Downsides to the Quick Fix

There are many of us that have heard of the professor that did the "Twinkie Diet" and others like the controversial HCG Diet.  The thing that gets me so upset about both of these diets, and many like them, is they are both based on the well known fact of burning more calories than consumed will help you lose weight.  "Calories In, Calories Out".   In the Twinkie Diet, he ate 1800 calories of junk food, where as a man his size should be consuming 2200-2300 calories a day, so there is a deficit in calories.  Just like the HCG Diet starts its followers with only a 500 calorie a day diet.  That's right... 500 calories.  Let it be known that anything under 1200 calories in a day is considered starvation, but people seem to want to follow anything if it advertises quick weight loss.  It's simple math.  They are eating less calories than it takes for the body to function normally on a day to day basis, so they lose weight.

I guess what really upsets me is that there are people who are educated and within the health and nutrition field of study are the ones that are putting this ridiculousness out there.  The long term effects of these diets are, in my opinion, not worth the quick results.  Most will gain the weight back, some gain even more than they lost, and some will go to drastic measures to maintain what they have lost because they did not learn proper diet and exercise requirements for their body.  The risks to these types of crazy diets can include:

• Deficiency in vital vitamins and minerals
• Improper function of digestive and endocrine systems
• Deterioration of muscle and bone mass
• Extremely low and/or high blood glucose levels

So basically, on top of losing weight with no exercise, these people are starving their muscles, starving their body of proper nutrition, while their body goes to crap, along with their skin, hair, nails, teeth and bones.  Sounds awesome doesn't it?  

I have always said there ARE NO QUICK FIXES!  You have to work at it with proper diet and exercise.  Anything that tells you to eat less than 1200 calores - NO!  Anything that says to eat whatever you want and you don't have to exercise - NO!  Anything that makes claims of fat blockage - NO!   Fat is and should be a part of your diet, as fat, carbohydrates and protein are the basis of caloric values and nutrients.  If your nutritionist or doctor suggests any of these types of weight loss gimmicks, I personally would really question who or what is paying them to suggest it, because there is nothing "healthy" about them.

Anyway, rant for the day done.  Slow, Steady & Strong.  Have a great day!