Fad Diet

Everything that I have read in the past several years (and especially the past several months) has completely slammed any and all "fad diets" due to their unhealthiness and ineffectiveness to provide long-term results. Just about EVERY source that is not endorsed by a specific diet system has die-hard facts to prove that these things just don't work. What DOES work is a reduction of your daily caloric intake (specifically fats and sugars) and an increase in physical activity. Period.

Fad diets are a quick fix, but once the diet is over an overwhelming majority of people eventually gain it all back because they fall back into their previous lifestyle pattern. Changing WHAT you eat for 6 weeks does not necessarily mean a change of HABITS. Losing weight and becoming more healthy entails an entirely holistic approach - your ATTITUDE about food and exercise has to change, and the motivation for that becomes a large influence of how successful one can be at it.

All of this said, Jared and I are starting the South Beach Diet this week. I am not super crazy about the idea, mostly for the reasons I just mentioned, but also because the whole first 2 weeks are JUST lean meats, vegetables, and a little bit of dairy. NO FRUIT ALLOWED?! Being vegetarian, this severely limits my protein intake per day, along with snacking options (I typically eat 1 apple every day). I do eat fish and shell fish (which is allowed) but they are expensive, and let's face it, who really wants to eat fish EVERY day for 2 straight weeks? Whole grains are a major source of protein for me throughout the week; now, I will admit that I am pretty good at packing in plenty of the bad carbs and sugars so I know I shouldn't be complaining too much about it, but I just don't trust this drastic change in food choices for 2 weeks. Yes, after the first 2 weeks the second 2 weeks do incorporate fruit, and a FEW whole grains...I still just don't know how the hell my body is supposed to get any kind of REAL energy from eating mostly lettuce every day. Like today, I had a MASSIVE salad for just - just greens and balsamic vinegarette dressing - and within an hour I was almost falling asleep at my desk (I ate half a protein bar and feel much better now.)

However, since Jared and I are doing it together it's more of a jumping-off place for us to make each other accountable, so that this accountability WILL last once we finish the 6-week diet and we'll continue to motivate and encourage each other in making healthier food choices and working out more often. Therefore, we are doing this together, and hopefully it will be just the first step of many more progressive steps later. I will definitely be sure to keep you updated on how the next 2 weeks of half-starvation continue to unfold.