Fad Dieters on this site….

My opinion has always been that fad diets are great if you want to lose weight for a specific reason (i.e. wedding or reunion) and then you're going to go back to your normal eating habits. Some of them aren't really that bad though. South Beach, for example, is a great way to lead a healthy carb lifestyle. It's really manageable long-term, and is based on diets to help with diabetes and heart disease. I think with a diet like South Beach, this site could be helpful so those following South Beach can make sure they're getting the right balance of nutrients.

I don't know much about a lot of other fad diets, but maybe through tracking calories, the least healthy of the diets will be exposed as very unhealthy. I would imagine that if I was supposed to eat 1200 calories a day and I saw that my cabbage diet was only giving me 100 calories a day, I'd quickly realize that something was wrong.

Just my two cents...

-Alison

I dont know the answer to your quesiton but I do know that MFP is NOT a place for us to judge other people's fitness and/or weightloss methods. What you call "fad" dieting, others rely on as their regimen for fitness and health or weightloss. How would you feel if someone labelled your techniques as being simply a "fad". I reallize you said you're not a hater, so dont take me wrong Im not directing this at you personally and I certainly am not looking for an argument. I think MFP is the right place for anyone looking for support regardless of what kind of diet or whatever method they are using to reach their goals. I dont believe in such diets but it doesn't mean they dont work for the right people. MFP is for everyone and the minute we start questioning weather or not it is right for certain people is the minute open communication will cease. Just my thoughts I hope you're not offended in any way.

I couldn't agree more with Matty Sparky, nice dog by the way, it is not our place to judge others or critique someone elses success or failure. Rather support and report on our own experiences. I too have followed many "fad" diets. They have mostly resulted in short term weight loss, that was not sustainable on that diet. Following South Beach or Adkins is not exactly fad dieting, as they can be a life style for some. They have plans for people that want to eat that way for a life time and are fully nutritionally complete. Not very many people would eat all cabbage soup, lemon juice, or grapefruit all the time and be healthy. However I remember some council which said when some practice is sterile and you are losing interest in that concept, change things up, don't give up. I have used that concept in my life and on occasion in my eating habits. Usually the true fad diet mainly loses water weight which can be quickly replaced however I have been able to lose a few pounds quickly then maintain it by going back to my boring eat a healthy organic styled diet watching and limiting my calorie intake, and excercise. Sometimes you have to experience some things for yourself. I think it is a long journey that teaches you weight loss is not very glamorous, it is mostly hard work.

Technically "a fad diet is simply a weight loss diet that becomes very popular (often quickly) and then may fall out of favor (sometimes just as quickly)."

That would include weight watchers. Personally a fad diet is only a fad if you treat it as such. Some are sustainable -For me and others who have thyroid problems or blood sugar problems (insulin resistance and diabetes) Atkins or South Beach or other low carbohydrate diets, can be and must be sustainable if continuation of life is what we desire. Then there are those that are not sustainable as a lifestyle ( like cabbage soup or master cleanse), people use as temporary weight loss method. Any diet that is not properly researched and does not have balance based or your physiological needs is not one you should undertake.

Is this the right place for me to be? Yes because Mike in his infinite wisdom put in a customizable option for us to choose our own percentages of nutrient balance. For me that means I cannot eat 1500 calories worth of cheesecake and meet my protein requirement (oh how I wish that were so:laugh:). Those who have had gastric bypass and other surgeries for weight loss can come here and log and see if they are meeting their doctor required protein goals.

The only people who I see who this place would not be for are those who insist on starving themselves (eating less than the recommended amount w/o a doctor supervision) and encourage others to do so.

That is my humble opinion.

Personally, I don't agree with Matty.

I, like Olive, tend not to post to questions regarding fad diet types that emphasize quick weight loss. OK so maybe part of the reason I am so personally adamant about it is because I worked hard to get where I am, I did the research, I studied, and I struggled, and still struggle. So seeing someone try to take what I consider shortcuts is frustrating. My Fitness Pal is about becoming healthy and promoting healthy weight loss. It's also about community relationships, differing opinions, advice and suggestions, support, and a general vent board for people who are on this journey.
While I don't think MFP should be promoting any type of activity that is contrary to the above rolls, I also don't think it's our place to deny our help, support, and advice from them. It's admirable to have the attitude of "to each their own" but at some point, when their own infringes on your own and others own (either through ignorance, impatience, or any other reason), I fee it's our duty to offer up the information we feel is correct. Now, that doesn't mean we should ever disrespect others, that's different, we should always respect our fellow MFPians (I just thought that up now ), I don't think we should just stand around when someone (either knowingly or not) promotes a topic that we find to be unhealthy or toxic to the members of the site. Remember, many come on here without the knowledge they need, and seeing topics that offer advice you consider to be less than healthy and not trying to offer correction is doing a disservice to these people.

You can still be a good MFPian without always agreeing with someone, in fact, I feel that you are at your best when you are being completely honest without offering insult or injury. I don't mean being a contrarian though.
Just MHO guys.

-Banks