Why I believe fad diets don't work for everyone
misti777
Posts: 217 Member
The diet doesn't work, because you end it. Eating right and exercising, should be a lifestyle change. Not just, I'm gonna do this for a few months and then stop. Obviously that wouldn't work, yet people complain about it. I'm honestly not trying to offend those people who do complain about diets not working. What I mean is fad diets or popular exercise videos will only work while you are still doing them. Which is why you should want to make healthy food choices and find fun exercise activities that work for you in the very long-term that you won't get bored of. Just sharing my thoughts about that.
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Absolutely. This is the difference between "getting it" vs "going through the motions". Sounds like you get it.0
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Who am I to dictate what is and isn't a fad? If it works for the individual I say go for it! Each to their own
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Who am I to dictate what is and isn't a fad? If it works for the individual I say go for it! Each to their own
Yeah, that's mostly what I mean. For me I'm actually doing a 30 day shred, barely started, but I really like a few of the exercises on level one such as the reverse curl-up and the lunge/bicep-curl and would probably do them outside of the 30 day shred. And it works for me. Also, I'm a christian so i'm trying to keep the mindset of taking care of God's temple, so it's more than just wanting to be thin for me. At first it was, but lately not so much. There are other things i'm working on changing in order to take care of God's temple, but that's another matter. Plus, exercising relieves a lot of stress for me and just makes me feel better, as well as eating right. If a certain diet or workout vid works for you, go for it, just like you said. But if you go back to junk food and lazing around the house you will probably gain the weight back.
Thanks for the feedback guys. I was a little worried that some people would be offended.0 -
First you have to define "fad".
I've had this label thrown at MY chosen style of slimming, but (a) it works - I have lost 27lb, and (b) it is satisfying, and (c) it is nutritionally complete and (d) I think it is sustainable long term.
So, what's wrong with my fad?0 -
I don't get these "fasting" diets. Why put yourself though all that pain and misery. Its not healthy to starve yourself like that. I mean, if anything it will make you put on weight as well, as your body will store the fats you do eat. I really enjoy my food, I just make sure I eat everything in moderation 0
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First you have to define "fad".
I've had this label thrown at MY chosen style of slimming, but (a) it works - I have lost 27lb, and (b) it is satisfying, and (c) it is nutritionally complete and (d) I think it is sustainable long term.
So, what's wrong with my fad?
hard to say since you dont say what it is, and your diary seems to empty. but best of luck with it....0 -
First you have to define "fad".
I've had this label thrown at MY chosen style of slimming, but (a) it works - I have lost 27lb, and (b) it is satisfying, and (c) it is nutritionally complete and (d) I think it is sustainable long term.
So, what's wrong with my fad?
If it works for you then there's nothing wrong with it, but they don't work for everyone. But usually if someone ends a diet they gain their weight back in most cases, and it seems like people complain about that a lot. Losing weight and keeping it off usually happens by having a mostly or completely permanent change, like eating right with the occasional treat, and getting regular exercise. I guess what I really mean to say is that, just find something that works for you that you are comfortable with doing mostly permanently.0 -
I don't get these "fasting" diets. Why put yourself though all that pain and misery. Its not healthy to starve yourself like that. I mean, if anything it will make you put on weight as well, as your body will store the fats you do eat. I really enjoy my food, I just make sure I eat everything in moderation
Yes, I agree that moderation is a really big key factor in eating right.0 -
i agree completly agree. I started doing herbalife. And i realize it is just temporary. I wont be replacing meals with shakes my whole life. But I feel once i drop weight quik these next 2 months i will be motivated to continue to eat light and healthy meals and exercise in the future. some people lose the weight quik, then stop their fad diet and dont make a lifestyle change.0
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Fad diets are just disguised calorie deficits with the authors "unique" way of doing it. All fad diets are a way of making money off those who believe in it. Sustainability is a different issue.
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Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Statistics put most at the 90% category of those who regain after a fad diet. Will you be one of the 10% who make it? Realize that millions of people do a fad diet everyday.................and only 10% make it after goal. That means millions fail.i agree completly agree. I started doing herbalife. And i realize it is just temporary. I wont be replacing meals with shakes my whole life. But I feel once i drop weight quik these next 2 months i will be motivated to continue to eat light and healthy meals and exercise in the future. some people lose the weight quik, then stop their fad diet and dont make a lifestyle change.
Point I'm making is that if you believe you can make it with a lifestyle change in the future, then what's stopping you from doing it now? Lack of confidence in losing weight WITHOUT the fad diet?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
The diet doesn't work, because you end it. Eating right and exercising, should be a lifestyle change. Which is why you should want to make healthy food choices and find fun exercise activities that work for you in the very long-term that you won't get bored of.
