Starting the New Year has always been a favorite time for people to start a new diet. Which can be good. But many, if not most, of the fad diets making the rounds in the tabloids and latest lose-weight-fast scam are not only ineffective, but often dangerous as well.
There are approximately 127 million adults in the United States who are overweight. Sixty million of these are considered to be obese and nine million classified as “severely obese” by the American Obesity Association. That’s a total of over one-third of the US population.
With these scales continuing to tip away from a healthy lifestyle, it seems ironic that Americans are as obsessed with diets as they are with food. The intent is in the right place, but the solution is often misguided.
Our culture of instant gratification, with our microwave ovens, drive-through windows, and multiple remote controls for everything from the television to our ceiling fans, has produced an expectation of immediate results for everything in our lives. This impatience is especially harmful with applied to areas affecting our health.
Many of the fad diets are popular because of their “immediate” results. What most people don’t realize is that the majority of weight being shed is the result of water and lean muscle, not body fat.
In addition, most people who lose weight on these diets not only end up regaining the weight lost through the diet, but actually end up gaining a few pounds on the back end. (yes, the pun is intentional … what can I say.)
This “yo-yo” dieting has been connected with shorter life spans. In spite of the dangers, however, thousands will jump on the next quick-fix diet and start popping pills to shed the holiday pounds as soon as the new year rolls in.
Regrettably, there is no magic pill or miracle diet that works overnight. There are, however, some amazingly simple, but powerful lifestyle choices that can help you to lose pounds permanently while improving your health. And you don’t have to starve yourself to get great results.
One program that helps to achieve this is called “Fat Loss 4 Idiots.” I hate the name and their website is pretty goofy, but their program is effective while maintaining a healthy perspective.
So as the new year begins, be smart in the choices you make to stay healthy. If you want to lose a few pounds and start getting back in shape, take the long route and make it a lifestyle change instead of a three-week fad. You’ll be happier with the results and stay healthier in the process.
Tim Wright
[http://www.totalhealthwork.com]
