‘Tis the Season for Fad Diets?

With summer a mere month away, it’s the time of year when the North Face jackets come off and the hunt for the perfect swimsuit begins. In other words, it’s a time where sunnin’ and funnin’ meets two words: fad diet.

In the pursuit of losing some winter weight in a short amount of time, fad diets get the job done — but it is best to remember that the solution is merely short-term. “Fad diets simply do not work,” said Rebecca Roach, a nutrition professor at the University. They promote over-conscious eating, wreck body-image and endorse paying attention to your body for only a certain amount of time, she said. “The weight will come back, it always does.”

Leah Wilkening, freshman in the College of Aces, agrees with Roach’s philosophy.

“I’ve tried fad diets before out of curiosity during formal season, and they never last,” she said. “The second you eat something normal again, it’s over.”

Maggie Perion, sophomore in LAS, has never attempted to break into the fad diet craze and does not plan on doing so anytime soon.

“It’s a ridiculous concept and a huge waste of time that in the long run is only going to make you more unhealthy,” she said.

With that being said, here is a list of considerations and warnings for popular fad diets.

The Hollywood Diet

If Heidi Montag is your role model, then you’ve found your calling with this diet. Food is not allowed in the Hollywood diet; you are only permitted to drink the special “Hollywood diet juice,” which is similar to a form of watered down grapefruit juice. Also known as the “48-hour miracle diet,” the Hollywood diet promises the loss of ten pounds in two days. Roach recommends that losing anything over two pounds a week is extremely unhealthy.

The Zone Diet

If you’re an athletic mathematician, the Zone diet could be your perfect match. By giving your metabolism a makeover with a diet that depends on a 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbohydrate regiment, the Zone diet promises a high-energy athletic performance.

The 3 Day Diet

If food “taste-ability” isn’t a factor for you, then you won’t have a problem with this diet. Limited to a highly restrictive proportion plan, the 3 Day diet consists of products such as black coffee, grapefruit, tuna, dry toast, green beans, cottage cheese, and saltine crackers — yum.

The Cabbage Soup Diet

If you’re a fan of boredom and monotony then hey, try out this regimen. The Cabbage Soup diet allows one to eat a “bottomless bowl” of this onion-based soup concoction with tomato juice, celery, and cabbage as well as an unlimited amount of fruit and vegetables.

This diet is only recommended to be taken on for a week; afterward, you should resume your normal and much more exciting eating habits.

The Atkins Diet

If cutting out fruits and vegetables has you shouting “hallelujah!” then you can start rejoicing. Atkins, a low-carbohydrate diet turns your body into a fat burning machine while never having to count a single calorie. Though seen as controversial by some dietitians, some say Atkins can lead to healthy weight management and a healthy heart.

The South Beach Diet

If you’re a serial snacker (and you know who you are), then South Beach has got your name on it.

Similar to Atkins, South Beach is a low-fat, low-carb diet, but it is not restricted to an off-limits, forbidden-fruit policy. more...