Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Run Away from Fad Diets as Fast as You Can

By Thong M. Dao

It's not surprising that many people wonder why fad diets are bad when they seem to get results. You'll find many sites on the internet claiming significant weight loss in just a few days.

Fad diets, yes, will help us lose weight. However, it's 90% water. The water you've lost needs to be replenished or you'll face serious health issues. One of them is irreversible, death.

We also have over hyped fad diets that are not crash diets which push you to the extremes. However, these do not help you lose fat. They only help you lose money.

At best, these are good nutrition plans which will help you lose weight, but which you could probably have gotten for free from your doctor. At worst, they prove too difficult to follow that you will give up after a week.

The bad of fad diets

1. Here's the fact about weight loss programs that promise you a quick fix. They require you to eat certain types of food. Following those programs means that you're not getting a balanced diet.

Supplements are often offered. However, your body may not be able to absorb them unless you eat foods that are prohibited by these programs. Then, if you can continue your diet for long, your body will probably experience nutritional deficiencies.

2. Many fad diets are boring or ultra-strict. Fad diets that you can't enjoy will put you back to your old habits. For example, you diet for 2 days, can't stand what you have to eat, crave something else and, wallah, you have fallen off the train to weight loss. Then lots of people blame themselves for not losing weight.

3. Most fad diets do not follow recommendations of the American Heart Association and similar bodies. The promoters may argue that you'll just follow the diet for a short time. But if you do not reach your desired weight in that time, then what? You either continue with a plan that is not good for your health, or stop and probably gain back what you've lost.

4. Many fad diets do not help you to incorporate enough servings of fruits and vegetables in your weight loss program, or give you the variety of foods that your body needs.

5. Quick weight loss diets are just a temporary solution and do not help you to make permanent changes to your eating habits. Permanent changes are the only way to maintain your target weight once you reach it.

Fad diets encourage yo-yo diet-binge cycles of fast weight loss and equally fast weight gain. This is worse for your health and your self-esteem than if you stay overweight all the time.

Publicity materials probably bring you hopes for a couple of days, but over time you'll come to find out that what they're offering will not last a lifetime. The best way to lose weight is nothing fancy - eat healthy foods without overeating and exercise regularly. Stay away from fad diets if you don't want to waste your time and money.

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