Why you shouldn't crash diet

So, next time you see a crash diet promising instant weight loss, remember:

• These diets are boring, unrealistic and impossible to sustain for long periods of time
• Fad diets rarely give you optimal amounts of essential nutrients because they are often based on a single or limited range of foods
• A sensible and realistic diet can be followed for long periods of time, to maintain a desirable body weight, whereas fad diets require dramatic changes in the way you eat
• Crash diets fail to provide ways to keep excess weight off permanently
• A realistic exercise regime is rarely advocated with a fad diet, yet exercise is crucial to maintain weight loss over a long period of time

Despite what crash diets promise, the only sensible way to lose weight permanently is to eat less and increase your physical activity. If you want to lose weight, aim to drop one to two pounds per week, watch your total calorie intake and reduce fat in the foods you eat. A well-balanced diet should consist of not more than 35 percent fat, 50 percent carbs and 15 per cent protein.