Have you ever tried a fad diet? If you are like most people who are trying to lose weight (myself included), you probably have tried one at some point. Fad diets are diets that are usually used for short-term, rapid weight loss and they come in all different types. Most of these diets, however, do not have much regard for nutrition or potentially negative consequences. It is also not uncommon for people who lose weight on a fad diet to regain that weight once they go back to eating regularly or normally. If you can't already tell, I'm not a big fan of fad diets.
One reason I'm not a big fan of fad diets is that many fad diets are not nutritionally sound. While a person may lose weight quickly on the diet, it is possible that they are not eating enough calories or getting enough nutrients. By not getting enough nutritional support, your body may end up suffering internally and not being able to perform at an optimal or even adequate level.
A second reason is that many people who lose weight using a fad diet usually end up regaining it back. Most people who use a fad diet often do not develop the proper mindset or make the needed permanent changes in their eating habits to maintain that weight loss. In fact, it is also possible that people who rely on fad diets to lose weight may actually develop poorer eating patterns, such as consuming not enough calories or not eating a variety of foods, and that could have a negative impact on the body in the long term.
A third reason that fad diets are not a good thing to do when trying to lose weight is that some of these diets can be dangerous or have negative consequences including health wise. For example, I remember reading about a person whose skin turned orange after doing a fad diet where they were supposed to eat primarily orange colored foods such as carrots. Depending on the severity or outrageousness of the fad diet, a person does not even need to be on it for a long period of time before it can negatively affect their body.
Even though I could probably lose weight faster by using a fad diet (like I have in the past), I made myself commit to losing weight in a more healthier manner this time. I am also trying to make sure I develop the right mindset to maintain my weight loss, which is something I have not been able to do in the past using fad diets. If you decide that you would still benefit from doing a fad diet, I recommend that you do some research and find a diet that is not too extreme. I would also advise to not use the diet for a long time period and to make sure you still take the time to develop an overall healthier eating pattern and lifestyle changes to sustain your weight loss. For readers who are still trying to choose a diet plan, I hope to do another blog entry soon with some "red flags" to look out for being making a decision, but in the meantime, good luck and stay positive!
