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Learn Why Fad Diets Fail Miserably At Keeping the Weight Off

Everyone likes to part of the “in crowd,” even if it costs more than they’re willing to pay. Fad diets are very popular and very destructive to your health. Sure, you can diet for a week and lose 10 pounds, but as soon as the diet ends, you will gain it all back. Because weight loss is such a big topic these days, fad diets are right there to trap the unsuspecting, desperate dieter.

What are some fad diets that are unhealthy?

Fad diets work. You didn’t expect to hear that, did you? Well, any diet works… as long as you are on it. But you need to be realistic – can you live the rest of your life on a diet that excludes most food groups? Of course not. Your body wasn’t made to work that way. Here are 7 recognizable fad diets that fail miserably at keeping the weight off:

1. The Blood Type Diet
2. The Cabbage Soup Diet
3. South Beach Diet
4. Atkins Diet
5. The Grapefruit Diet
6. The Zone
7. The Hollywood Diet

What’s the big deal? Learn why these fad diets are so unhealthy.

Many so-called doctors claim that a specific food is the enemy and should be discarded from one’s diet. This is a huge myth because there is not a single food product that is capable of causing weight loss or gain. Fad diets promise immediate results; which prove to be true, but are not supported by scientific evidence or research.

Fad diets are very extreme and irrational plans that are unhealthy and often ineffective. Most fad diets are high in fat that promote short-term weight loss, but most of the weight loss is caused by dehydration.

How can I recognize these fad diets so I can make sure I’m safe?

Most, if not all fad diets have these “promises” or “guarantees” that are harmful:
- Fad diets claim that you will lose weight very quickly.
- Fad diets promise that you will lose weight and keep it off without giving up your favorite “fatty” foods or exercising regularly.
- Fad diets base claims on photo-shopped “before and after” photos.
- Fad diets offer testimonials from their clients or “experts” in weight loss that are paid to claim these diets work.
- Fad diets draw very simple conclusions from very complex medical research.
- Fad diets limit your food choices and “prison” you to their foods.
- Fad diets require you to spend your hard-earned money on things like their seminars and their pills or prepackaged meals in order for the plan to work.

What do I do if I want to lose weight? Below are some healthy tips that you can do everyday to lose weight:

- Eat breakfast every day (don’t skip any meals).
- Eat a variety of healthy foods so that you get all of your daily nutrients.
- Limit your intake of saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar and sodium.
- Limit sugary soft drinks and juices, and limit alcohol.
- Be aware of the size of your food portions.
- Exercise daily. 30 to 60 minutes 4 to 6 times per week is recommended.

Low carb diets are diets with reduced carbohydrate intake that result in the using up of insulin from the fat and protein reserves in the body. It forces the use of body fat that happens to be the energy source for most parts of the body such as the brain and the red blood cells. However, a total cut off in the intake of carbohydrates from the diet can result in many side effects. Before going in for low carb diets, it is necessary to be aware of these side effects.

Dieters using this method virtually do not consume any bread, rice or alcohol, all of which are rich in carbohydrates. Additionally, some of the low carb diets also involve large amounts of meat, cheese and butter in the diet.

These diets do have some limited, short-term effects in terms of reducing body weight, which is the reason for their popularity. Research has proved that weight is lost during the period of low carb diets due to the reduction of water and muscle tissue from the body. Unfortunately, the fats in the body are not reduced, which is necessary for permanent weight loss. People have a tendency to regain weight when the low carb diet is discontinued.

There has been medical evidence of severe side effects in individuals put on high protein and low carb diets. This has been noticed even in the case of people who have had a good health history. There has been little research done to actually pinpoint the occurrence of ill health in dieters on low carb diets.

Feedback from low carb dieters has been collected on a regular basis to make a comprehensive study about the side effects. Low carb diets are in the controversial terrain until research finds some tangible evidence to find their positive or negative effects. Usually, these side effects are seen on a long-term basis and many dieters are actually content with the fact that they have lost weight rather quickly.

Warning! Even though super fast weight loss is possible, it is neither healthy nor a long-term solution to your weight problem. Many sites on the Internet claim that significant weight loss can be achieved in days; but, these are generally sites endorsing the top ten fad diets.

For the most part, sites endorsing the top ten fad diets make outrageous claims about super fast weight loss. That type of weight loss usually consists of 90% water and is strictly temporary weight loss because you will regain that weight as soon as your body returns to its normal hydration level. It’s important to understand the two primary reasons your body requires lots of water:

<1> Your body cells need to be hydrated in order to replenish and multiply properly.

<2> Water helps to eliminate both waste and toxins from your body.

Some of the top ten fad diets are hyped-up diet plans that stay in vogue as long as they generate money for the marketers who are hyping the plans. In some cases, these plans are nutritionally acceptable and, if followed correctly, actually result in weight loss. However, many times they prove difficult to follow and people give up after a short period of time (ever tried the cabbage soup diet?). Furthermore, your doctor can probably recommend (for free) a similar diet tailored to your situation.

