Avoiding Fad Diets

A fad diet is weight loss plan that tends to promise fast results in a short period of time. Many people will turn to a fad diet in hopes of getting the quick results that they are promised. Unfortunately there is no food or pill that will magically make us burn fat. It would be nice though! Many of the claims, testimonials, and images on a fad diet product or menu may be deceiving to the consumer and sometimes can confuse them even more. 

Here are a few tips to help you steer clear of any diet plans or products that may be considered a fad diet.

Avoid claims for a rapid weight loss: The average healthy weight loss per week should be about 1-2 pounds. Slow and steady weight loss is more likely to last then rapid weight loss would. If you lose weight quickly you will most likely lose muscle, bone and water. You will also be more likely to put the weight you lost back on after the diet is finished.

Avoid diets that focus on certain foods or food combinations: For example the cookie diet or the cabbage diet. Focusing on one type of food is not a healthy way to lose weight. You want to make sure you are getting a mixture of all the food groups and not avoiding any.  It can be dangerous to eliminate a certain food group such as carbs. It also gets boring to eat the same food over and over again!

Avoid rigid/ complicated menus: Life can be complicated at times so why should your food have to be too. We have too many other things going on in our life then to sit down and strategically plan certain foods to eat at certain times. Think to yourself “could I eat this way for the rest of my life”. If the answer is no, then that diet is not for you.

Avoid diets that say you don’t need to exercise: Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. If you are looking to lose weight then you need a healthy combination of both nutrition and fitness. It also is essential that you get exercise in for good health. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week.

Keep in mind these simple steps when identifying whether or not a diet is considered a fad diet. Just remember that quick and easy is not always the solution.

Blog post by Krista Post.