Fad diets are weight loss plans that promise “dramatic results” in less time and/or with less effort than usual. Of course, most of these usually don’t deliver what they promise. In fact, some of these diets may actually be doing more harm than good to your health.
Do fad diets really work? And why are they popular?
Pride is innate in humans. A person who has a desire to look better physically is often willing to do anything that promises to help him lose weight. Companies promoting fad diets take advantage of this fact. They appeal to people by promising to lose weight very quickly and easily. Many people prefer to try a fad diet quick fix rather than attempt to lose weight by making long-term changes to their eating and exercise habits.
Another reason that makes fad diets a hit with the masses is that they are usually short-lived. And again, people like quick results; We don’t want to wait. Fad diets are short-lived because they usually require you to stop eating certain types of food or eat “special” combinations of foods. Hence, you are getting fewer calories than usual. However, it’s likely that most of the weight you lose is from water and lean muscle mass, not body fat. In addition, most people are not able to meet the demands of a diet that strictly limits their food choices or requires them to eat the same foods over and over again. People who use fad diets usually regain any weight they initially lost.
If you really want to lose weight, the best way is to be natural and determined. You don’t need some magic bullet or system to make it happen. There are natural steps to guide you through this, and they are as follows:
1. Don’t skip meals.
2. Vary your food intake (including whole grains, vegetables and fruits) to make sure you get your daily nutrients.
3. Limit consumption of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.
4. Avoid excess sugar. High-sugar foods are often high in calories and low in nutrients.
5. Limit liquid calories. Avoid sweetened soda, alcohol and juice (choose whole fruit instead).
6. Pay special attention to the portioning of your meals. Use the nutrition label to determine what the serving size is.
7. Exercise regularly. Any exercise that you love to do and that you never get bored of doing is the best exercise in the world for you. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes 4 to 6 times per week.
8. Be more physically active in your daily life. Park far enough away so you have time to walk or take the stairs when you can.
In our efforts to lose weight, pills, supplements or special exercise/diet plans don’t really matter. The best thing you will ever need is a good set attitude. All you need is determination, will and persistence to keep your weight loss endeavor alive and going.
Source by Phoebe Bradshaw
