Why Fad Diets Get You Nowhere

3. They Put You At Risk Of An Eating Disorder

Fad diets almost always classify certain food groups and types as good or bad. This is such an unhealthy way of looking at food, and it puts both men and women at risk of developing obsessive food habits, and even eating disorders. All foods are fine to be eaten, but some foods require more moderation than others, and shouldn’t be eaten on a daily basis.

4. They Can Make It Harder In The Future

Many people like fad diets because they usually give results pretty quickly, often within the first week or two. The problem with that is that, particularly for diets involving a very low calorie approach, weight loss will eventually slow down and then stop, something referred to as plateauing. The plateau happens because your body’s metabolism adjusts to the diet. The problem is that when people drop the diet, they can end up gaining even more weight than they had lost.

Here’s What To Do Instead

Let’s be honest here, there’s no approach to losing weight and getting healthy that is going to work for everyone.

Some people have existing injury that might hinder their exercise, others have lifestyle preferences or allergies that will affect the foods they can eat. But we honestly believe that it comes down to these five things.

Portion Sizes: Get a really good understanding of portion sizes, and then stick to them. Yep, this means read the box, get a set of food scales if you want to do in-depth until you get an idea of what the manufacturer expects you to eat, and don’t live in denial about the amount of food you’re consuming. Alternatively, keep a food diary and see if you can see where you might be able to add more healthy, natural foods, instead of packaged snacks.

Water Intake: Drink more water and less soft drinks and alcohol. People often don’t realise the effect that the sugar in these beverages has on the body, but they definitely shouldn’t be something you’re having everyday. Cut down, or cut them out altogether, and focus on staying as naturally hydrated as possible.

Don’t Starve: There really is nothing to be gained from starving yourself, from using liquid meal replacements, or from following a seriously calorie deficient diet. While you’re likely to get short-term results, in the long-term you’re only risking putting on more weight from not being able to maintain it.

Release Guilt: Modern culture puts a lot of guilt on eating, and we’re over it. Food isn’t inherently good or bad, but there are some foods that you can eat more of, and other foods you should be eating less of. Try and choose appropriately cooked vegetables (i.e. not fried) and fill your plate up with that as much as possible. If you do eat cake, chocolate or other ‘treats’, ensure you do it in moderation and exercise to account for that.

Move More: People often feel they can deprive themselves and lose weight without having to exercise, but the best results from weight loss come from being more active on a daily basis. Walk more, take the stairs, get around without your car, and find an exercise or sport that you enjoy, like swimming, netball, or football. If you struggle to get motivated, a team sport or fitness class might be the perfect solution.

Have you lost weight and got fit recently? How did you do it?