Fad Diets: Instant Results, Eventual Letdowns

In this day and age, fitness and nutrition are a billion dollar industry. Seemingly every day a new piece of fitness equipment or new nutritional supplement/diet plan is brought to the marketplace. Millions of people are looking for the next "quick fix" that will offer instant results. Whether it is a piece of fitness equipment that promises "six pack abs" with a money-back guarantee, or a new diet plan/supplement that promises "10lbs of weight loss in 10 days," it is inevitable that millions of people will buy into these offers.

The first problem with these products is the statement of "guaranteed results." It is simply impossible to guarantee results because there are too many variables. Every person has a unique make-up and each body responds differently to exercise. This is why I will never guarantee anything to a client, whether it is fitness or nutrition related. It is unethical and and such claims should be taken with a grain of salt. However, I will give clients my recommendations regarding fitness and nutrition, with the disclaimer that "what works for some, may not work for others."

Regarding nutrition, even though different things work for different people, there are wonderful general guidelines that everyone can follow and have the assurance that they are eating a healthy, nutrient-rich, balanced diet. Eating a balance of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and nutrient-dense complex carbohydrates is a method that you really can't go wrong with.

While there is great debate over the pro's and con's of fad diets, there is one common theme I feel lies within all of them; that they cannot be sustained for extremely long periods of time. Sure, you may find an extreme diet that causes you to lose 10lbs in one week, but more often than not, you will go back to your old habits and gain the weight back. We all would love to lose 10lbs in a week (if weight loss is our goal), but I think most of us would rather take a month or two to lose that weight, if it meant that we would keep the weight off permanently. The point I am trying to make is that good exercise and eating habits should be part of a  lifestyle we hope to maintain  for the duration of our lives. Sure, the results may not be as rapid, but when the results do come, they will be easier to maintain and manage.

With consistent exercise, and a diet balanced with lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and unsaturated fats, you simply cannot go wrong. It will be easier to maintain, and you will not suffer the letdown of losing a quick 10lbs only to gain it back (and possibly then some) as quickly as it came off. Dismiss claims of "guaranteed results," and find a balance in your methods. Your body will thank you, and you will be rewarded in the long run! Good luck on the journey!