What is 'FAD DIET' and do they really work?

HEALTH, April 2009, by Jennifer Papaconstantinou

What is a 'FAD DIET'
and do they really work?

Definition: FAD - n. a fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze; temporary and new. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fad

There are many kinds of wild and crazy diets that I’m sure you or your friends have tried or heard of at one time or another. Each one has its own methodology and rules. But how come they only work short-term? What are the pros and cons in trying them? How can you stay slim and trim?

I will tell you! But first, let’s discuss these “Fad Diets” and their impact on your body and health.

Here’s how you can spot a “fad” diet... Ask yourself, does it:
• Promise to bring instant success?
• Offer a quick fix?
• Seem silly or dangerous?
• Sound “too good to be true”?
• Appear unbalanced – maybe eliminating an entire food group or allow only one food?

The truth is, there is no such thing as a “quick fix” when it comes to weight loss OR health. There really isn’t a magic pill that will do all the work for you, sorry. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes work, knowledge and discipline and is the safest way to care for your body.

Why Diets Don't Last
Diets only work short term because there is a beginning and an end. Once the “diet” is finished most people return to eating the same way as before the diet started! WRONG!

Pros
• Lose weight
• Look thin
• Fit into the best jeans ever!

Cons
• Causes imbalances and deficiencies
• Most likely to gain weight back + more
• Deplete or avoid important nutrients
• Not sustainable (3-7 days are usually the max for crash diets)

Yo-Yo Dieting
This term refers to losing and gaining weight repeatedly (up and down like a yo-yo!). That means you are thin and then not so thin and then thin again... This practice can wreak havoc on your internal environment! It may be responsible for irregular heartbeat, gall stones, poor blood sugar levels, dizziness and electrolyte imbalances (they regulate water, blood pH, and are vital for nerve and muscle function). Also, it confuses your thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is your body’s MASTER GLAND which controls metabolism and weight, among other important processes. The last thing you want to do is mess that up!

How to Maintain Your Weight
Did you know that skipping meals actually causes you to GAIN weight? Think about it… skipping meals signals your body to enter “starvation mode”. When that happens, the next meal you eat will be stored as fat, since your body believes it is starving and is afraid that food is scarce. If you want to increase your metabolism and keep your body functioning and energized, EAT! Of course, it is what you eat that counts.

Here are my recommendations.

TOP 10 WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT

1. Drink water – the amount should be your body weight divided by 2, in ounces per day
• you can lose substantial weight using this method alone
• approximately 2 ½ litres per day
• black tea, coffee, flavoured/sugared water, etc. don’t count as water
2. Exercise – walk ½ to 1 hour daily
3. Don’t miss your ‘Essential Fatty Acids’ (EFA’s) Healthy sources: nuts, seeds, flax, fish or supplements Myth: Eating fat makes you fat – NO!
4. Avoid eating after 7 p.m.
• Especially carbohydrates
5. Fruits and Vegies – Consume 3 fruits and 7 vegetables daily
6. No Pop or carbonated beverages, ever!
7. No Artificial Sweeteners
    • Splenda, MSG, Aspartame, etc.
8. Avoid Protein/Power Bars & Refined Carbohydrates
9. Eat Natural, Wholesome Foods
    • The closer they are to how they were grown and gathered from the earth, the better they are for you.
10. AVOID 5 NEW FOOD GROUPS: • this is key •
i) Frozen
ii) Fast
iii) Fried
iv) Junk
v) Processed

Balance is key! Eat for health, growth, energy, and maintenance. Enjoy having a sinful treat once in a while and save your splurging for special occasions. Yum!

~ Jennifer

Comment

Michelle, 13

Fad diets DONT work Trust me. The top 10 are like good rules to live by like don't cross the road on a red light or wear a seat belt. Its not a restriction its common sense people, ecxept we see so much advertising for bad food we dont know whats healthy anymore. Until you get huge and have a problem THEN you start to learn the right stuff. Thanks for a supportve article Jennifer. Mich

Jennifer Papaconstantinou, GCDA's Health writer

Bravo! Pamela, for all of your hard work and great results! It is nice to hear success stories...it makes my job as a Nutritionist so rewarding. It sounds like you have done a lot of research and learning on how to eat healthy. Most teens don't know that many grocery store items that appear to be "healthy" are actually junk. You are way ahead of the game with your knowledge. Keep on sharing your knowledge with your friends! You may even be a great Nutritionist one day!

Pamela, 14, alberta

i actually agree with this article and sabrina the actual writer answered your question about eating after 7 see? i used to be over-waight and the only thing that worked for me is what Jennifer said in this article. its totally right and what most people thnk is normal is really junk food because its not nutrisous. food from a box isn't the way nature made it and it will make you want more of it. i lost 65 pounds trust me i know. the 7pm no eating thing is what i herd was don't eat 3 hours before bed even if your hungry. obviusly she knows what shes writing about - it worked for me.

sabrina,13

i don't fully agree with this article because you left a lot of information uncovered. for example; why should you avoid eating after 7 pm? also, these tips are actually like a diet in a way. they are resticting and if you eat normally and just eat junk in moderation you would probably lose more weight. if you completely restrict yourself from it than you are more likely to cave and eat a bunch of junk eventually.

Jennifer Papaconstantinou, GCDA's Health writer

Dear Jo, Thank-you for your response to my article! It is great to get feedback and answer questions regarding diet and health. I wrote the article because I wanted to educate young girls about how dieting can affect health. Diets don't work. A diet always has a beginning and an end - then people go back to eating nonsense. As a Certified Nutritionist - I am here to educate you on the principles of healthy eating. My message is always about "balance". This is the key! If you can practice healthy eating most of the time - approximately 70-80% then it is OK to indulge in sinful treats and not feel guilty about them. Please know that nothing terrible will happen to you if you eat after 7 p.m. - however, the article is referring to weight loss. For girls who are trying to lose weight and gain healthy habits - eating, especially carbs after dinner can hinder their efforts. It is important to remember to always be positive. I like to tell my clients - don't look at changes in the negative, such as...I CAN'T DO.... instead ADD new health promoting habits to their lifestyle. Practice and add a new habit each week, do not look at it as restrictive but from the viewpoint of making a healthy change. Yours in Health, Jennifer

Jo, 15 Ontario

Aren't every food ok as long as we eat them in moderation? Maybe you should write an article on normalized eating! If someone is worried about their weight, that person should be referred to a nutritionist. There are things in this article that are alarming (don't eat after 7 for example). What will happen to a person that does eat after 7 or one that does not? What is the message? Don't follow a FAD diet but listen to our top 10 restriction ideas!?

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