Fad Diets: Fact or Fiction?

by Stathis Denou

It seems likes every year there is a new dieting craze. You’ve probably had a friend or relative who can’t say enough about her new diet. Maybe it was the Grapefruit Diet or perhaps it was the Cereal Diet. But one thing is certain, whichever diet it was, it was likely touted as the best diet around.

The question every dieter wants to know is which of these diets will work? It seems as though for every individual who successfully loses weight with a new fad diet, there are many more who don’t succeed. And why is this year’s diet more effective than last years diet? Read on to learn what makes these fad diets work, and whether you need a fad diet to lose weight.

A Quick Look at Fad Diets

The Cereal Diet is one fad diet which is relatively simple. All you need to do is replace two of your normal daily meals with a bowl of cereal. This diet could certainly prove effective, because a bowl of cereal has far fewer calories than an average meal. So this diet will often lower your total daily caloric intake to levels below what your body burns each day, which results in the loss of body fat. Of course, if you increase your snacking throughout the day, you might find this diet is insufficient.

Another diet which has seen popularity is the Grapefruit Diet. This requires dieters to eat a grapefruit before each meal because its enzymes ostensibly lead to weight loss. Of course, the diet also requires dieters to consume a limited amount of calories each day. This diet will lead to weight loss too, but it has more to do with the calorie restrictions than with any “magic” ingredients in grapefruits.

Both of these diets (and many other fad diets) can lead to effective weight loss. But the truth is, weight loss has little to do with gimmicky diets. These diets will work if you ingest fewer calories than you burn on a regular basis. If you still eat more calories than you burn, then they won’t work.

For instance, if you replace two of your meals each day with cereal, but you binge on your third meal and eat an astounding amount of food, then you will likely still gain weight. Likewise, if you add grapefruit to your diet but don’t reduce your food consumption, you won’t see any improvements in your weight. And if you find yourself snacking much more than normal because you feel hungrier you’re used to, then you may be ingesting more calories than you were before beginning the diet!

The Simple Solution to Weight Gain

The truth is, fad diets can definitely help you lose weight. But they are no more efficient than any other diet except insofar as they reduce your caloric intake. No matter which new fad diet program comes into the limelight, the science of weight loss stays the same: A person gains weight if calories consumed are greater than calories burned, and a person loses weight if calories consumed are less than calories burned.

If a fad diet helps you limit your calorie consumption then go for it! Some people really benefit from being part of a fad diet because the excitement which surrounds the newest diet keeps them motivated. But keep in mind, you don’t need to pay for the newest fad diet to lose weight. You simply need to pay attention to your exercise and eating habits and make adjustments accordingly. It really is that simple!
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Stathis Denou is a writer whose articles focus on diets and weight loss programs. He owns a blog at bistro md coupon code.

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