Every year it seems as if there is a new diet on the market that is guaranteed to help you lose weight more quickly and easily than ever before. Many women who have struggled for years to lose weight see fad diets as a sort of miracle cure. As the saying goes, however, things that seem too good to be true, often are just that. Unfortunately, while many fad diets can help you to lose some weight, quite often the loss is temporary and the harsh restrictions of the diet make it virtually impossible to keep with it indefinitely. Depending on fad diets as opposed to developing healthy eating habits can also lead to yo-yo dieting. Studies have shown that women who rapidly lose and regain weight on a consistent basis are setting themselves up for heart problems in the future. The best way to lose weight safely is to alter your diet to include moderate servings of healthy foods while exercising on a regular basis.
Problems Associated with Popular Fad Diets
The Protein Power Diet. Like many trendy low-carbohydrate diet plans, the Protein Power diet focuses on reducing the amount of carbohydrates you consume. While cutting down on carbs can be a healthy way to lose weight, many low-carb diets allow you to eat as much fat, including saturated fats you want. Too much saturated fat in your diet can lead to heart disease, some forms of cancer and high blood pressure. Additionally, this diet also is devised to help you burn extra fat. While this seems like a great thing, failing to hydrate adequately while burning fat can lead to problems with your kidneys.
Sugar Busters Diet. Another diet aimed at targeting the carbohydrates in your diet, the Sugar Busters diet promotes replacing bad carbs with the good carbs found in foods sold under the Sugar Busters label. The main problem with this diet is that it claims that caloric content is unimportant so long as you are eating the right foods. Also, there is no recommended exercise program to supplement this diet.
Liquid Replacement Diets. Diets which encourage you to replace two meals a day with a liquid substitute can be very effective in the short term. Unfortunately, once the weight is lost and you return to your normal eating habits, weight gain is frequently quick to follow. When choosing a diet, it is best to stick with something you can maintain on a long term basis.
Tips for Avoiding Fad Diets The opportunity for losing weight can be a strong temptation, but knowing what to look for can help you to avoid fad diets and find a healthier way to lose weight.
Do not fall for any diet that promises a miracle weight loss. Healthy dieting takes time and effort.
Sensible diets are based on balance and moderation, be wary of any diet that allows unlimited quantities of any particular food group.
Take a good look at studies purporting to prove the effectiveness of the diet. Truthful reporting should come from more than a single source, and should not read like a sales pitch.
Some sing the praises of eating a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Others require frequent fasting and avoiding particular foods. Others swear by combining (or not combining) certain foods in a meal.
While these "fad diets" are all different, they do have two things in common.
1- They promise fast and easy weight loss, and
2- They completely neglect the principles of proper nutrition.
Most of us know that losing weight is not easy. It requires a great deal of concentration, will power, and at times, planning. But do not let this steer you into the dark world of fad diets! Fad diets can be harmful and sometimes quite dangerous.
Let's take a look at the effects of some of these diets and begin to debunk their outrageous claims.
The "Eat more meat, minimize grains, fruits, and veggies" diet
This diet restricts your carb intake to 20 grams a day. This only gives you one-tenth of the amount of carbohydrates recommended! Without sufficient carbs, you experience a loss of energy, your brain isn't as sharp as it should, you may feel cranky and agitated, and your bowel system takes a beating. Does not sound like a good choice of diet to me!
The "Cut out all sugars" diet
While refined sugars are not recommended, some forms of sugars are OK. Natural sugars found in fruit, honey, whole grains, and complex carbohydrates (which turns to sugar when your body processes the food) are fine. Like with anything, just do not go completely overboard.
The "Cut your calories to 850 a day" diet
This would cut your intake to more than half of what it should be for an average person! I do not think I have to tell you how dangerous this is.
So why do fad diets get so much attention?
Initially, in most cases, you WILL lose weight. But it is only temporary and your body usually takes a beating in the process. These diets are unnatural and not the way our body was programmed to eat.
And truthfully, very few people stick to these fad diets. Those looking for a "fast and easy fix" and who are not willing to make the hard journey toward changing their lifestyle usually are drawn to fad diets, only to find that when all is said and done, all the weight they lost is back. And oftentimes, it is more than when they initially started out with.
The only diets that work are those that focus of healthy foods, low in calorie and fat, with all the nutrients our body needs. Honestly, dieting should not require a complicated formula or excessive calorie counting. Making wise food choices, not over-eating, and exercising enough is exactly what the body needs to lose those extra pounds.
So, what does a healthy diet look like?
A healthy diet will include the following qualities:
Reduced-fat: Fat has an incredible amount of calories as compared to other foods: almost 50% more calories! And more than likely, excess fat is stored on the body for future use. So when you overindulge on fat and do not burn it off, it sits on your body until it is used. Imagine day after day, piling on more and more fat and how easy it can be to gain weight! You must be aware of the amount of fat you are consuming if you want to maintain a lean, healthy weight.
Doctors recommend that the average person should get no more than 20 to 30 percent of their total daily calories from fat. Any more than that, and weight loss begins. Cut back on fatty meats and dairy, fried foods, and high fat snacks like potato chips. You will be on your way to cutting the fat from your diet.
This Phrase is ItalicCarbohydrates: Never doubt this fact: Carbs are our friends! (As long as they are healthy carbs!) Vegetables, whole grains, fruits, legumes, and complex carbohydrates give us a full feeling so we are less likely to over-eat. The body also uses them to burn for energy, which makes them less likely to be stored as fat. A bonus? Complex, good carbs are full of important nutrients our body needs.
Eat in moderation: The biggest problem most people face, and I, too, am guilty of this, is over-eating. Eat in moderation. Do not stuff yourself until you feel full. Stop before that, when you feel satisfied. This is a fantastic tip to learn and get in the habit of implementing!
Another point to eating in moderation is this: you do not have to completely sacrifice the foods you love. Craving a snack that is not the healthiest choice? Then every once in a while, have a little! Most people fail at dieting because they go "cold turkey" on their favorite, fattening foods and end up binging on them in the end. If you allow yourself, every once in a while, to indulge on a little, you will be far more successful at weight loss in the end.
Snack, but wisely! Snacks can be great in curbing our appetites. Just make them small and healthy. An apple, a small handful of pretzels, and some carrots: you get the picture.
Losing weight really is not a new thing. Throughout the centuries, the functioning of our bodies has changed very little. So do not be fooled when a new diet comes along, singing the praises of new findings about how our body burns fat. If you stick with traditional whole-foods, have a variety of them, and indulge yourself every now and then, you WILL be successful at weight loss!
Both Wendy Wood & Colleen Palat are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Wendy Wood has sinced written about articles on various topics from Low Carb Diet, Lose Weight and Credit Cards. Wendy Wood is a full-time mom in the process of losing extra pounds and loves to show other moms how they can lose weight and be healthier as well. Sign up for your free healthy recipes at. Wendy Wood's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Colleen Palat has sinced written about articles on various topics from Brain, Common Cold and Dieting. Colleen is a health and fitness enthusiast who loves to pass on the latest information on health and wellness. Sign up for your free e-newsletter filled with cutting-edge information on health, nutrition, weight loss, and fitness. For your free e-newsle. Colleen Palat's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.