Fad Diets

Don't be fooled by fad diets!

When it comes to weight loss plans and dieting guidelines, Fitness USA instructors urge you to be aware of fad diets; they are usually ineffective and can be downright dangerous to your health.

It seems that every time one fad diet with its bizarre claims finally dies down, another surfaces. And while the formulas may differ, the promised results are usually quite similar - and bogus; quick weight loss from unusual food combinations. These diets tell you to load up on this, eliminate that, eat only a certain food for x number of days...and so on. Many promise to rev up your metabolism and lead you to expect almost immediate results. Some even have seemingly impressive endorsements from celebrities and institutes.

Sure, these diets sound legitimate enough. Plenty of otherwise rational and intelligent people have fallen into the fad diet trap. But for the most part, the only losses these people see are in the pocketbook. And some diets even cause unpleasant side effects and nutritional deficiencies.

Since we don't want you to be fooled by a diet too good to be true, here are some helpful hints so you can recognize, and avoid, a fad diet.

Watch out for diets that:

• Suggest a "magical" formula. There's no magic in losing weight.
• Eliminate a food group. Healthy eating includes all food groups.
• Specify a certain time limit. Good nutrition should last a lifetime.

Of course, for truly effective weight loss, you need to combine a balanced diet that is low in fat and calories with consistent exercise.

Visiting one of our locations three times a week is vital for weight loss success.

Research shows that regular exercise controls the appetite, helps decrease anxiety and depression in dieters and results in greater weight loss overall.

For some dieting tips, consider the following:

• Write down everything you eat and drink each day.
• Determine the amount of calories you need for proper weight management. Start out by consuming 15 calories per pound each day, slowly decreasing as needed to lose weight.
• Eat more frequent, smaller meals rather than a couple larger ones.
• Get rid of all the junk food and unhealthy snacks in your house.
• Properly structure your meals, For the morning and afternoon, eat protein, starchy carbohydrates and fibrous carbohydrates (broccoli, green beans, spinach, asparagus.) This keeps you energy level consistent while insuring proper nutrition. Cut back on the starchy carbs later in the day.
• Take a multivitamin, preferably one with iron and calcium, each day.
• Refuel you body with carbohydrates and protein after exercise.
• Be sure to get enough sleep. Muscles need time to recover and grow.

By following these suggestions, you'll find greater success (true weight loss) with your diet. Before too long, you'll congratulate yourself on achieving a whole now level of fitness. The Fitness USA instructors are always available with lots of nutritional advice. Be sure to ask!