We know that proper nutrition is extremely important to looking and feeling your best, but being lured into fad diets with the promise of quick fat loss and lean muscle is oh-so tempting. However, it’s important to remember that well-rounded nutrition and exercise — and not fad diets — are the way to lasting results.
There are two main reasons why fad diets appear to have miraculous, almost instantaneous positive effects, only to come crashing down after a few weeks.
Weight Loss
If you’re trying to lose weight, you could choose just about any fad diet going, from the classic Cabbage Diet to the Five Bite Diet, which says eat whatever you want, but only five bites- silly we know! Most fad diets are simply differently-packaged ways of saying ‘eat fewer calories.’ That’s fine if all you want to do is lose weight, however, the problem is that fad diets often put so much emphasis on one particular food or group, that you miss out on a tonne of essential nutrients. That’s why eventually, you feel so awful that you cave, start eating other foods again (and not of the healthy kind) and gain weight just as quickly, if not quicker, than you lost it. This is the so-called ‘Yo-yo diet” effect and can be very dangerous as you lose weight rapidly when fad dieting, but when you crash you gain weight very quickly (and normally more than you originally lost) which puts a lot of strain on your vital organs. The key to eating healthy isn’t necessarily imposing huge calorie restrictions on yourself, but rather having everything in moderation and combining this with a workout plan that is both realistic and easy to keep up. Remember, consistency is key when working out and eating healthy. You may find that you lose weight a little slower than if you were to embark on a fad diet, but if you’re looking to lose weight and ensure you don’t put it back on, embarking on a healthier lifestyle is the most important thing- not embarking on a crash diet.
Momentary great health
If your diet is full of processed foods and sugar, and you suddenly switch to an all-vegetable juice plan, chances are that almost immediately, and for a few days, you’ll feel amazing. This is not because of the juice. Fruits and vegetables are very good for you, but processed foods are also very bad for you, if you eat them all the time. What you’re actually experiencing is the removal of junk food, and in no time at all, you’ll be hungry again because of a lack of varied food. In essence the complete removal of junk food and sugar, where you’re only consuming vegetable and fruit juices and smoothies is acting as a detox- it is not something to be continued as a long term diet plan. Once you have completed your detox it’s essential to start introducing nutrient-rich food (other than fruit and vegetables) to your diet. Look for a healthy mix of proteins and slow energy releasing carbohydrates to compliment your fruit and vegetables., and you never know you may even stop those sugar cravings!
What’s the take home message? Diets are short-term fixes for what should be a complete lifestyle change. Regular exercise, plus a varied diet that keeps you energised and satisfied, but not bloated or sluggish, is a much better and more sustainable way to live.
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