Why Crash Summer Diets Fail

1. They’re only a quick fix

If you see a diet that promises fast and easy weight loss, it’s probably a fad diet. These approaches often include eliminating specific foods or cleanses and “detoxes” that remove impurities from your body.

Fad diets, however, don’t focus on the issues leading to weight gain in the first place. So, while those unwanted pounds may seem to fall off at the beginning of the program, they’ll come right back as soon as you resume your normal eating habits.

2. They’re too restrictive

Imagine swapping your regular meals for purées or baby food. How about only eating foods that maintain an optimal pH level in your body? Or, one of our personal favorites, consuming large amounts of cabbage soup for seven days to see that unwanted fat melt away.

These approaches may seem tempting in the short term because of their weight loss promises, but restrictive diets don’t provide long-term solutions. Instead, any changes on the scale are likely due to a combination of lost water, fat, and even muscle.

3. They’re not realistic

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to weight loss, and your unique needs play a crucial role in the most effective strategy. As a result, healthy weight management is a complex process that requires long-term lifestyle changes and commitment.

Fad diets rarely include methods people can follow for the rest of their lives. That means you’re unlikely to maintain the results you see in the initial stages of the diet.

4. They aren’t healthy

One of the reasons fad diets often offer dramatic results early on is due to their restrictive natures, especially in calories and nutrients. That also means they can keep you from getting the nutrition you need to remain in peak performance.