Yup!0 -
i agree completly agree. I started doing herbalife. And i realize it is just temporary. I wont be replacing meals with shakes my whole life. But I feel once i drop weight quik these next 2 months i will be motivated to continue to eat light and healthy meals and exercise in the future. some people lose the weight quik, then stop their fad diet and dont make a lifestyle change.
That is a good technique actually, because for some people is it really hard to get started on actually beginning to lose. Something I did that helped me start to lose was limiting my carb intake and trying not to stress which would lead to overeating.0 -
I've said it before I'll say it again, dieting by it's very nature implies/assumes something temporary, which is to say when it ends, you'll go back to doing what you were doing. I know it's arguing semantics, but I prefer the term lifestyle change, as it's more long term and it's more indicative of what I believe should happen.0
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I've been eating a vegetarian diet for 30 years. It's not termporary. The term 'diet' simply means 'the way I eat'. There's nothing wrong with the word diet in and of itself... I follow a healthy diet.0
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Maybe i used the wrong word, but when a lot of people say "I'm going on a diet" or something similar, they do in my experience mean a temporary change. I realized pretty quick that for it to stick, it had ot be more than just a quick fix.0
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I've been eating a vegetarian diet for 30 years. It's not termporary. The term 'diet' simply means 'the way I eat'. There's nothing wrong with the word diet in and of itself... I follow a healthy diet.
That's very true.0 -
I don't consider eating vegetarian a fad diet. I consider "cutting" out foods that one likes temporarily to attain a certain goal weight/look, then abandoning it because they reached goal a fad diet.I've been eating a vegetarian diet for 30 years. It's not termporary. The term 'diet' simply means 'the way I eat'. There's nothing wrong with the word diet in and of itself... I follow a healthy diet.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
"I don't get these "fasting" diets. Why put yourself though all that pain and misery. Its not healthy to starve yourself like that. I mean, if anything it will make you put on weight as well, as your body will store the fats you do eat."
This is utter, misleading nonsense!
Fasting reduces insulin, and in the absence of insulin you CANNOT store the fat that you eat. Scientific fact.
Not that I am a fan of fasting, but get your facts right!0 -
I don't consider eating vegetarian a fad diet. I consider "cutting" out foods that one likes temporarily to attain a certain goal weight/look, then abandoning it because they reached goal a fad diet.I've been eating a vegetarian diet for 30 years. It's not termporary. The term 'diet' simply means 'the way I eat'. There's nothing wrong with the word diet in and of itself... I follow a healthy diet.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I don't disagree, but this wasn't a comment directed to the original post - it was about the supposed distinction between 'diet' and 'lifestyle change' - a distinction I find relatively meaningless. What you put in your body is a diet. You can have a healthy one, or an unhealthy one. You can follow a fad diet, or make sustainable dietary changes. Either way, it's still your diet.0 -
Such entertainment in this thread
I agree with you OP. Fad diets come and go and I'm sure we could all could come up with one ourself and make a squillion dollars profiting from people wanting to "lose 10kg of belly fat fast".
But the tried and true method is to work out what our individual bodies need, then eat a little bit less and exercise a little bit more. Slowly but surely, getting to a healthy weight/body composition and the clincher - in the process, learning how to keep it off!0 -
Variety is the spice of life. I see no reason one can't start with one plan (as long as it's not unhealthy) and then move on to trying something else if they get tired of it. Why is it all about picking one thing for life? Why is that even the debate? Why not pick what works for the moment (again, if it's healthy) and if it works for life great, and if not, instead of turning back into a marshmallow, just try something else?0
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Variety is the spice of life. I see no reason one can't start with one plan (as long as it's not unhealthy) and then move on to trying something else if they get tired of it. Why is it all about picking one thing for life? Why is that even the debate? Why not pick what works for the moment (again, if it's healthy) and if it works for life great, and if not, instead of turning back into a marshmallow, just try something else?
That is what I am doing -- an ongoing experiment N=1.
Have done many things in the past - calorie counted ready meals, vegetarianism, slim shakes. Nothing stops hunger except keto, and that is hard to keep to!0 -
First let's say that when we eat, we are on a diet. Just the word diet makes you feel deprived. Then adding the idea that you have to be extreme equals "fad", because a fad doesn't last and a change in diet and physical should last.
That was the first thing I kept in mind.
At Christmas time 2012 I was my heaviest weight in my life, more than when pregnant. I decided I didn't want this to continue. I really
didn't like myself more and more each day. So, I first looked at the things unnecessary to eat and drink. A) Alcohol,
eating out, C) Dessert. In the first month of eliminating that alone without any other changes began dropping my weight. I lost one pound a week just on that alone. So, this meant filling in family and friends and that they must respect my decision. The biggest hurdle once a decision is made is "discipline". I had to tell myself that even though I was out with friends, I didn't need to indulge as I once did. It took time to acclimate myself and those around me, but the discipline gives huge rewards.
