5 Reasons Why Fad Diets Don't Work

Year after year the diet industry rakes in billions of dollars as we get heavier and more discouraged. Let's try a new way, one that starts with YOU.

5 Reasons Why That Famous Diet Plan Doesn't Work

More than one-third of Americans are on a weight loss plan at any given time. Although some may enjoy success at first, unfortunately, most will not be successful at keeping the weight off. We will examine why diets don't work by looking at one of the most popular and profitable weight loss companies, Weight Watchers.

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Remember back in 2015 when Weight Watchers announced: “Oprah Winfrey and Weight Watchers have joined together in a groundbreaking partnership to inspire people around the world to lead a healthier and more fulfilling life.” ??

She joined Weight Watchers as a “regular” weight loss client, board member, advisor, and stockholder / owner.

That’s great, right?

The more people on the health and wellness bandwagon, the better.

But doesn’t Oprah have access to the best psychologists, nutritionists, chefs, trainers, and coaches?

And furthermore…. *stabs finger into the air for emphasis*

Has anyone wondered why Oprah decided to be the face of this particular company?

Does the fact that she has been as high as their second biggest shareholder give you any clues?

Anyone over 40 probably remembers the day Oprah wheeled a wagon of fat onto the stage as she pranced around in her skinny jeans on her morning TV show.

THIS WAS IN 1988!

Later interviews revealed that she didn’t stay at that weight very long.

I have nothing at all against Oprah or capitalism, and I can identify with everyone continually fighting this seemingly never ending battle.

But I can also see something is not right here.

Why popular diets simply don’t work for the vast majority of people

While there definitely are people who have success with these programs, the MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DO NOT. Some studies have shown up to a 90% rate of failure!

The science is settled here, folks.

Our nation is getting heavier

Let’s face it America, we have a problem — but the band plays on — the diet industry rakes in billions of dollars year after year as our adult population gets heavier and more discouraged. According to the CDC:

73.6% of US adults over 20 were overweight - 2017
41.9% of US adults over 20 were obese - 2017/2018

Maybe…….just maybe….. these so-called plans aren’t what they are cracked up to be?

Maybe they don’t have what you need…… by design?

Here’s my 5 reasons why we should take those plans and……quietly shelve them:

1. They Don’t Teach You Healthy Habits FIRST

Weight is complicated, but this is not reflected in the strategies of 'big diet'.

The main problem I see, which has been confirmed by my friends and clients who have failed to reach their goal weight while on popular diet plans, is that they don’t teach healthy habits first (or at all).

Let’s continue with our Weight Watchers example. With them it’s all about the points. As long as you are within your points limit, you are an “A” student.

Even Oprah admitted she plays the WW points like a game.

You tell me, is this a game? Are we having fun yet?

Points, points, points.

Tracking, tracking, tracking.

HOW MANY CARBS DOES IT HAVE???

Hmmm, wouldn’t it be more important to focus on why the dieter gained weight in the first place?

Sure, you can lose weight eating 1,200 calories of Twinkies, but you’re going to feel like crap. If you want to lose weight and increase your health, you have to become educated on at least the basics of nutrition.

Note: at KP Basic Training/Back to Basics Fitness, we keep it simple. We’re not here to overcomplicate or overwhelm our clients with a plan that’s too difficult to follow. Tracking and counting isn’t required if you follow a simple plan based on hand-sized portions — and listen to your body’s natural hunger cues.

2. Tracking and Logging Calories/Macros is TEDIOUS, INACCURATE and a recipe for FAILURE for most people

Here's why:

Labels on foods may underestimate calories by up to 20%
Low-calorie diets can decrease the number of calories the body burns by as much as 23%
Food can take between 8 and 80 hours to travel from plate to toilet, depending on the person
The impact of a meal depends on each person's genes, anatomy, lifestyles and unique mix of gut bacteria
The amount of energy we absorb from food depends on how it is prepared
Different parts of vegetables and fruits may be absorbed differently
Calorie counts on the same food can vary by country
Lack of quality sleep could cause your body to burn 25 - 50% FEWER calories
The more you exercise, the more efficient your body is likely to be at CONSERVING energy (by burning fewer calories)
Unless you are an athlete or a body builder, all the logging, tracking, weighing, etc is completely unnecessary

Don’t get me wrong, I truly believe that knowledge is power.

