How Fad Diets Affect Your Metabolism

Don't fall prey to the "quick" or "revolutionary" nutrition schemes that are constantly being marketed. You deserve better! You deserve an approach that will both help you reach your goals and also sustain them. Following a fad diet and expecting sustainable, healthy results is like borrowing a pair of shoes from your shorter friend and expecting them to fit. 

One of the main reasons to stay away from fad diets is that they mess with your metabolism. They do this because most fad diets promote disordered eating patterns, where certain macronutrients, like carbs and fats, are restricted. The restriction of nutrients or food groups ultimately means a caloric deficit. This is why people lose weight initially.  

Since our bodies are programmed to work at a certain metabolic rate, the restriction of calories throws our body’s homeostasis off. While some body fat is lost, so is lean body mass, such as muscle mass. The result after a restrictive program is less body fat but also a slower metabolism, making it easier for people to gain the weight right back.

Instead of giving in to the temptation of another quick fix’s false promise, find a dietary approach that helps you get to your goal and maintain your lean body mass while reaching for the said goal. Usually, this type of approach consists of managing your portion sizes, limiting junk foods, and getting more movement in your day. 

Another important aspect is to divide your weight or body composition goal into cycles. For example, instead of losing 50 pounds in one drawn-out process, focus on losing 10 pounds at a time, with some diet breaks in between each body fat loss cycle. This is a great way to maintain lean body mass and protect your basal metabolic rate.

This is what I do for my clients:

For more information about the newest nutrition program, Metabolism Recovery, contact Houstonian Club Registered Dietitian Denise Hernandez at nutrition@houstonian.com.