Deliver us from Dieting

Sometimes, it takes a strong spirit to stick to a healthy eating plan. These five books rely on God to get you through the tough times.

Our Lady of Weight Loss - by Janice Taylor
Viking Studio, $19.95

The pitch: "Miraculous and Motivational Musings From the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal"

Look who's talking: Self-described "weight-loss artist" and motivational speaker, Taylor lost 50 pounds five years ago and has kept it off by making art out of food, not eating it.

The diet: A grab bag of common-sense diet tips ("Eat breakfast") and uncommon approaches (building an altar to Our Lady of Weight Loss from mac-and-cheese boxes cleaned out of your pantry). You begin with a kitchen "cleansing ritual," removing all temptation from shelves, fridge and freezer. The book features "faToids" ("Eating too few carbs can actually trigger cravings for more carbs."), art projects and "Righteous Recipes."

A little nibble: From a "Weighty Confession" item: "I don't know what happened -- seriously. I had one paper-thin sliver of carrot cake (a vegetable, no less!), and then the next thing you know I was, like, off to the races....I sit here before you, in a stupor, asking for forgiveness." Our Lady replies, "All is forgiven. Move on."

Bottom line: This is a fun, irreverent and wacky read for women who would consider approaching weight loss with a sense of humor in one hand and a rosary in the other. Or perhaps a paintbrush. The kind of diet book Vivi and her pals (from Rebecca Wells' The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) would read if they "let themselves go," but of course, none of them ever would.

Online: www.ourladyofweightloss.com

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Religion, Sat. November 25, 2006 (Fort Worth, Texas) Deliver us from Dieting Sometimes, it takes a strong spirit to stick to a healthy eating plan. These five books rely on God to get you through the tough times. Our Lady of Weight Loss by Janice Taylor Viking Studio, $19.95 The pitch: "Miraculous and Motivational Musings From the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal" Look who's talking: Self-described "weight-loss artist" and motivational speaker, Taylor lost 50 pounds five years ago and has kept it off by making art out of food, not eating it. The diet: A grab bag of common-sense diet tips ("Eat breakfast") and uncommon approaches (building an altar to Our Lady of Weight Loss from mac-and-cheese boxes cleaned out of your pantry). You begin with a kitchen "cleansing ritual," removing all temptation from shelves, fridge and freezer. The book features "faToids" ("Eating too few carbs can actually trigger cravings for more carbs."), art projects and "Righteous Recipes." A little nibble: From a "Weighty Confession" item: "I don't know what happened -- seriously. I had one paper-thin sliver of carrot cake (a vegetable, no less!), and then the next thing you know I was, like, off to the races....I sit here before you, in a stupor, asking for forgiveness." Our Lady replies, "All is forgiven. Move on." Bottom line: This is a fun, irreverent and wacky read for women who would consider approaching weight loss with a sense of humor in one hand and a rosary in the other. Or perhaps a paintbrush. The kind of diet book Vivi and her pals (from Rebecca Wells' The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) would read if they "let themselves go," but of course, none of them ever would. Online: www.ourladyofweightloss.com