Why Fad Diets Get You Nowhere

Human beings are always looking for an easy fix, so it’s really no surprise that fad diets appeal to us to much.

Now that we live in the internet age, it seems you can’t turn your head without seeing some new fad promising guaranteed results from almost no effort. Too bad that’s a load of bull. Fad diets, despite their popularity and in many cases masses of devoted fans, are terrible for you, and rarely offer any kind of long-term weight management solutions.

Okay, so let’s get one thing straight first: Just what is a fad diet? In our eyes, a fad diet is a quick fix of any kind, usually put into place by some governing rule. So you’ve probably heard that we should all cut out gluten, or eat no carbs, or starve ourselves on 1000 calories a day, or cut out some other food group, or eat only at certain times of day, or maybe even eat like cavemen.

Well it’s all crap.

Here’s�Why Fad Diet’s Don’t Work

There are a few reasons that fad diets don’t work, and a few reasons that they’re downright dangerous. Let’s have a look at them.

1. They’re Seriously Restrictive�

Fad diets tend to have pretty clear rules, which is why people like them. They look simple on the surface, i.e. just don’t eat carbs, cut out sugar and so on, but those restrictive rules are their undoing. They make it hard for people on restrictive fad diets to socialise, go out with friends, have dinner outside of their own food preparation. Along with this, restrictive rules give people an on/off attitude about their diets, which can result in yo-yo weight gain.

2.�They Don’t Work With Human Nature

Human beings are into variety, and that’s why we’ve adapted to eating such a large range of different foods. Our bodies need that variety to ensure we get all the vitamins and nutrients we need to be healthy. The problem with fad diets is they tend to cut certain things out, which might work in the long-term but is unlikely to be maintained long-term. Drastically cutting out certain foods means we’re more likely to fall off the bandwagon, binge, and end up undoing whatever good the fad did for us in the first place.

Next Page: More Reasons Why Fad Diets Get You Nowhere!

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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