"Named Diets" really do work!

jonchew

Perhaps I should clarify my theory:

These boards are just FULL of people who swear by "The (insert name here) Diet" - some of-which really crack-me-up. I just read a post on "The Blood Type Diet", which seem to have it's followers.

OK - my theory... NONE of these diets work, and yet... ALL of these diets work.

Let me clarify even more: ANY "diet" that makes you aware of what and how much you eat, and how it will affect your body (specifically, weight) has the ability to help you lose or gain weight. It seems to me that at a very basic level, it comes down to calories-in/calories-out.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not saying that one can eat 1200 calories worth of Twinkies for months on end and end-up being slim, trim & healthy - just saying that you'll likely lose weight. This should be very liberating for those looking for a "Named Diet" to follow - they'll all work!

There you go, my theory... let the games begin!!

jonchew

WOW, cool - everyone agrees... I need to write a book and make my first million!!

Alissakae

I'll agree with you on that. Diets that provide your food for you work too. But, man, i really enjoy the freedom to choose for myself what I'm going to eat!

LoggingForLife

I'm on day 3 of the south beach diet. All I know is that i've been struggling with losing and battling wicked sugar cravings, even while staying with in about 1500 calories. I'm four pounds down in 3 days. I know, everyone will pipe in about water weight and blah. My stomach is not bloated and I have a lot of energy. Frankly, I don't know what to think.

neandermagnon

personally, I don't go for the whole "I'm on the (add name here) diet" thing. The diet I eat is influenced by a whole lot of different theories and ideas about how we should eat, mostly from the sciences of human physiology, nutrition, palaeoanthropology, psychology (including evolutionary psychology) and also the 90% rule, "if it fits your macros", and, very importantly, what foods I actually like the taste of and enjoy eating. And at the moment, what's not too expensive, because I'm on a budget.

what I find a bit odd, is people post on forums asking "am I allowed to eat...." and "does it count if I..." like some external person is marking their diet like it's a coursework assignment. It's not. You're allowed to eat what you like. What counts is how well your body functions, how healthy you are, and whether you're moving in the right direction towards your health and fitness goals. Personally, I prefer questions like "is it healthy to eat..." or "will it help me achieve my goals if I eat...." kind of thing.

That's just me though, each to their own, I'm not the food police or the question police (the only stupid question is one you're too scared to ask), and I also can see how the whole thing of being "on the (add name here) diet" can be very helpful for some people, and I'm not against this at all if it's working for you and moving you in the right direction towards your health and fitness goals. I'll try to offer advice and support if I think I can help someone whether they have the same philosophy as me or not. On the other hand, pseudoscience does my head in and I don''t like to stand around and watch while someone is doing something that I know is totally unhealthy or will prevent them from reaching their goals.

jonchew

Whilst some of the diets proposed strike me as being just plain silly (OK, outrageous!), I guess that if it works for you, then it's a good diet.

Loggingforlife - GOOD for you, keep up the great work, don't get discouraged, and lose those pounds!

I'm not trying to poke fun (well, OK, maybe poke a bit of fun) at people who need need a label for "their diet", and to be told EXACTLY what to eat & when - I'm just hoping that some will realize that - in the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi - "The force is within YOU".

LoggingForLife

Thanks. I think "diets" do work. The question is, can they be sustained.