Internet is literally packed with fasting programs, questionable detoxes and fad diets- hype diets that promise unreasonable results for weight loss or health improvements without scientific backup, for example intermittent fasting, Carnivore Diet or Keto. They can be actually harmful and the results are usually short-term. To find out more if they actually make sense, let’s look at some statistics.
On average, 80-95% of people who go on a diet to lose weight, will gain in back within the next 5 years and 50% will put on more weight. There can be many reasons, but this statistic is alarming and basically shows that these types of diets don’t work. And since you are here, they probably haven’t worked for you either, just like for me.
Fad diets aren’t effective in the long run and often make us stuck in the binge- diet cycle.
Even if you do end up losing weight, you probably will not be able to sustain the weight loss if the diet doesn’t teach us new eating behaviours. Restrictive diets damage our relationship with food and our bodies. Cooking becomes an annoying must; we use so much energy to stay away from carbs and sugar and to eat things we don’t like. If a diet forces us to do things we don’t want to do, we will most likely quit it after some time. Our mind will look for an escape from this agony and create false beliefs like ‘if you eat a piece of cake, you have failed’.
If you have experienced such false beliefs, remember it is not your fault. It is your mind and body trying to tell you that the current diet doesn’t work. A healthy diet should be adjusted to you and should give you energy and a good mood, not a headache. Focusing on healing your relationship with food, rather than on weight loss will definitely be more beneficial to you (and your body!).