A “fad diet” is a weight loss plan that may over-promises results. These types of diets don’t result in long-term weight loss and are usually not very healthy. You may have heard of some of them or tried one; think of a liquid diet or controlled/limited carbohydrates.
Often times, people are willing to try anything that promises to help them lose weight- especially if it promises to be quick and easy. The main reason for these diets being that everyone wants to look or feel better; or maybe they are worried about developing weight-related diseases. Diets like these are appealing because of their quick fix instead of making the effort to lose weight through long-term changes in their eating and exercise habits.
Your lifestyle is composed of what you eat, how you manage your stress, how often you exercise and more. Lifestyle changes require you to alter these behaviors; whether it is restricting fast food or trying to get 10,000 steps a day. The key is that these habits are maintained as opposed to be a short term fix.
It is important to remember that healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week. Fad diets often promise rapid results which may lead to unhealthy weight loss. Remember, it took time to gain that unwanted weight and it will take time to lose it. Limiting food choices without encouraging a balanced diet is not a healthy way to create lasting changes.
Here are a few simple tips for creating those changes:
- Don’t skip meals- this includes breakfast!
- Limit liquid calories- avoid sugary sodas, alcohol, and juices (swap for whole fruits instead)
- Exercise on a regular basis- the best kind of exercise is exercise that you’ll continue, so choose an activity that you enjoy J
- Increase daily physical activity- park farther away, take the stairs when you can, work up to taking 10,000 steps per day
By Louise Mills-Strasser
