With the recent passing of the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and the New Year fast approaching, December is a time where even the best of us get a little body-conscious. While being self-critical and motivated to be the best version of yourself possible isn’t a bad thing, there are right and wrong ways to go about doing so, fad diets being one of the wrong ways.
To start, we should probably get a basic understanding of what a fad diet actually is. Fad diets are diets that promise quick weight loss without exercise. Sounds too good to be true, right? That’s because it is. Fad diets encourage people to practice unhealthy and unsafe eating habits, leaving them undernourished and unsatisfied. Some of the most popular and well-known diets include the master cleanse, liquid only diets, and fasting.
These diets are not only dangerous because of the practices themselves, but also the unhealthy mindset they create. Fad diets aren’t sustainable; it’s a proven fact. You can’t spend a prolonged amount of time only eating soup or drinking a mix of lemon water and maple syrup because it’ll help you drop a few pounds. It’s just not feasible. By promoting or participating in unsustainable eating habits, we as a culture are setting ourselves and those who turn to these diets as a ‘quick fix’ up for failure. By the time the majority of people stop following their fad diet and go back to a regular diet, they gain back most of the weight they previously lost. In order to achieve safe and sustainable weight loss, it must be through a balanced, sustainable and gradual diet modification.
In addition, it is also extremely unhealthy for both the mind and body. Prioritizing fast weight loss over healthy weight loss is the beginning of a dangerous mindset that needs to be nipped in the bud before it can get any worse. Fad diets often lead people down a slippery slope to unhealthy and compulsive eating habits, which can potentially manifest into an eating disorder (which is no small matter). It can also lead to nutritional deprivation and deficiencies in components the body and brain require to function normally, which make you feel extra tired, worn out more quickly, and lead to getting sick more easily (which is not something we need during exams).
During times of stress and self-doubt, it is especially important to take care of your body rather than work against it. Practicing self-love and appreciating your body and all its capabilities is key when working towards becoming the best version yourself. When you think of your body as an ally and fuel it properly, you will be rewarded with energy, motivation, and satisfaction. When you deprive yourself and practice unhealthy eating habits, there is a 100% guarantee you will feel worse for wear. I cannot stress enough the importance of valuing health over appearance, and sustainability over instant gratification,.
By loving and appreciating yourself as you are, it will relieve all urges to slip into fad diets that have the potential to wreak havoc on your physical and emotional well-being. So do yourself a favour and give yourself a little love, because we all deserve it.