Losing it: The ultimate diet challenge ‘Dateline’ put six people on six diets; who will reach the goal?

NBC NEWS April 22 — What if you needed to get into shape or a big event you really want to look good for, like bathing suit season or perhaps, your 25th high school reunion. That’s the challenge facing six members of the high school class of 1978, each using a different weight loss strategy. What worked best and who will go to the head of the class? They had to have at least 30 pounds to lose and get their doctor’s OK. They could pick from one of six weight loss methods, from Atkins, Weight Watchers or Slim Fast, to extreme exercise, having your own famous weight loss guru, and even hypnosis. Marc agreed to let Boston hypnotist Tom Nicoli help him. At his first session, the hypnotist takes Marc up an imaginary flight of stairs. The journey lasts a half an hour. The goal is to revisit his thinner days and envision a healthy lifestyle. Marc: “And the strangest thing, I see this big belly — the belly button was a big red hole with fire coming out of it.” Don’t laugh. After one week under hypnosis, are you ready? Marc lost 13 pounds. But for now the diet is working. Rick’s lost 13 pounds on Atkins. As for the others: 13 pounds lost under hypnosis, 4.5 pounds lost on Weight Watchers, three pounds lost with a personal coach, no change with extreme exercise and three pounds up, back on regular meals with Slim Fast. But soon each will face their own food demons and one may even have to quit. RECAP The pastry chef lost the second-most — 40 of his 50-pound goal — with the help of hypnosis.