Fad diets are everywhere these days - here's how to know if you're looking at one.
Fad diets are diets which are just like fashion trends. They don't stay around long and they rarely have any long term positive effects. Fad diets are however very easy to become attracted to as they usually promise the Earth and more. At the very least they promise that you will lose weight very fast. So how do you spot a fad diet and how do you know when a diet is a quality one to follow? Thankfully it is fairly easy to spot a fad diet once you know what you're looking out for.
Fad diets generally have the sole aim of making the inventor money. This can involve people buying various products, books and supplements to make the diet work. Of course in reality the diet rarely works as it can often be so restrictive that people simply can't stick to it. It is easy to guarantee weight loss to people if you tell them they must eat hardly anything; anybody would lose weight in that situation but obviously this is unhealthy weight loss. Many fad diets involve unhealthy, unsustainable weight loss.
The weight that is lost during the first stages of a fad diet is generally just water or fluids. You then start thinking that the diet is working well and perhaps start slipping back into old habits again. This is when the pounds come back with a vengeance and you put on weight quite fast. This process of losing weight and putting it back on again is common with fad diets whose rules are hard to stick to and highly restrictive. A healthy common sense diet is much easier to stick to and highly sustainable as they contain variety and do not leave you hungry. Any diet that says you should feel hungry, or recommends such little food that you feel hungry often, can be considered a fad diet.
Fad diets are generally focusing on low calories. True, you will lose weight with a low calorie diet but your health will suffer. You will feel light headed, weak and tired. This is no way to lose weight!
Fad diets are similar to scams. They have no substance, exist only to make someone rich and provide no benefits to the buyer. Avoid fad diets whenever you can and only undertake real, healthy and proven diets and weight loss plans in order to reach your goals and avoid disappointment.