Nutrition Information

Why Fad Diets Don't Work


Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years and no matter how many come and go, we are always intrigued and excited by the next one feeling almost sure this will be the one to work. And they do work...for a while and then we bounce around like yo-yo's going up and down in weight over the years.

Fad diets generally ask us to remove certain foods and often whole food groups from our diet. This most often results in a decrease in calories and ultimately weight loss. Although people lose weight on most fad diets, they tend to be too restrictive to follow over a long period of time. They aren't realistic in the real world and once we go on that trip out of town or life gets too busy we drop the fad diet and go right back to our old eating habits. Once we go back to their old eating habits, we regain the weight and often gain even more than where we started. This is followed by feelings of guilt, and shame that we couldn't stay on "the diet", which can and does greatly affect peoples' self-esteem and the way they view themselves and their relationship with food.

The secret to lifelong weight loss is looking at the old eating habits. After all, this is where we keep gaining weight in the first place! By making small, practical changes in our old eating habits we can achieve weight loss and have the knowledge and tools to keep that weight off for a lifetime. How can you be on an effective weight loss program if they don't tell you how you were gaining weight in the first place? Everyone has different eating habits. Some people eat foods that aren't the right balance, some get caught into the high calorie land of frequent restaurant eating, while others are emotional or stress eaters.

Learn about yourself and where your eating habits are out of balance. People who have achieved long-term weight loss did just that along with making small changes to their lifestyle. Don't let another fad diet lure you in to the constant yo-yo effect. Empower yourself with knowledge and make small changes that will last a lifetime.

© Meri Raffetto, 2005

Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She is the owner of Real Living Nutrition Services providing interactive online weight management programs. Sign up for her free monthly nutrition newsletter at http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

A taste of nutrition in Bloomington schools
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 15 hours ago
Sofitel Minneapolis presented the idea to Bloomington public schools as a way for family and consumer science teachers to take their food and nutrition ...


• Potatoes lose nutrition when soaked
MLive.com, MI - 1 hour ago
Eating a whole bag (7 or more servings, according to the nutrition facts label) will not help you keep your weight down, no matter which type you choose. ...


DC Brands Takes a Big Step in the Right Direction
MarketWatch - 22 hours ago
DC Brands then purchased the assets of HARD Nutrition and began its quest to produce a new health line of products. DC Brands is now proud to announce the ...


World Bank Group

Senegal: Nutrition
World Bank Group, DC - 4 hours ago
The Nutrition Enhancement Project for Senegal aimed at enhancing nutritional conditions of vulnerable populations. The project collaborated with local NGOs ...


Weighing the value of organic foods
Newsday, NY - Dec 2, 2008
Weighing the value of organic foods also means looking at nutrition, not just the dangers of pesticides -- and there is disagreement over whether organic ...


Students participate in nutrition contest
Press & Sun-Bulletin, NY - 4 hours ago
... class at Susquehanna Valley's Richard T. Stank Middle School recently participated in a nutrition contest in which the students become the teachers. ...


Council renews LSS Senior Nutrition Program site agreement
Fulda Free Press, MN - 8 hours ago
The Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Senior Nutrition Program site use agreement was renewed for 2009. The 2009 Master Fee Schedule was passed. ...


United Way, YMCA pound out fitness challenge
Austin Herald, MN - 4 hours ago
Participants accumulate exercise and nutrition points, rather than weigh in and aim to lose pounds. The goal is to include more people who are already ...
Get fit or be fit this season Austin Herald
all 2 news articles


Nutrition As You Age
Boston Channel.com,  USA - Dec 2, 2008
As we age, we need to follow a healthy diet for optimal nutrition. We need to consume a balanced diet containing carbohydrates (choose mainly whole grains), ...


NUTRITION FROM THE LAB: Vitamin D: What is enough?
Grand Forks Herald, ND - 15 hours ago
It is important to read the nutritional labels on food products to be sure there is vitamin D added. But even with the increased availability of vitamin ...

Nutrition - Google News

home | site map
© 2006