Fasting Diets: the Real Deal

People are always looking for an easy solution to weight loss. Whether it’s a low-carb, high protein, acai berry or a fasting diet, there always seems to be some new big thing waiting just around the corner to make us skinny. The truth of the matter is that the only proven method of permanent weight loss is the traditional way of eating right and exercising more.

You may be asking yourself, “If there is only one proven method of losing weight and keeping it off, why does a new diet fad surface almost every week?” The answer is that people are looking for a quick fix to their long term weight issues and as long as there are people who believe that obscure ways of dieting will help them reach their goals, there will be companies willing to provide them with quick fix methods. While some of these diets will help you lose weight, the weight loss is typically not permanent.

The diet trend that has blown up in recent years is the fasting diet. Fasting is not a new concept. It’s only new to the world of weight loss.

It has been a staple in many notable religions all across the world. People use fasting diets as a way to cleanse the body of toxins and also to lose weight. The idea is that when you are depriving your body of calories, you will have to dip into your readily available stores of fat for energy and will therefore lose weight. However, this logic is faulty.

The 5:2 diet

The 5:2 diet is the most notable fasting diet and it is based on a book called "The Fast Diet”. This diet involves intermittent fasting to shed your excess weight. Over the course of a week, you ‘fast’ for two days. During this ‘fast’ you eat roughly one-fourth of your typical daily calories, and then during the non-fasting days, you are free to eat whatever you want. Many people are drawn to this diet because it promises drastic, quick results and an improved quality of life.

Intermittent fasting

This style of fasting is called intermittent fasting and although it can be effective for losing some fat, it does not mean that it is safe for your body in the long run. When you do not eat regularly, your blood sugar is not able to regulate itself, which causes your metabolism to slow down. When your metabolism slows down, your body conserves fat and by putting your body through severe periods of fasting, you are lowering your metabolism and in the long run, this will cause you to gain weight.

Fad diets are never the answer if your goal is to achieve long term weight loss. Typically, the weight you lose on a fad diet is just water weight. This means that when you eventually go back to eating normally, you will quickly put on weight again. Also, it is usually very difficult for a person to go an entire day eating only a fourth of their normal caloric intake (which is about 500 calories.)

If you are set on losing weight, stay away from the fad diets and especially from the fasting diets. Once you reach your weight loss goals the healthy and effective way, you’ll be proud of yourself for doing it the long term, healthy way.

The long term, healthy way to lose weight

Not having the time to shop for healthy ingredients, select healthy recipes and cook healthy meals can be frustrating; but, a healthy diet is essential to long term weight loss.

If your diets have failed in the past because you haven't been able to cook healthy meals and if you’re looking for something fast and convenient without the hassle of going to the grocery store, bistroMD offers a diet delivery program that can help you successfully lose weight and keep it off too.

We cook with the freshest ingredients and have over 200 recipes and a customizable menu so you should have no problem finding something to satisfy your taste buds.

Every bite you take follows this proven approach for healthy weight loss. Our program provides 1,100-1,400 calories daily with 40-50% total caloric intake from lean, adequate protein, 20-25% of calories from healthy fats, and 30-35% from complex carbohydrates.

The best part is that it only takes a few weeks to start seeing results. You don’t have anything to lose, but the fat!

We have a men and a women’s program with the option to receive five-or-seven-days’ worth of healthy meals delivered to your door. The seven day option comes with the My Night feature, your one night a week to kick back, relax with friends and eat whatever you want.

The two programs range from $130-$160 and EATS, our essential and tasty snacks are just $1.50 per snack. Women receive two snacks per day and men receive three snacks per day.

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