Kristen
Waldron
Staff writer
Dieters, stand up and unite against the fake and bad diets otherwise known as fad diets. While we are all trying to slim down for that dreaded swimsuit season, let’s get smart and healthy at the same time instead using a fad diet
In today’s society there are misconceptions about weight loss that can give girls a negative body image. This has led many in society to believe fad diets would work for them. My question to you as the readers is when is enough? There is no need to starve yourself just to fit into what society thinks you should be.
Every time I go on the Internet or flip on the television, all that flashes on the screen are ads for this or that kind of diet. But how do you choose what is good or bad for you?
As a dieter myself, I researched the different types of diets people say will work. I began by looking up what the diet requirements were. What the specific caloric intake, workout regimen and nutritional value of the diets I was interested in.
Most of the fad diets out there have no nutrition to speak of. These were merely starvation diets, which is completely unhealthy.
By this definition from the College of Medicine online, there are many different definitions of what a fad diet consists of.
One definition is any weight loss plan that quickly gains popularity and may become unpopular just as quick.
A more specific definition is any weight loss program or aid that promises to produce dramatic weight loss in a very short amount of time.
Each type of fad diet varies in the amount of food that is restricted and what types of foods may be restricted. I have decided that fad diets are not the best diet method for anyone to pursue.
Some of the well-known fad diets are Dr. Robert Atkins created Atkins diet in the 1970s it is mainly a high fat diet and cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston created the South Beach Diet is a general low carb diet. All these diets are popular and unhealthy. These diets do not allow the correct amount of vitamins or other nutrients that your body needs to survive. Proper nutrients are essential to weight loss.
The diet pills on the shelf are also bad for you. Some diet pills can contain ephedrine, which can damage your weight loss and your wallet. Once you start taking them you will have to remain on them to keep the weight off. But this is a hindrance because you do not learn what a proper diet is.
But what diets are good for you then? I have found by using a nutritionist to figuring what is a good caloric intake and a workout regimen. No two people lose weight the same way, so major diets do not work. By using a nutritionist or watching calories/ working out, you can lose weight the healthy way.
Another good method of weight loss could be some of the national campaigns such as Herbalife, Jenny Craig, Slim Fast, Special K and Weight Watchers.
With these different diets you must also exercise to lose weight. According WebMD, “a 30-minute daily workout is the best for all adults.”
Some of the ways you can get your 30-minute workout by is by using the stairs, park further back at the grocery store or take a walk in your neighborhood. There are several opportunities to exercise the SE Wellness Center that is located in the student union is open Monday through Thursday. from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Friday. from 7 a.m.to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 2-9 p.m. There is also the campus pool located in the Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium, which is open to students on Monday through Thursday 8-10 p.m. and Sunday 6-8 p.m.
I am using the Herbalife method of weight loss. My diet includes 1,200 calories, 100 grams of protein of food and a low impact workout three times a week. I have lost 15 pounds in three weeks on this regimen.
But I strongly hope you decide what works best for you. Please talk to your doctor before starting any kind of dieting method.
While talking to your doctor, ask if he could suggest a nutritionist who can help come up with a healthy meal plan and workout program for you.
A healthy diet should be the only diet method chosen by everyone.