Fad diets and weight loss supplements come and go, leaving consumers wondering why they don’t work and what does work.
Whether it’s an oversized midsection or a quick five pounds, culture is obsessed with weight and appearance. Diets are the go-to weight loss aid, but ironically, most of them fail. Why? There are several reasons people fail in dieting and weight loss goals.
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Diet Restrictions
No one likes restrictions. Telling a dieter that an entire section of foods such as carbohydrates or red meats is off limits is a failure waiting to happen.
Just like a child told not to touch a toy, the temptation eventually becomes overwhelming. Instead, dieters should seek to manage their portions and make healthy decisions rather than cut out entire food groups and deny themselves essential nutrients.
Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Weight
A healthy weight is the result of a healthy lifestyle. Crash or fad dieting may cause dramatic weight loss, but as soon as the dieter begins to eat taboo foods again, much of the pounds come creeping back.
Often, dieters report gaining back even more weight than they lost. Instead, one should pursue a daily lifestyle of portion control and nutritious meals.
Diet Supplements and Pills
The saturation of the diet supplement market is overwhelming for many. Companies target overweight dieters with claims that their pill causes weight loss. None of the diet pills aside from Alli are approved by the FDA.
There is no magic pill that will melt or dissolve fat from the body, though some diet pills may increase metabolism or provide other benefits that aid with water retention or other problems. The true way to get healthy and stay healthy is through a nutritious diet and exercise.
Fasting for Weight Loss
Some weight loss gurus promote fasting for weight loss. This means consuming an all liquid diet for several days at a time. Diets like the Master Cleanse recommend at least 10 days with a maximum of 40.
While it is almost certain that one will lose weight on this diet, it is very dangerous. Additionally, most of the weight lost during a fast comes back quickly once eating resumes, as the body responds to its starvation mode by storing additional fats.
Success with a Low Calorie Diet
Low calories lead to low energy and low metabolism. The body reacts to a heavy calorie restriction by slowing its metabolic rate, reducing the amount of calories naturally burned and resulting in lethargic energy levels. Most adults need at least 1800 calories each day. To have success in dieting, the majority of these calories should come from healthy sources rather than large amounts of fat and sugar.
Fad diets are not the way to achieve a healthy weight. Instead, opt for moderate exercise, nutritious foods and moderation.
Resources:
Fox News: Cleansing Diets May be Worthless and Dangerous
