FitSugar

Can You Debunk Diet Myths?

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Losing weight is hard, but finding misinformation about dieting is frighteningly easy. Although I spend a lot of time debunking diet myths on FitSugar, I also never cease to get questions from readers wondering about the latest facts and fads. Can your separate truth from fiction? Take my true or false quiz to find out.

Source

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5 Risks Associated with Fad Dieting

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:30:00 -0700

I know in a time crunch, fad diets can seem like an easy way to drop a few extra pounds. The thing is, fad diets are not always safe, so here are five risks associated with fad dieting:

Nutritional deficiencies caused by a lack of a balanced diet.
Lack of physical activity from emphasis on diet only can increase the risk of heart disease.
Lack of variety in foods can cause boredom and frustration, and make it difficult to maintain the diet for more than a brief period.
Severe restrictions on the foods you can eat may make it difficult to establish and maintain a healthy diet in the future.
Many quick weight-loss diets are based on unfounded claims that may do more harm than good.

Source

Test Your Knowledge of Fad Diets

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:08 -0800

It seems like every day a new diet makes the news. Some of these fads can sound promising because they're veiled in medical and health jargon or carry the backing of a celebrity or doctor. But reading between the lines reveals that regardless of the details, these diets are generally not healthy because they lack balance and are very restrictive.

Many of them are just plain kooky too - it's as if they're trying to outweird one another. How well do you know your trendy diets? Take my quiz and find out.

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Fittingly Mad: Fad Diets

FitSugar — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 02:34:17 -0800

I understand that time is ticking and we are always looking for results that are quick and rapid. I understand where that comes from, but where does it stop?

The thing about it all that frustrates me the most is that when it comes to your body, quick and rapid are not terms that we should be looking for -- Especially when it comes to weight loss and exercise. Fad diets, much like cosmetic surgery, diet pills and steroids all promise fast results and America is definitely buying (literally and figuratively) into it.

A look at the top ten searches containing the term "diet" for the first week of 2007 were South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet, Diet Pills, Diet, Diet Plans, Cabbage Soup Diet, Free Diet Plans, You on a Diet, Special K Diet and Lemonade Diet. Proving that America is (and has been) obsessed with the magic bullet. The thing is, there is no magic bullet when it comes to your health. Yeah you can do the Cabbage Soup Diet and you'll probably even lose a few pounds, but it's just not healthy. I am not shocked that "healthy diet" did not show up anywhere on the list, but it is a pretty sad realization.

Eat right and exercise. Seriously, it works. Don't starve yourself. Don't eat only one food for two weeks. These things don't work and honestly, they just make the whole game of losing weight an endless and miserable battle.

I don't know maybe you love Special K that much, but for those of us that don't -- Change your lifestyle. Figure out a way that you can incorporate eating healthy and getting more active into your life because once you do, you'll be a lot more successful and healthy.

Match the Celeb to the Fad Diet

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 07:30:00 -0700

In the celebrity world sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures - red carpet, weddings, black tie events. While I am not a fan of fad diets I am am a fan of these ladies. According to eDiets each of these celebs has followed a trendy diet. Think you know who did what? Then match the celeb with "her" fad diet.

Source and Source

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Fad Diet Predictions

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 08:27:16 -0800

A writer with the Associated Press thinks our fair country is due for a new fad diet since carbs were demonized oh so long ago. Will it be a revival of the grapefruit diet returning from the 80s along with leg warmers and pegged jeans? I'm thinking something involving green tea and miso soup sounds more 2007. What do you think?

Well the Calorie Control Council has made some very optimistic predictions for dieting trends for the year 2007. They are:

1) Restaurants will serve more low-calorie and reduced-fat foods.

2) Consumers will create personalized eating plans, instead of eliminating entire food groups (read carbs).

3) Exercise will become part of the “everyday.”

4) Functional light foods will gain popularity.(I'm still trying to figure this one out - I think apples, bananas and oranges are functional since they travel well in a purse, diaper or gym bag.)

5) Healthy living will become a family matter as childhood obesity becomes more of a publicized issue.

None of these predictions scream FAD to me. They seem a bit more like sound advice we should all consider turning into personal trends this year.

Visit the Calorie Control website for more information on dieting and health.

Have You Ever Been On a Liquid Diet?

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0700

There always seems to be speculation about how a certain celebrity has shed pounds, and the most recent target of the weight-loss rumorville is Lindsay Lohan. The starlet is no stranger to media commentary regarding her body, and the most recent accusation is that LL is on a mostly liquid diet that includes drinking three Red Bulls a day.