For many of us, myself included, we gained weight because we had no idea how many calories we were eating. And in my case, I simply didn’t care. I just worked out like a fiend to ‘compensate’ and I didn’t even try to calculate the number of calories I was gorging on.

Calories matter, but that’s not the be all and end all of weight loss and healthy living!

3. The Focus is not on YOU

NEWS FLASH: I didn’t gain weight just because I loved beer, french fries and m&ms. And if I hadn’t done the soul searching to find out why I was mistreating my body so badly, I wouldn’t have been able to lose the weight.

The most successful weight loss journeys start with one question: WHY?

Why have I been overeating? Why do I want to lose weight? Then and only then can you start on the how.

WW and other plans do not address these questions to the level necessary for lifelong change. Weight loss starts in the mind, not in the belly!

Coming back to Weight Watchers, did you know that upwards of 60% of their profits are made from of people who fail their programs but keep returning?

If Weight Watchers truly cared about you, wouldn't they want you to succeed? With that kind of failure rate, any other type of business would change their strategy. But this strategy is clearly effective..... at making tons of $$$.

4. You Are Encouraged (or Required) to Buy Their Food.

They get you coming and going. Wow, how nice for them, especially since you’re already paying for the plan or membership!

Here’s the thing: the healthiest diet is one that includes whole foods and avoids processed foods as much as possible. The best nutrition plan is one that includes sufficient protein, 'good' fats and yes, CARBS.

It’s important to eat plants, not foods that were made in plants.

I like to ask my clients “would your Great-Grandma recognize these ingredients?” If the answer is yes, it’s probably a better choice than ANY processed food item.

Look, I know I’m not the food police and I don’t follow a 100% whole foods diet. But I AM on a continuous journey to eliminate as many processed foods as possible, and you should too. I try to pick the healthiest options available and choose minimally-processed foods that don’t have any ingredients that would kick me out of a spelling bee.

I’m sorry, but any commercial diet plan that tells you it’s healthy to eat processed foods with ingredients you wouldn’t recognize in nature, simply does not truly have your success and health as their main goal.

If you are truly short on time and need convenience, check out the many excellent companies that deliver fresh foods directly to your door. They may cost a little bit more, but you’re worth it!.

5. Some will Say You Can Eat Whatever You Want.

But in reality that is simply not true.

For example: did you know that on Weight Watchers you can eat as much fruit as you want and never exceed your daily points? That’s right, all fresh, frozen and canned-with-no-sugar-added fruit is F-R-E-E!

HOW CAN A FOOD NOT HAVE POINTS? HELLO?

This is not a political rally. NOTHING IS FREE.

The last time I checked, fruit has calories, and fruit has sugar. Natural sugar is still sugar. If you’re thinking “nobody ever got fat eating fruit”, try again.

We gain weight because we eat too much.

I truly wish everyone well, Oprah included! I hope that millions of people succeed with whatever plan they choose. Unfortunately, experience AND SCIENCE tells us otherwise.

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Good News!

If you’ve tried dieting before and found permanent results elusive, or if you’ve never tried and have no idea where to start, it can seem daunting. Most diet ‘plans’ can be expensive, complicated, time-consuming and may not fit in with your lifestyle, food preferences and unique physiology. And as we’ve discussed here they SIMPLY AREN’T DESIGNED FOR LONG TERM BEHAVIOR CHANGE.

In mid-January 2023 I'll be launching my Ultimate Weight Loss Meal Planning Solution, designed to set you up for success from the get-go.

Until then, why not try my 5-day Sugar Reset?

Are you ready to improve your health, your energy, your focus, and how you feel in general - without feeling deprived - by eliminating added sugar from your diet?

My NEW 5-day Sugar Reset is more than just a downloadable guide – each day you’ll be getting pro tips, strategies, and coaching to help you eliminate added sugar from your diet…. All for FREE!
You can join anytime by clicking here

Categories: Nourish