesterol: 62 mg/dl (without statin drug)

A Diet That Really Works

In coming up with a diet, A.J. Jacobs tested over 100 different plans and talked to dozens of top nutritionists, fitness trainers and doctors, including Dr. Oz. Here are the three most important things he learned:

1. Shop the Perimeter of the Grocery Store

When you shop the perimeter of the grocery store, you’ll stick to buying fresh, whole foods such as produce, meat, fish and diary. Also, you’ll be avoiding everything in the middle aisles, which is where most of the processed foods, full of added chemicals and empty calories, are located.

Click here for Dr. Oz's Supermarket Survival Guide. Learn how to wisely navigate the aisles to improve your health and save more money.