Fad Diets

Most of us have been in a position where we thought we could lose a little weight or could stand to be healthier. There seems to always be some “craze” diet going on and you’re bound to know someone who has had great success with it. But what works for them may not work for you let alone be healthy for anyone. Fad diets don't help you keep off weight long term. Most of the loss you experience initially may be water loss or loss from sheer deprivation. So what is the best option for you? Changing your lifestyle and moving more may be all you need.

A body needs a healthy diet filled with variety to “run” properly. That means the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat - as well as a great deal of other vitamins and nutrients. When you go on a fad diet and exclude necessary nutrients, you're putting yourself at risk for becoming sick in many ways. Getting too little of any nutrient may not cause an immediate problem. But if it's lacking for a long time, you may find you have health problems or complications later on.

Another thing to learn is to practice portion control. Food portions and sizes have gotten larger and larger over the years. This is particularly true with fast food or quick serve restaurants. But what exactly are healthy portion sizes? There are some easy tricks to measure your food when scales aren’t readily available.

• A cup of fruit should be no larger than your fist.
• An ounce of meat or cheese is about the same as the size of your thumb from base to tip.
• 3 ounces of meat, fish, or poultry (a normal serving) is about the size of your palm.
• 1 to 2 ounces of nuts equals your cupped hand.

You can help the struggle with portion sizes at home by serving your meals on salad plates instead of larger plates. This is a simple mind trick that will make you feel fuller, faster. Nutritionists also recommend eating several small meals a day as opposed to a few large ones. By putting healthy fuel into your body several times a day, your metabolism kicks into gear. Aim for 5 to 6 small meals a day and make sure they are on the healthy side.

One of the most important things to help lose weight is to exercise. The human body ideally needs 150 minutes of exercise a week. Of course this can be divided over several days. If you are just starting to work out, ease yourself into it to avoid sprains and injuries. Your body will adapt over time and you will find you are able to push yourself harder.

We all wish there was a magic pill or solution that we could take to become thinner or to gain more muscles. But unfortunately, that is not the case. While science is advancing quickly, most fad diets are built on hype and padding someone’s pocketbook on false hopes. Keep your health in mind and fall back on reliable methods to get where you want to be. Also stay on top of your health by saving big on the prescriptions you need to live a happy, active life. Head to FreeRxPlus.com to print your free card instantly!