There are lots of fad diets to avoid. Diets. We’ve all been on them before and I’m sure we will all go on them again at some point in our lives! Losing weight takes time. It took time to put the weight on, so logic dictates it will take time to come off. Trouble is, most of us want to lose weight quickly and without working too hard. It can be really easy to fall into the traps of all of the popular fad diet trends that promise maximum results with minimum effort. We all know deep down inside that the only truly effective way to lose weight is through a healthy diet and regular exercise, but that doesn’t always make us rational when choosing how to diet. To guide you on your way to weight loss success, here are four fad diets to avoid.
People with coeliac disease obviously need to be gluten free, but as for the rest of us, there is no reason to eliminate that part of our diet for weight loss. Things like whole-wheat bread contain the fibre and nutrients that make up part of a healthy diet, and the truth is that the gluten-free versions of certain foods tend to have more fat, sugar and calories in them. Unless you have a medical reason, eating gluten free is definitely one of the fad diets to avoid.
The idea that you need to detox your body with juice before losing weight is simply a made up one. You already have an inbuilt detox machine in your body - it’s called your kidneys! Trust me, no fruit-based smoothie is going to do a better job than the natural biological process of your body, especially one that can lacks protein, fibre and the good types of fats that you need.
Eating healthy doesn’t mean finding low this and low that versions of foods that weren’t good for you to begin with. It’s about making smart choices and introducing more natural, wholesome products in to your everyday diet. For example, cutting out carbs can be detrimental to your energy levels, because your body needs at least 130 grams per day. If you add more fruit, lean protein and vegetables, you will find that you naturally have less room for refined sugars and saturated fats.
Paleo is one of the hottest fad diet trends right now, but any diet that completely eliminates a certain food group is always going to run the risk of creating a nutrient deficiency in your body. You don’t need to remove grains and dairy from your diet, you simply need to regulate them and have self-discipline. Things like low fat milk and yoghurt are perfect sources of protein and vitamin D for anyone trying to lose weight.
Instead of fad diets, set yourself up with a healthy eating and exercise plan. Count calories if you want to do a calorie controlled weight loss program. Set yourself targets to keep you on track.