A McDIET In The Making

(From The Associated Press)

Has McDONALD's launched A NEW DIET?

Not officially, but two women credit its "SENSIBLE" EDIBLES for their SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS.

MERAB MORGAN says she LOST 37 POUNDS IN 90 DAYS EATING ONLY FROM THE FAST FOOD GIANT'S MENU.

How could anyone lose weight under those glistening GOLDEN ARCHES that look fresh from THE DEEP FRYER, themselves?

Morgan cut her diet to 1400 DAILY CALORIES, opting for SALADS over FRENCH FRIES, APPLE DIPPERS over APPLE PIES.

In its ONLINE NUTRITION GUIDE, the burger-maker lists simple tips for cutting calories, trimming fat and controlling carbs.

How did the meals stack up?

Surprisingly, A COMBO consisting of A QUARTER-POUNDER, SIDE SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING AND A LARGE UNSWEETENED ICED TEA COMES IN AT LESS THAN 500 CALORIES AND ROUGHLY 20 GRAMS OF FAT.

ACTIVITY ON THE JOB may have played a role in the Morgan's weight loss.

THE MOTHER OF TWO IS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER, and while her food court strategy could save you calories on the run, it may still put you in contact with MORE UNHEALTHY TRANS FATS THAN YOU NEED.

And wasn't it only a year ago that the other Morgan, filmmaker MORGAN SPURLOCK, released his SUPERSIZE ME documentary showing the dangers of a foray into fast food? He GAINED MORE THAN 30 LBS. and saw his HEALTH DETERIORATE after 5,000 CALORIES A DAY OF NOTHING BUT McDONALD's FOOD.

As with most eating plans, perhaps IT'S OK TO INDULGE OCCASIONALLY
-- but it's KNOWING YOUR LIMIT that ultimately keeps you from GAINING WEIGHT.

DAWN JACKSON BLATNER, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for THE AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION, agreed that a low-calorie, McDONALD's-ONLY DIET can help people lose weight but said it may not offer enough LONG-TERM VARIETY.

Whatever an individual does to lose weight, they need to do for THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, she said.

Morgan said she hasn't decided if she will stick with the McDONALD's-ONLY PLAN to reach her goal of 150 POUNDS. But she does have one complaint about McDONALD's.

"If I could suggest anything to McDONALD's, I would suggest the McMARGARITA," Morgan said. "Dine-in only, of course."