FitSugar

Can You Debunk Diet Myths?

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:00:00 PDT

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.

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5 Risks Associated with Fad Dieting

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:30:00 PDT

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.

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Guess the Fad Diet!

FitSugar — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:37:55 PDT

People are always on the hunt for the latest and greatest diet pill and quick-fix weight-loss program to help them shed pounds quickly. Some show results, others not so much, but in the end, we can all agree that fad diets aren't going anywhere anytime soon. How well do you know your fad diets? Let's find out and see!

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The Lowdown on the Dukan Diet

Leta Shy — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:35:26 PDT

The buzz of the Dukan diet - France's diet du jour - is reaching new heights here in the US, just in time for the book's American debut next week. It's got its list of famous fans. Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen both reportedly went on the diet to lose their baby weight, and there's speculation that It bride-to-be Kate Middleton is following her mother's Dukan dieting footsteps before walking down the aisle.

By eliminating certain carbs (simple carbs like sugars and starches) from your diet and instead eating low-fat, protein-rich foods, the Dukan diet promises you can jump-start weight loss and maintain it for the rest of your life. The plan does this with a restricted diet divided into four phases, each with its own list of foods you can and can't eat.

Of course, the heavy-on-the-protein diet has doctors worried it's the next Atkins, and with good reason. Want to know what the diet is all about? Read an overview after the break.

Raising the Bar: Maxim's "Most Beautiful Woman" Bar Refaeli on Healthy Living

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:27:52 PDT

Maxim just named Bar Refaeli the hottest woman alive, and we wholeheartedly support this choice! Not only is Bar a beauty, but her glow reigns from the inside out. She's no fan of fad diets, loves to live a healthy lifestyle, and understands the importance of indulgences every now and again. In honor of Bar's big news, we've rounded up some of her quotes on healthy living for your delight. Click through to check them all out.

Diet and Fitness During the Mad Men Era

Michele Foley — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:27:55 PDT

The 1960s were an ever-changing time to be a woman - body image included. Until Twiggy hit the scene in the late '60s, women with bodies like Mad Men's Joan Holloway were prized for their ample bosoms and curvaceous frames. Matthew Weiner, Mad Men creator, even told the show's actresses to stop working out so they would look more realistic to the era.

But the '60s was not without its lose-weight-and-look-great diet fads: it was the time of fake sugar, a housewife that would become a weight-loss icon, and more. Read on to find out what Joan, Betty, and Peggy may have been doing to keep their hourglass shapes looking so good.

Photo courtesy of AMC

Skip Fad Diets and Make Healthy Eating a Habit Instead

Leta Shy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:24:52 PDT

There's a reason why they're called yo-yo: those diets that have you subsisting on just a few calories a day inevitably lead to ups and downs on the scale. A recent study backs up what many people who've struggled with weight loss already know: when researchers put dieters on a deprivation diet of about 500 calories, it worked at first, with study participants losing an average of 30 pounds over eight weeks. But it wasn't sustainable: most participants ended up gaining, on average, 11 pounds back within the year of the study, even with continued dieter's counseling, and reported that they felt "hungrier and more preoccupied with weight."

So why is it hard to maintain weight loss on an extreme diet? It's not just because of all the temptation out there; deprivation diets cause the body to go into starvation mode, making you feel even hungrier while your body holds onto pounds instead of shedding them.

Instead of trying the next fad diet that alters your hormones, start a program you know you'll be able to stick with. Plan meals so you can cook more of them at home, make healthier but still tasty choices when dining out, and allow yourself small indulgences every day. For more ways to turn "dieting" into a lifestyle, read these 13 essential eating tips for weight-loss success.

Test Your Knowledge of Fad Diets

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:08 PST

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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13 Health Gimmicks You Can Stop Wasting Money On

Business Insider — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:15:21 PDT

Consumers have a tendency of falling for the next big health gimmick. Save your money on health duds with these Business Insider tips.

No matter how many times we're told otherwise, Americans' obsession with get-healthy-quick schemes will likely never die. Too bad most of these fads aren't worth their weight in salt - or your hard-earned dollars. We've put together a list of some of the worst budget-sucking health trends that still persist today.

Coconut Water

Coconut water may be nature's version of Gatorade but some brands have already caught fire for over-hyping its nutrient content. Vita Coco agreed to settle a $10 million class action lawsuit over an independent study that showed the drinks didn't pack near as many electrolytes as advertisements implied. Some coconut waters are also loaded with added sugar, which will do nothing to help your waistline.

Alternative: Pick up your own young green coconuts on the cheap from an Asian produce market. Just crack them open with a cleaver and pop in a straw.

"All-Natural" Foods

30 percent of Americans bought more natural foods in 2011, according to a Rodale study. But what are we really paying more for? There's no clear cut regulation on what makes food "natural," which means just about any company can slap that label on its packages, add a fancy green theme and jack up the price.

Says Andrew Schrage of MoneyCrashers: "Before buying any food that is touted as being 'all natural,' take a look at the ingredient list before you check out. Keep in mind that butter and salt are indeed natural ingredients. So stocking up on natural foods may not achieve anything other than increasing your grocery bill."

Read on for more.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Sporty Shades

FitSugar — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:35:53 PDT

Protect your peepers with stylish shades when working out - Fitness
Skip these three fad diets - Shape
Video gaming can lead to eating more - DailySpark
Reasons to treat your pregnancy like a marathon - Lululemon Blog
The raw and the cooked: which is better for your veggies? - That's Fit
Kate Hudson craves scones and clotted cream - Fit Celeb