That’s what goes on in my home. Sometimes I mix a little white rice with the brown, but I prefer the basmati type.

How can I jumpstart weight loss?

Rapid weight loss is a burden on the body. More fat loss means more toxins to detoxify. Having a detox diet component is a good way to start weight loss. Often, toxins released impair thyroid function, metabolism, cause hormone and blood sugar imbalances, affect insulin, or even result in a low level of inflammation in the body. There have been a number of research studies showing this and I talk about them in the book. When weight loss is rapid, there are even more negative effects on body. Sometimes this is only noticed later, after weight loss stops and you hit a plateau.

How much weight loss a week is safe?

You could safely lose up to two pounds a week.

How did you personally experience weight loss with The Inside Out Diet?

As a college student, I ate poorly, gained weight, and was feeling awful both inside and out. It’s like I was going through the motions, but needing coffee and sweets to get through the day.

When I began a detox diet, it made me feel wonderful, and I noticed improvement almost immediately. Indigestion and bloating disappeared. Then I began to lose weight. Sometimes with a diet, people think the harder the better. This isn’t true - a gentle detox is actually better and more effective.

After working with clients and continuing to see success, I tailored this diet — The Inside Out Diet — to be an effective weight loss solution for almost anyone. And it's fully researched with over 300 studies referenced.

There are 72 recipes in the book. Most were designed by Sabra Ricci, a Maui-based chef who cooks for many well-known celebrities. She's primarily known though for her ability to create healthy but tasty recipes.

The Inside Out Diet also has a section on nutritional supplements. At About.com, I often receive questions about various supplements and their effects on the body. One I run into quite regularly is hoodia. I talk about the research that has been done on the various supplements and potential side effects.

Other new items that I think people will be interested in are:

Honeybush Tea—a kind of tea with a natural sweetness but has no calories. I enjoy it, others will too.

Erythritol—a sweetener with no bitterness. It’s a sugar alcohol that causes no indigestion, and is becoming a very popular sugar substitute.