It’s that time of the year when we all realize summer is fast approaching and our body is not exactly where we would like for it to be. People look for popular diets that have been getting a lot of attention and that have a proven track record. Consumer Reports recently tacked the age-old question — which ones really work? — In their latest diet ratings, the first update since 2007. Are you ready for summer? Take a look at the top 5 diets of 2011 and be sure to speak with your health care provider before starting any weight loss program.

No. 1: Jenny Craig Diet

The cornerstone of the Jenny Craig diet is support from a personal consultant (at one of its centers or by phone) who customizes a meal program and then checks in with you weekly. Costing upwards of $600 per month, the Jenny Craig diet includes three prepackaged meals and one snack each day, supplemented with your own fresh fruits and vegetables

No. 2: Slim-Fast Plan Diet

The Slim-Fast Plan is a low-calorie diet that focuses on swapping out meals for one of its meal-replacement products: shakes, snack bars, meal bars, smoothies, cookies, and powders for reconstituting by mixing with skimmed milk. Dieters eat six times a day — three snacks, two Slim-Fast products, and one “sensible meal.”

No. 3: Weight Watchers Diet

Around since the 1960s, the Weight Watchers diet program assigns points to all foods, which you then use to figure out what and how much you can eat to achieve your goal weight. The program is known for its weight-loss support groups, both online and in person, and education about proper portion sizes.

No. 4: Zone Diet

The low-calorie Zone diet offers the promise of warding off chronic health conditions and resetting your metabolism by changing the balance of the foods you eat. On the Zone diet, you get 30 percent of your calories from protein, 30 percent from fat, and 40 percent from carbohydrates.

No. 5: Ornish Diet

Developed by Dean Ornish, MD, the Ornish diet plan is an extremely low-fat, high-fiber, vegetarian diet. It dictates that less than 10 percent of your calories come from fat. The diet excludes meat, fish, and fowl. Some research suggests this diet can lower cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure.

By J.L. Murray.