In the weight loss industry, speed sells. Companies have become adept at marketing diets and health supplements to the tune of $72 billion in the US alone.
Around every corner is a quick and easy solution to help you drop fat and build muscle.
So how do you stay out of the path of this marketing machine? Here are 5 ways to avoid the next diet fad:
1. Can you imagine doing this for the rest of your life?
Asking yourself this question will help you resist the Bandwagon Effect. This is a real thing that helps fads gain momentum. As more people you know take up Keto, Paleo, Crossfit, or go gluten-free – it becomes more likely you will adopt it as well.
That’s not to say these things are bad for you. But it is important to determine if it’s right for you. If the diet restrictions don’t fit your lifestyle and you enjoy no part of it – you won’t stick with it. Remember, consistency is the key to results.
2. Does it sound too good to be true?
If the effort seems too easy, embrace your inner skeptic. If changing your body was easy and results were quick – wouldn’t everyone you know be comfortable wearing every item of clothing in their closet?
The solution that works is boring and frustrating because it’s never in a straight line. Which makes it really hard to market to most people.
3. Slow and steady wins the race.
Quick results rarely last. Real change requires work over a long period of time. If someone promises you more than 0.5 to 1 pound of weight loss per week then your spidey sense should be tingling. Obesity happens 1 pound at a time – so does preventing it.
4. Accept the word detox is marketing spin.
Be happy spending $8 on a juice if you like the taste and it makes you feel good. But don’t expect it to detox a damn thing. This seems like a good opportunity to remind you that the human body is amazing. You’re constantly detoxing just by living. Your kidneys and liver are efficient at cleaning out unnecessary things in your body. Some other words to be wary of include: superfood, organic, alkalising, Dr. Oz, cleanse, non-GMO .
5. Remember your health is not about the weight you lose.
It’s about the life you gain.
Write it out and stick it on your bathroom mirror to remind yourself everyday. Diets tend to turn food into a numbers game. Count your macros and watch the numbers on a scale. Supplements and superfoods turn food into complex, individual nutrients that will fix what is wrong with you.
Take a step back and focus on the big picture. Food is physical and psychological nourishment. Food is fun.
This isn’t me giving you “permission” to eat ice cream every day. But you don’t NEED to put kale in your smoothie if you hate the taste. And you absolutely do not need to spend your hard earned money on alkaline water or activated charcoal.
Find the right balance that gives you the healthiest life you can enjoy living – not the healthiest life you can tolerate.
