The More You Know... Fad Diets

Today I wanted to talk about fad diets. You know what they are... it's the thing everyone is talking about.

Someone got it to work (so they say) and lost 350 pounds from only that, got some large sponsor to cover their story and every mainstream media outlet starts to try to grab a profit from all the hype. The newsstands make it their headliner, the "health" shows feature it, how-to books and cookbooks that support it are published and released in the front of stores, and other products that claim to support it are sold. In today's world, all of this happens at a lightning-fast speed. Seize the day! The hottest new diet is here! Lose 50 pounds in a week! So-n-so did it, look how beautiful she is! You can too!

And in order to make a quick buck, it's very suddenly the latest and greatest.You know what's missing?

Research.

Can this diet be sustainable for everyone? Can it work for every age and lifestyle? Will it work for every special food need so everyone can participate? How about if you suffer from a health condition?

Or, will it do what you claim?

No one ever has answers for most of these questions. Maybe we can try to figure it out. Maybe the ones that have been around longer have a few studies. But a few studies don't equal fact. The truth is, if the word diet is mentioned, it's missing something you need. It's missing nutritients required to survive, and you're not going to want to stick with it for long. If that's the case, it won't be long enough to see the results you want.

What does work? Eating balanced and healthy, and eating in a calorie deficit. Nothing more, nothing less.

I actually found a list of fad diets off of a site called Nutrineat. I haven't heard of some, but definitely others. Take a look and see how many you recognize:

• Eat Subway and Lose Weight

• Cabbage Soup Diet

• Grapefruit Juice Diet

• Coconut Diet

• Peanut Butter Diet

• Lemonade Diet

• Master Cleanse Diet

• Salad Diet

• Fruit Diet

• Chocolate Diet

• Ice Cream Diet

• Chicken Soup Diet

• Candy Diet

• Atkins Diet

• Coffee Diet

• Metabolism Diet

• Low Carb Diet

• Miracle Diet

• Low Fat Diet

• Three Apples a Day Diet

• South Beach Diet

• Zone Diet

• Cookie Diet

• Liquid Diet

• Soup Diet

• Maple Syrup Diet

• Tuna Diet

• Brazilian Diet

• Acai Berry Diet

• Popcorn Diet

• Abs Diet

• Sacred Heart Diet

• Potato Chips Diet

• Blood Type Diet

• Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

• Beverly Hills Diet

• Scarsdale Diet

• HCG Diet

• 3 Day Diet

• Tapeworm Diet

• Negative Calorie Diet

Some of these go by alternate names, and there's probably a few missing. But there you have it. Little "cringey", huh?

So as the weather warms up and you're trying to figure out how to shed some of the winter/pandemic/baby/adult weight, these are some important thoughts to consider.

Anyone try any of the weird ones on this list? What was your experience? I'll start. I tried the Garcinia Cambogia approach and GAINED weight! Hahaha! And then there was the Keto diet. I recorded a lengthy podcast episode about that one.

Enjoy your weekend, folks. At least in WNY, it's going to be quite pleasant!