I don't get it

I really don't understand why people use fad diets. They don't work.

Why don't more people count their calories? Is it because they don't understand how to do it? Or is it because they just don't understand the principal behind how the body loses and gains weight.

Mon. Feb 4, 2:34pm

Because people want to see results FAST, and to be excited about something. Counting calories definitely works, but it is slow-going. I think it's just a mental thing. People need positive reinforcement right away.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 2:43 PM

I think alot of calorie counters don't understand the principle behind how the body loses and gains weight. Hormonal balance affects weight loss, but is more affected by what you eat than how many calories you eat. Feeding thermogenesis is also not related to how many calories, but rather what you eat.

Calories in calories out works, however, it's incredibly arrogant for a person to think that they will be able to accurately measure how many calories their body will burn without knowing what their rmr is, hormonal state, and other thermogenesis factors.

Think of car fuel efficiency. You buy a car and it says you'll get 24m/g. Well. that's only when your tires are properly inflated, your oil is clean, you're getting proper air/fuel ratio, and will depend on highway or city driving. The same can be said for your body. You can put a certain amount of fuel into your body, but many many MANY different factors affect whether or not you actually burn all that fuel as intended.

There was a study in 2005 where they took insulin resistant women, divided them in two groups, and made one do a low carb 400 cal deficit diet, and the other group a standard 400 cal deficit diet. Well, the standard group lost on average the appropriate amount for a 400 cal deficit, while the low carb group lost twice as much weight. Sure, RMR and feeding thermogenesis weren't measured, but there was no noticeable difference in the exercise amound from the two groups.

So some of these "fad diets" you refer to, actually look at different aspects that affect total body health and the ability of the body to properly regulate itself so that it can burn calories efficiently and keep other factors that affect weight in balance.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 2:50 PM

i have followed a fad diet for 2 years and have kept off 35 pounds. It works for me and my lifestyle. My cholesterol is down, my body fat % is down, my lean muscle tissue is up, my blood pressure is down, and i feel amazing!

if counting calories works for you, go with it, but it doesn't work for everyone...

Monday, February 4, 2008, 2:53 PM

Dear Monday, February 04, 2008, 2:53 PM,
sounds great Im in! which fad diet?
best,
Monday, February 04, 2008, 2:55 PM

Monday, February 4, 2008, 2:57 PM

hee hee my clock is two minutes slow!

Monday, February 4, 2008, 2:58 PM

i follow a low carb, high fruit and veggies diet. i have a gluten intollerence and a white potato allergy, so i have to stay away from those things. i had my doc check everything when i started it and amazingly, all the bad stuff went down. i don't take blood pressure medication anymore, i don't feel tired or have brain fog throughout the day. believe me, i still cheat and eat pizza and other items here and there (a couple times a week), but for the most part i stick with low carb and i am still losing weight. i do not eat pastas (very rare i'll eat rice pasta), no bread, no potatoes (sometimes sweet potatoes, but rare), or gravy's, etc. i also stay away from corn or corn by products.

it's not for everyone, but it works for me.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 3:04 PM

3:04 again. i eat fruits and veggies without regard to carbs.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 3:05 PM

Since low-carb seems to be the main diet people are talking about on this thread: My take is to REDUCE carbs, especially plain-old-white-bread type stuff. I don't count my carbs or feel guilty when I have a veggie sandwich instead of salad - but do try to reduce them (white bread, potatoes, regular pasta, etc.) and it seems to be working great.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 3:17 PM

3:04 again.

3:17--you're absolutely right! i don't count carbs, just reduce and eliminate some. i've tried counting calories and points and ended up gaining weight.

glad to see it's working for you! keep it up!

here's one of my favorite l.c. recipes:

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs

take 2 pounds raw lean hamburger, mix in crumbled cooked bacon (as much or as little as you like), 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 egg, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, chili powder to taste, onion, and anything else you like. bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. yummy!

Monday, February 4, 2008, 3:28 PM

Counting calories work for me too.

I grew up and was in competitive figure skating and played various other sports in school. When I was figure skating, my nutritionist taught me to count my calories, and it kept me in great shape...but I also did a LOT of working out / exercising.

I don't think that you should could calories and not change the way you eat and live. If you keep eating the fattening food and not exercising then it won't work in the long run...but if you do daily exercise and eat well, then you can succeed.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 3:46 PM

I am the pp...sorry for all the mistakes in my post; I was typing while talking on the phone.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 3:48 PM

This is 3:17
Actually, I do count my calories. According to the calculators on various websites I should eat between 2100-2700 cal/day, so I try to keep it between 1550-2000/day and am losing the sought-after 2lbs/week. I find it is easier to keep my cal. count low every day by reducing my carbs - esp. since I love to eat and probably eat every 2-3 hours.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 3:53 PM

I think people want instant results.

Fad diets "promise" (but they don't deliver.)

Tammy Lou

Monday, February 4, 2008, 4:05 PM

atkins is a fad diet and it worked for me.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 4:07 PM

A Fad is a fad..have you ever bought the latest pair of jeans, kept up w/ the latest hair style...the Jennifer Anison hair cut...everyone wants to fit in our current society ..eveyone wants to look good , some at any expense and some w/ only the guidance of the media. Many do not have an understanding of caloric intake b/c they were never taught. I wish that was taught in the school systems. and by every parent! Another thought is that many people never had to think about weight gain . They have gone their entire lives never having t o have a show down w/ the calorie and then it happens and hopefully the lesson of what a calorie is and how much they actually need.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 4:27 PM

blood type diet is a fad diet, but I've made it my lifestyle (2.5 years down, many more to come) with great success.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 5:33 PM

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