THE NEW FAD... DIETS!
"Do you want to loose 10lbs in 10 days?"
"Drink this tea and watch the weight fall off!"
"Go from this___ to this___!"
"Eat X amount of calories per day and you will hit your goal weight before you know it!"
Do any of these ring a bell? This is the sweet song of diet culture that so many of us have fallen victim to- especially during quarantine.
What is a fad diet?
A fad diet is a diet that is popular in the media, without following standard dietary recommendations, and often promising unreasonable results such as weight loss or other unrealistic health improvements. A fad diet tends to last a short period of time ranging from week long cleanses to month long restrictions.
Why is this unsustainable?
I constantly talk about sustainable health and what I mean by that is health practices you can sustain over a long period of time (such as a lifetime). I also mean practices that are possible, achievable, and doable for your lifestyle- nothing overtly unrealistic.
Fad diets would be considered unsustainable do to the fact that they are not long term changes, they promise short term (predominantly unrealistic results), and along with the diet itself the results often disappear with time. Putting your body through diets off and on is known as yoyo dieting and can be associated with orthorexia (the healthy eating disorder) and stress on the body from constant changes in nutrition and energy. Fad diets ultimately lead to poor relationships with food that can be avoided by putting your focus on lifestyle changes.
Why is eating a whole food plant based "diet" not a fad diet?
(I use the term "diet" here lightly)
I did not switch to a WFPB diet for a month, to lose weight in that period of time, then go back to old habits. I wanted to implement this way of eating into my lifestyle so that I could sustain it for the majority of my life along with its benefits. This way of eating is predominantly eating a diet high in unprocessed plants- whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts & seeds. In it's definition from Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn he states in a chart to "avoid animal products and process foods" not completely cut them out of your life and never try them again. I do not feel particularly restricted with this lifestyle as there is so much variety of plants that I can consume on a daily basis that I quite enjoy it. I also enjoy the benefits I receive from this lifestyle such as chronic disease prevention, weight management, good nutrition, and the overall feeling. I went to a conference in 2018 where Dr. Esselstyn said "If your grandma bakes a blueberry pie, have a slice of that pie, and don't feel bad. She is your grandma." If you are plant-based it is your choice the extent of which you are willing to go, no one will come for you if you have that slice of pie. Think about it like this- you strengthen up your body with all those plants for the majority of your life, then one day you have a slice of pie, your body can handle it. What you do the MAJORITY of the time is the most important as that is what your body will see as normal.
Ultimately...
Eating a diet high in plants is not a fad diet, because it is not restrictive of necessary food groups such as carbohydrates or fats. It does not have a timeline or an expected number of pounds to be lost in body weight. It is meant to be implemented in your lifestyle similar to brushing your teeth or going to bed before midnight. It is meant to become a daily habit that doesn’t require extra thought or effort. Fad diets lead to poor relationships with food, eating disorders, and yoyo dieting culture. Eating food that you enjoy that is good for your body and the environment will improve your relationship with food by allowing you to see the good you are doing! Stay away from diet culture and treat your body with physical activity and good food.
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