There are plenty of reasons for refraining from liquid diets, principally the fact that they can be dangerous due to their tendency to leave a dieter undernourished. I sort liquid diets in with other fad diets that aren't sustainable for long-term weight loss, but many of us are guilty of trying some pretty ridiculous and unhealthy diets in the name of slimming down. Does a liquid diet make your list of abandoned weight loss techniques?

Source

Can Grapefruit Help Me Lose Weight?

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 03:11:22 -0800

The 80's were chock full of fun fads like Duran Duran, leg warmers, and the very popular "Grapefruit Diet."

The diet consisted of no more than 800 calories a day (no wonder people lost weight). You ate grapefruit in the morning, grapefruit in your salad, and even used grapefruit juice in your cocktails (goes great with vodka). This citrus fruit was consumed with as much black coffee as you liked, some daily protein (hard-boiled eggs), and an occasional piece of dry toast. Delish.

Grapefruit was considered a "fat-burning food" that could kick-start your metabolism, but the diet soon became another crazy weight loss fad that faded away like acid washed jeans.

In 2004, one Dr. Fujioka conducted a study on the grapefruit and discovered that people who included grapefruit in their diet actually lost weight. It seems that grapefruit helps reduce insulin levels, which affects blood sugar regulation. Also, grapefruit is high in fiber.

The juice of grapefruit supposedly enhances the fat burning process - but so does exercise, which by the way - is also part of the grapefruit diet.

Fit's Tips: Hmmm, seems to me this diet should have been put to rest with the big hair of the 80's. Adding grapefruit to your diet won't perform miracles. The best way to lose weight - cut back on the number of calories you eat and increase your physical activity.

Check it out - Weird Al Yankovic made a parody of "Zoot Suit Riot," called "Grapefruit Diet." It's hilarious. Want to see the lyrics, then read more

Grapefruit Diet (to the tune of "Zoot Suit Riot" by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies)

Who’s that waddlin’ down the street
It’s just me ’cause I love to eat
Fudge and twinkies and deviled ham
Who’s real flabby? yes, I am!
Every picture of me’s
Gotta be an aerial view
Now my doctor tells me
There’s just one thing left to do

Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Throw out the pizza and beer
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Oh, get those jelly donuts out of here
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Might seem a little sever
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
I’m gettin’ tired of my big fat rear
Blow, fatty!

Well, I used to live on chocolate sauce
Made sumo wrestlers look like kate moss
Walked down an alley and I got stuck
I got more rolls than a pastry truck
When I’m all done eating
I eat a little more
When I leave a room
First I gotta grease the door

Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Can’t have another eclair
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
I gotta decrease my derriere

I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet

No more pie now
No more creme brulee
Lay off the gravy
And souffle
No french fri-yi-yies now
No ice cream parfait
Mr. cheese nacho
Stay away

Oh I think I’d sell my soul
For a triple patty melt
But I need a boomerang
When I put on my belt

Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Lay off the 3 musketeers
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Until my big booty disappears
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Eat ’em till they’re comin’ out of my ears
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
’cause I haven’t seen my feet in years

I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet

I think I’m about ready for a quarter pounder with extra cheese
I need a side order of onion rings
And don’t forget to super-size that

Here's a Bad Idea: OXO, Not Just for Hugs and Kisses

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 07:00:00 -0800

The BBC reported that a Cornishman lost 101 kg (222.2 lbs) in one year on a new diet that even Fit hadn't heard of.

To find out what it was, read more

Steve Kay lost a whooping 222 pounds using a diet that consisted of only OXO cubes, fruits and veggies.

Yum.

Fit's Take: Don't try this at home. As with any fad diet once you stop, your body will adjust adversely and all your hard OXO drinking work will be wasted on just a whole lot of sodium (OXO cubes are full of salt). However, veggies and fruit are always a great way to enhance your diet.

How Do You Feel About Actors Gaining Weight For Roles?

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:01 -0700

Renee Zellweger is reprising her role in the third installment of the popular book-turned-film series, Bridget Jones' Diary, but this time she's doing it without all the extra weight. Well, sort of . . .

Instead of turning to a high fat diet of doughnuts and pizza like she did in the past, Zellweger will be relying on makeup and wardrobe to mimic the extra weight needed for the title role.

E! Online quoted a source as telling Britain's Reveal magazine: "Renee will be wearing a fat suit in the third film as it took her a while to lose the weight last time. She's also thinking about the effect quickly putting on and then losing 30 pounds has on her body."

I admire that Zellweger is embracing the role she's playing, but am relieved she's not relying on harmful methods like yo-yo dieting and exercising to portray the 30 pound difference between herself and her character this time around.

Besides Zellweger, actors like Matt Damon, Beyonce, and Charlize Theron have used unconventional methods to put on weight for film roles. Do you think it's OK for the sake of believability?