If you’ve spent any amount of time in the fitness world – or, let’s be honest, the world in general – you’ve probably tried a couple “fad” diets. Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Low-fat, Low-carb, Master Cleanse, Zone, Atkins, the Cabbage Soup Diet (yes, this is real).

I have been there! I have even been the person preaching my diet of choice to other people. (Eek!)

But not any more. And here’s why.

That sh*t does not work. 

Before we address why it doesn’t work, let’s establish what “work” means in this context. A diet “working” means that it delivers results that are sustainable over a longer period of time. No one sets out to purposely lose 30lbs and then gain it back. That’s not a “successful” diet. 

Fad diets tend to “work” in the short-term. You may see a dramatic change in your appearance or how you feel. The trick is that this usually has very little to do with the specific diet you’ve chosen. It has more to do with the fact that you’ll typically be eating less and different food.

Think about it. If you cut out an entire food group, you’re going to eat less. And eating less will probably trigger weight loss. But, much like the 6-Week Challenge Trap, these results are almost always temporary, and the way you’re eating isn’t sustainable.

So what happens?

You hop on a fad diet. It’s tough, but you see progress. Then it becomes unsustainable because, let’s be honest, eating literally zero carbohydrates or limiting yourself to what cavemen ate is really hard to maintain. So you fall back into what you were doing before, your body goes back to how it looked before, and you feel sad and defeated.

You don’t want that. And I don’t want that for you.

So if fad diets don’t work… what does?

Honestly, the boring stuff is what works. And you already know what it is. Moderation; variety; a mix of protein, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats. It’s not flashy, and because of that it’s hard to market. There are rarely dramatic changes in the way people look, so (the incredibly toxic post-for-another-time) “before and after” photos don’t exist. You can’t give it a catchy name. And – perhaps most importantly – it doesn’t make the multi-billion dollar diet industry any more money. So no one is selling you that.

So they sell you fad diets instead. But remember, just because they’re selling doesn’t mean you need to buy!

In fact, you’ll save money – and a lot of aggravation – by taking whatever you’d spend on fad diets and supplements, going to your local grocery store, and buying a week’s worth of food that includes protein, fruits, and veggies (and some snacks of course). Then eat the food in portions that are suitable for your body’s needs. Repeat that most weeks of the year, and you’ll get exactly what you want.

It will not be fast. It will not always be easy. And there are no cool hashtags to share about it on socials. But it will work.

Need help?You can chat with our Nutrition Coach for FREE. Just click here to book a complimentary nutrition consultation. We’ll talk about where you are currently and where you want to go, then we’ll help you make a plan to get there in a way that is healthy, effective, and personal to you.