5 Popular Fad Diets

Each year millions of people around the globe go on diets. While some only need to lose a few pounds, others need more intense diets that will help them drop several inches and dress sizes. Weight loss can often be obtained through a healthy diet and a proper exercise routine, though many who suffer from weight problems look for the immediate fix hoping it will finally be able to cure their problems. Fad diets are popular among those who want to lose a few pounds, as well as those who are looking to lose many pounds.

What Is A Fad Diet?

A “fad diet” is a diet that becomes extremely popular among the masses for a short time and then wanes away. Fad diets are often accompanied by cute catch phrases, books, and recipes. They promise to help you drop the weight quickly, and generally require you to either abstain from a particular food group, eat a diet of only one major ingredient, or cut down on certain types of unhealthy food. While a fad diet may work for you in the short term, their long term staying power is one of the reasons many people lose interest after only a few weeks or months on the regimen. Today, some of most popular diets of recent years are referred to as fad diets.

Types Of Fad Diets

Over the last decade, a number of diets have been characterized as fad diets. While popular for a few months or even a couple of years, many of these diets have been replaced by the newest fad diets to hit the market. Some of the most popular fad diets of recent years include:

The Cabbage Soup Diet – The Cabbage Soup Diet is one of the most popular fad diets of the 21st century. Marketed as a 7-day diet, those who choose to follow the plan are limited to eating only soup with cabbage as the main ingredient for the course of the program. All other foods are to be avoided unless outlined in the plan. For more information on this popular fad diet, the recipe for cabbage soup, and the 7 day meal plan, visit www.cabbage-soup-diet.com.

The South Beach Diet – Another popular fad diet is known as The South Beach diet. Developed by Dr Arthur Agatston in 2004, The South Beach diet is divided into three phases. During the first phase of the diet, participants are limited to the amount and types of foods they can consume. This first phase lasts two weeks. In the second phase of the diet, participants are allowed to eat whatever they want, though an emphasis is placed on healthy foods. Finally in the third phase, dieters are given a plan to help them keep their new weight for years to come. For more information, recipes, or to join The South Beach Diet, visit: www.southbeachdiet.com.
Atkins Diet – Anyone who has thought about dieting in recent years has heard of the Atkins Diet. While millions have tried this popular diet, it has lost popularity in recent years leading it to be labeled as a fad diet. The Atkins diet is based on the thought that carbohydrates are the cause for weight gain and limits dieters to the amount of carbs they can have in their daily allowance. By cutting carbohydrates, many people are able to eat the foods they love without gaining any extra weight. This popular fad diet is perfect for someone who is already at a healthy weight and does not want to risk weight gain. For more information, visit: www.atkins.com.

The Chicken Soup Diet – Similar to The Cabbage Soup diet listed above, The Chicken Soup Diet limits what foods can be eaten. Instead of being able to eat what you want but in smaller portions, like other popular fad diets, a person on the Chicken Soup Diet can eat any of the preselected breakfast meals followed by as much chicken soup as they want throughout the rest of the day. This fad diet is not as widely known as others though millions of people have tried it over the past few years. Similar fad diets include the chocolate diet and the lemonade diet. Information on The Chicken Soup Diet can be found by visiting www.faddiet.com.

The Zone Diet – Developed by Dr Barry Sears, The Zone Diet is another diet whose popularity has decreased in recent years. Once one of the most popular diets, today only a select few prescribe to the plan. By limiting your diet to a certain percentage of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, the plan will melt away the fat quickly and help you keep a healthy weight for many years. Several books and cookbooks were written to help dieters with this plan, each offering tips and recipes. For more information on the Zone Diet, visit www.zonediet.com.

Before You Start A Diet

One of the mistakes dieters make frequently is that they don’t plan for the long run. Many fad diets are not meant as long term solutions to your weight problems. While you may have lost significant amounts of weight while on the diet, it’s easy to gain it back once you stop working with the program. For this reason, it’s a good idea to explore your options thoroughly before picking a diet plan. Another great idea is to consult your physician before beginning a diet program. Depending on your health when starting the diet, it may not be right for your situation. Your physician can recommend a diet and exercise routine that is right for your needs.

While fad diets don’t retain mainstream popularity for more than a few years, there are still dieters who live and breathe these diets. Just because they don’t work for the masses doesn’t mean they won’t work for you. Do your research, check out independent reviews of the diet programs, and give them a try. You may find that one of these popular fad diets is perfect for your lifestyle.

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