My second phase after the first month was to sit down on Myfitnesspal here and make up my account. I had one but didnt' take it serious, wasn't disciplined. So, I looked at all the foods I enjoy for each meal and began to type the foods in to make a meal and checked what I could consume and WEIGHED it. It is time consuming, but if it is important to you for change, drop something else time consuming, such as TV or computer time on FB maybe, and research food. You will find what works even if it takes months. It has taken me 7 months on myfitnesspal to reach my final 25 lbs I wanted to loose.
So as not to offend anyone, I am not taking into consideration that some people do have medical issues.
My sharing here is only sharing my own experience. I have found that the nutrition allotment set up on this site is perfect. What I would also like to add though is that it is equally important to choose healthy foods in your calorie allotment. Processed and Fat filled sugar drenched foods shouldn't be part of an ongoing diet. There are adverse affects that also play a huge role in the outcome of your beautiful body you wish to live with. Is it easy, NO. But as Nike puts it, "JUST DO IT" if you want the change you so wish to enjoy. Best of luck to all!! and again, this is shared not to offend anyone, just to share what worked for me.0 -
I find it funny that oftentimes a "fad" diet,simply means anything different than what is working for a particular individual.
So-called 'fad' diets like Atkins,South Beach, Intermittent Fasting, Paleo, etc, have been around for generations and work for many people,not just to lose the weight, but to maintain it long term.
No matter the method you choose to lose, you must figure out a maintenance plan that will work for life.
And "fads" can also include exercise programs like P90X or Insanity, etc. If you use these programs to help you lose the weight, then stop doing them, but do not adjust your calorie intake to compensate, then you will gain your weight back as well.
Anything you find that is sustainable long term for you, will work for you. Just because it isn't right for someone else, doesn't mean it is a 'fad', and won't work.
Again, the key is making lifestyle changes so that you can maintain any weight loss or fitness level you obtain.
The only diet plan that I believe is unhealthy for everyone, would be one that has a long term very low protein content.
Low carb, low fat, vegan, whatever, will work, but we really need to make sure we get at least our minimum protein requirements in.0 -
Yeh it really irritates me when friends look at me like I'm a fad freak because I counted calories on some funky little app. They'd rather do some damned nutritious and whacky fad diet and just move more. Lose weight without counting a single calorie. Bloody weird. But MFP isn't a fad is it? It's a lifestyle change. We all plan on counting calories forever or running back to it when we fall off cos it works. Totally sustainable.0
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I find it funny that oftentimes a "fad" diet,simply means anything different than what is working for a particular individual.
So-called 'fad' diets like Atkins,South Beach, Intermittent Fasting, Paleo, etc, have been around for generations and work for many people,not just to lose the weight, but to maintain it long term.
No matter the method you choose to lose, you must figure out a maintenance plan that will work for life.
And "fads" can also include exercise programs like P90X or Insanity, etc. If you use these programs to help you lose the weight, then stop doing them, but do not adjust your calorie intake to compensate, then you will gain your weight back as well.
Anything you find that is sustainable long term for you, will work for you. Just because it isn't right for someone else, doesn't mean it is a 'fad', and won't work.
Again, the key is making lifestyle changes so that you can maintain any weight loss or fitness level you obtain.
The only diet plan that I believe is unhealthy for everyone, would be one that has a long term very low protein content.
Low carb, low fat, vegan, whatever, will work, but we really need to make sure we get at least our minimum protein requirements in.
^^^ I totally agree with you Debbie.
The word "fad" needs to be defined. Does it mean short-term? Or does it mean wacky in some way? If the latter, who defines wacky? On another thread, someone labelled my current diet, which consists of only fresh protein and fresh raw vegetables, as "rubbish". So you see, we always have to define terms.0 -
Variety is the spice of life. I see no reason one can't start with one plan (as long as it's not unhealthy) and then move on to trying something else if they get tired of it. Why is it all about picking one thing for life? Why is that even the debate? Why not pick what works for the moment (again, if it's healthy) and if it works for life great, and if not, instead of turning back into a marshmallow, just try something else?
That is what I am doing -- an ongoing experiment N=1.
Have done many things in the past - calorie counted ready meals, vegetarianism, slim shakes. Nothing stops hunger except keto, and that is hard to keep to!
I'm with you on the keto...without it, my bg's are through the roof & it's just bad business all around :ohwell:
This Sept will make 5 months and so far, though it is occasionally challenging, the positives outweigh the negatives.
:drinker:
Fasting jacked up my blood sugar though & got me to be preoccupied with food, something I had come to be accustomed to not happen since going keto...had to give up on the idea, just didn't work for me :blushing:0
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