FAD DIETS

By David MaretHouse - Master fitness trainer, owner of MaretHouse Fitness, and co-owner of JD Max Fitness

Fad diets simply are weight loss diets that become extremely popular and for a period of time and tend to fade away, many times as quickly as they gained popularity.  People are drawn towards these diets due to their promise of quick weight loss and rapid results; however, these results are oftentimes negated due to weight gain once a person discontinues the diet they have tried.

Fad diets are usually not well balanced in terms of macro-nutrients (fats, proteins, and carbohydrates) and micro-nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and therefore do not provide proper nutrition.  In addition, more times than not, the weight loss associated with fad diets is usually due to a loss in metabolic tissue (muscle) and not adipose tissue (fat).  If a person degrades muscle tissue due to a fad diet, their metabolic rate is decreased thus leading to additional weight gain once old eating habits are continued.  Fad diets do not teach long term healthy lifestyle changes, which is the biggest problem, resulting in yo-yo dieting (losing weight and regaining it).

In order for a person to become healthier, promote development of lean muscle mass, and decrease body fat,  they must incorporate healthy lifestyle changes.  Fad diets are contradictory to this concept.  You must incorporate a strategic healthy eating plan that is well balanced for long term and lasting success.      

The best way for someone to obtain information about healthy eating and what might work best for them, is to find a registered dietitian.  Registered dietitians have gone through extensive schooling to acquire the education to help people make the changes they need to live a healthier life through nutrition.  To find a registered dietitian in your area go to eatright.org and click on the “FIND A REGISTERED DIETITIAN” link, answer the questions that fit your criteria, and select from a list of registered dietitians based on your submitted information.

If you are simply looking for basic nutrition information, fitness trainers and nutritionists can give you general nutrition information, advice, guidelines, and accountability to help you with your dietary needs and goals; however, they should never give you exact meal plans and caloric boundaries for you to follow without the supervision of a registered dietitian.  

Avoid fad diets and find the success you are looking for.  Remember, you don’t want to diet, you want to make long-term healthy lifestyle changes.  That is the only way to obtain the long-term success you are looking for.