…The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Diets…

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Losing weight is and always will be a big deal, which is why so many diets exist. Seriously, there are thousands and the number is growing with each passing day. It’s worth noting that not all of them are terrible weight loss programs designed to harm the body. For the most part, there are some excellent guidelines which are healthy and productive. However, some diets need avoiding at all costs because they provide short-term, reversible results. To do that, you need to understand the dynamics of good, bad, and ugly diets.

Here are the things to consider.

The Good: It Has Balance

A decade ago the Atkins Diet become popular, the reason being it cut out carbs and focused on eating meat. Then, studies began to suggest that although it did help lose weight, a person would pile on the pounds once they quit. Since then, the WHO has also re-categorized red meat as a potential cause of cancer. On the whole, the balance of this diet is not correct and doesn’t help from a long-term point of view. The one you choose should mix healthy food with exercise and the occasional treat to maintain motivation.

The Bad: It Guarantees Results

Whatever you take from this post, make sure it is this: successful weight loss programs don’t make guarantees! Dieting is a personal journey which requires time, patience and determination. To imply losing weight is a one-size fit all policy is misleading. Therefore, a diet which promises results is overcompensating. A quick look at the schedule or the small print should indicate it’s a fraud. The way scam diets work is they offer features which are too good to be true to stop people from analyzing the program. As a rule, always avoid deals which are not realistic.

The Ugly: It Has A Bullying Culture

Sadly, some diets are thoroughly nasty. The people who take part and those in charge will tell you it’s a necessary motivational tool. How else can they get the participants to see the error of their ways? In truth, the leaders create a culture of fear which entraps people by playing with their state of mind. Even the idea of quitting is off the table because it’s for the weak and you want to be strong. They are few and far between, but they do exist so keep a close eye out. If you are going to join a program, make sure they use positive reinforcement rather than drill-sergeant tactics.

The Conclusion:

As a novice, working out which diets are helpful and which are a hindrance is never straightforward. After all, you are not an expert. If you were, you wouldn’t need to be on a diet in the first place! However, the good news is they all have indicators which stand out when you delve deeper. By checking out the eating schedule, for example, you can tell whether the balance is right. Also, you can see past the PR nonsense.

The key is never to jump into a weight loss program head first, even if you think it’s flawless.