The Pros and Cons of Fad Dieting

It is very tempting to try that fad diet that you have found

in the latest magazine that promises the world with

fantastic fat losses without doing a thing. Just take

a couple of fat burning pills follow the diet and then

bang! A brand new you in a couple of weeks.

The sad fact is they do not work, they just provide more

suffering in your efforts to lose weight, the only thing

you lose is your hard earned money.

Firstly we will look at the latest fad diets on the scene at

the moment, their pros and cons and then you will be shown

how to save your time, money and unnecessary suffering by

pointing you in the right direction for permanent weight

loss.

The latest studies show that 90 per cent of fad dieters

regained everything they had lost and even gained more

within eighteen months.

The Atkins Diet.

The body burns carbohydrates and then fat for energy.

This diet recommends limiting the intake of starchy,

high carb foods so that the fat is burned first. So by

eating meat, cheese and eggs and keeping bread and potatoes

to a minimum, fat is lost.

Pros: Steak with cheese topping, Chocolate mocha ice cream

and pork scratchings.

Cons: Studies show high protein diets lead to increased risk

of heart disease, colon cancer, bad breath (halitosis) and

constipation. Consuming more carbohydrate that can

be used by the body will store this excess in fat cells.

The Zone Diet.

This diet claims to decrease hunger and boost energy by

keeping your bodies eating habits in the zone or at its peak.

This is done by keeping all your meals and snacks in the ratio

of 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, 30% fats.

Pros: Being a low calorie diet, you can’t help but lose weight.

Cons: Very difficult to adhere to the strict regime the diet

requires. Will experience metabolism slow down because of low

calories and will lead to starvation response which will eat

away at the muscle tissue while retaining the fat.

The Blood Group Diet.

By having a blood test and determining your blood group, this

then tells you how you can absorb nutrients, thus you can plan

your diet accordingly. Different blood groups can eat different

food groups.

Pros: Another calorie restricting diet so weight will be lost.

Cons: There appears to be little clinical and scientific evidence

behind this diet and by the elimination of whole food groups important

nutritional deficiencies are likely with long term health problems

encountered.

The Ashram Diet.

This diet is basically a very low calorie diet (near starvation)

which is coupled with a very high intensity exercise regime.

A sample of this diet would include: One boiled egg for

breakfast, a green salad for lunch and a baked potato with

salsa for dinner.

Pros: A very quick weight loss, 10 – 15 lbs in a week (Mostly

muscle tissue and water).

Cons: Fast weight loss leads to many unpleasant side effects

such as bad breath, bone loss, constipation, deprivation of nutrients

(vitamins and minerals), muscle loss, metabolism slow down, headaches

and poor sleep. Who would want all these problems for the sake of

quick weight loss where the weight will eventually be put back on and more in a

couple of months?

The Hay Diet.

The main rule to follow for this diet is to not eat protein and

carbohydrates together. Combination of these two foods together

appears to prevent protein from being digested in the gut and

can lead to an accumulation of toxins. Vegetables and fruit

form the bulk of the diet with very small portions of protein

and carbs.

Pros: Plenty of fruit and veggies in the diet means plenty of

vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Cons: There doesn’t appear to be too much scientific evidence

about food combinations and by limiting yourself to certain food

groups you will miss out on important nutrients.

All these diets work because of a drastic cut in calories, when

this happens our metabolic rate can be brought down in a matter

of 36 hours by as much as 50% which means your body is now burning

only half of your calories. To compound matters further, hunger

kicks in after a period of inadequate eating setting you up for

over eating and binging.

Everyone is an individual so you have to be careful of diets that require

you to set out what types of foods and quantities you have to eat

at every meal. Just because a movie star lost weight on a fad diet

doesn’t mean that you will. Before starting a weight loss program

take into account your age, fitness levels, activity levels and

medical history.

A real weight loss program includes all the food groups, strength

training, low level aerobics, a slight decrease in your daily

calorie levels and a program that can be followed for life.