Introduction

Crash diets are one of the most detrimental things you could do if you want to see long-term results. Yet because of flashy marketing full of empty promises, people who want to lose weight make this mistake over and over.

The promise of fast results is no doubt alluring, but remember that if the weight comes off quickly, chances are very good it’ll come back on just as quickly. And in some cases, when dieters gain the weight back, they add on a few extra pounds to their starting point.

Let’s take a closer look at all the problems associated with crash diets so that you can see for yourself why they’re such a huge waste of your time and effort.

11 Reasons NOT To Crash Diet

  1. They shock your metabolism. A crash diet will cause your metabolic rate to plummet, making it impossible to lose weight after the first week or so is up.
  2. You’ll be starving! Most crash diets provide nowhere near the energy you need to maintain your day to day activities.
  3. They are deficient in protein. Most crash diets don’t provide enough protein to maintain your lean muscle mass so you’ll get weaker as you use them.
  4. They are low in minerals. Crash diest plans often fall short in iron, calcium, zinc and potassium.
  5. You’ll need to avoid exercise. Trying to exercise on a crash diet will be next to impossible because you’ll constantly be tired and can be malnourished.
  6. They impact your sleep quality. Those who aren’t eating enough will find they have a hard time getting and staying asleep.
  7. They cause your body to cling onto its fat stores. The more your body senses starvation, the less willing it will be to give up body fat for fuel. This is just the opposite of what dieters are trying to accomplish!
  8. They teach poor food habits. Eating disorders are more likely to result when someone uses a crash diet plan.
  9. They don’t teach you about long-term healthy eating. Once you come off the crash diet, you’ll likely return to your old ways and regain the weight and then some.
  10. They may cause menstruation to stop in women. For females, when calorie intake is too low, amenorrhea sets in, which can cause bone loss over the long term.
  11. They are lacking balance. A balanced diet provides a mix of proteins, carbs and fats, whereas most crash diets are off-balance or, worse yet, consist of nothing but juice or supplements.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, crash diets are not a wise move. They are the absolute worst way to feed your body and will never produce the lasting results you want.

Rather than going on any diet, here’s a better approach:

  • Stop drinking everything except water
  • Cut out all empty-carb snacks and replace them with fresh or frozen fruits and veggies
  • Eat only when you are truly hungry, regardless of what time of day it is
  • Strive to eat a balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates
  • Cut down or, better yet, cut out all sugar-laden foods

This approach works well for the long run as you will, eventually, be feeling happier, healthier, fuller and more satisfied than ever before, and it’s something you can easily maintain – for life!