Be aware of the following symptoms of fad diets:

<1> Diets that promise quick and easy weight loss do not give the benefits that you would get from a balanced diet because they are usually based on eating more of one food type and none of another. These diets may suggest you take supplements but many supplements are not absorbed by the body unless they are taken along with the foods that are not included in the diet. If you stick to the fad diet for several weeks, you may begin to develop nutritional deficiencies.

<2> Fad diets are often restrictive and boring. After the novelty of the first day or two, the meals are not enjoyable. It will not be long before you start to crave food constantly and break the diet. You might even start feeling guilty, blaming yourself for not losing weight on your new fad diet.

<3> Most fad diets do not take into consideration recommendations of the American Heart Association regarding fat levels in the diet. Fad diets will often recommend consuming high fat foods and reducing carbohydrates. Over a period of time, this type of fad diet could result in heart disease. People marketing these fad diets may tell you that they are only intended to be followed for a short time. But, if you don’t lose weight in that short period of time, what are your options? You either continue following an unhealthy plan or stop following the plan and gain back the weight you lost.

<4> Many fad diets do not incorporate enough servings of fruits and vegetables in the weight loss program. And many do not recommend the variety of foods that your body needs.

<5> Super fast weight loss diets are just temporary solutions and do not help you to permanently change your eating habits. The only way to remain at your target weight once you reach it is through permanent change. Following fad diets results in yo-yo diet-binge cycles of fast weight loss and equally fast weight gain. Both your health and your self esteem will be better if you simply remain overweight all the time instead of following one of the top ten fad diets.

Watch out for the marketers! Fad diets will not help you in the long run. The absolute best way to lose weight and keep it off is to find and follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, ….. and avoid fad diets.

The easiest thing to remember about low-fat diets is that you can follow one just by adhering to the famous food pyramid that appears on many grocery store labels. The food pyramid is the number of servings from each foods group that the United States Department of Agriculture recommends for a healthy diet. The tip of the pyramid is fat, which you are instructed to use sparingly. If you do that, you’re following one of many low fat diets.

Low-fat diets are what most physicians have encouraged their patients to follow for decades. However, proponents of high-protein diets like Atkns, the Zone and South Beach, say that low-fat diets, often high in carbohydrates, actually make you fatter and less healthy.

Both may be right, because most nutrition experts will say that not every carbohydrate is good for you and neither is every fat. Some health care professionals will now tell you to follow low fat diets but watch your sugar intake when eating the up to 11 servings of carbs that the food pyramid recommends each day.

Some of the most popular low-fat diets include Pritikin, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and Fit for Life. All of the diets allow you to eat pasta, breads, grains, fresh vegetables and fruits. The focus is cutting out fatty foods like butter, fatty beef and cheese out of your diet, and eating more complex carbohydrates. Sugar is also out when you follow low-fat diets.

The anti-low fat diets crowd says that the evidence that it doesn’t work is the plethora of fat-free products on the market and the increase in fat people. Americans are fatter than ever, but studies have found they eat much larger portions than they need of just about every food. It may not be the fault of following low fat diets alone.

If you have never followed any of the high-fat diets, you’ll find it to be simple. Just eat 8-11 servings of carbohydrates a day, 3-6 servings of vegetables, 2-4 servings of fruits, 2-3 servings of dairy products and 2-3 servings of meat. Avoid fats, oils and sugar when trying low-fat diets.

Low Carb Vegetarian diets are popular today. Here are the top five things should know when considering a low cab vegetarian diet.

1. Low Carb Vegetarian diets are unbalanced.

Wrong. Remember low carb vegetarian diets when done right provides a nice balance between proteins, fat and complex carbs. These are important and needed in every responsible diet. Plus vegetarians tend to consume more vegetables and fruits compared to the average American.

2. Vegetarians because of their diets will automatically live longer.

Well this would seem to be the case but in fact it’s not. There really isn’t enough evidence to support this claim. Yes a low carb vegetarian diet does provide some awesome health benefits however these diets don’t automatically ensure a longer life, simply a healthier one.

3. Vegetarians don’t need as much exercise as Meat eaters.

Do I even need to comment on this one? Well just in case I do, this is obviously incorrect. No matter what your diet choice you NEED to exercise. Exercise is not just about losing weight. The benefits to exercising are so far reaching. I would need a whole other article to discuss them. So get your daily exercise, it only takes 20 minutes a day.

4. Low carb vegetarian diets lack sufficient Calcium and are therefore harmful.

Yet still another misconception. Here again many people are trapped in the mindset of believing calcium is derived only from cheese and milk. This is so far from the truth. Believe it or not green leafy vegetables of which Vegetarians consume quite a bit is very rich in calcium. Another benefit here is that digesting calcium is easier and more efficient for vegetarians also which in turn leads to less cases of osteoporosis.

5.Low carb vegetarian diets are perfect for everyone.

Again on the face of it this seems the case. However keep in mind again that not all diets are perfect for everyone. A little experimentation is always needed to find out what works for each person. Vegetarian diets are great when practiced responsibly however they are not necessarily for everyone. It’s a matter of choice.