Diets. Dangerous or Delightful? Article

Diets. Dangerous or Delightful?

We’re all sick of not knowing which diets are good and which are bad. Here are the ups and downs of 5 well-known diets...

Nicola had a goal. She needed to lose weight in order to be able to reach her goal of having a gastric band fitted. She won that goal. I spoke with Nicola about her means and methods of how she was to meet the goal of getting a gastric band and it was clear that the only hurdle in her way was the need to lose weight prior to the operation. She’d tried numerous diets and rates Slimming World as her number one giving it a 5/5 compared to a 2/5 for Weight Watchers. Nicola explained that since the operation her life has changed dramatically, from doing little to no exercise she now goes to the gym 2 or 3 times a week and walks her dog on a daily basis. Not only has her lifestyle changed in terms of exercise but also in the way she eats. Instead of eating lots of snacks throughout the day she focuses on eating a good main meal, which contains plenty of protein, fruit and vegetables and avoids carbohydrates such as bread and pasta as they stick in her tummy she laughed whilst rubbing her stomach.  Nicola’s life has changed tremendously and it’s all because she found the right diet, and you can too!

Atkins Diet

The Atkins Diet is one which attempts to cut out carbs almost completely. So if you think this is the diet for you its time to say goodbye to the sugary drinks and snacks, bread and pastas and instead pick up meat, fish and eggs.

-PROS-

 you can lose weight very quickly and it also cuts out all processed carbs and alcohol. Your body will LOVE you.

-CONS-

This diet is great for losing weight however if you don’t want smelly breath then maybe its not the one for you! Due to cutting out carbs it can dry your mouth out and also lead to constipation.

Cambridge Diet

This is a diet which involves buying and eating set replacement  meals which encourages fast weight loss. The diet scheme you follow depends on your current weight and your goal weight. They can range from 450kcal to 1,500kcal. (starvation ’r’ us!)

 -PROS-

the meal replacements give you the nutrition needed to keep your body healthy.

-CONS-

it is only a short-term diet, therefore the positive results can come as quickly as they can go!!!

Slim Fast Diet

This is a meal replacement diet for those who have a BMI of 25+. It consists of three ‘meals’ a day; 2 meal replacement shakes or bars and one normal meal (recipes found on slimfast.co.uk)

-PROS-

No foods are forbidden however it is recommended to eat lean protein with fruit and vegetables.

-CONS-

 there is a risk of putting on the lost weight when you stop using the meal replacements.

Weight Watchers Diet

The Weight Watchers diet is one which allows you to eat everyday food such as pasta, bread, meat, fruit and vegetables! So at least there is no worry about missing out on your weekly takeaway as long as you earn the points for eating healthy! These also consist of group sessions for motivation and advice.  (find out more on weightwatchers.co.uk)

-PROS-

there are no forbidden foods as it teaches you to enjoy foods in moderations, it also teaches you the importance of nutrition from fruit and vegetables.

-CONS-

as there is no set diet, people often fall at the first hurdle due to not having an exact diet plan to follow.

Slimming World Diet

This is a diet which allows you to eat food everyday without worrying about how much you eat or when you eat it. With a “free food” list which has no ‘sins’ you are able to eat as much of it as you like. (Find out more on slimmingworld.com)

-PROS-

there are no banned foods and the portion sizes depend on the plan you choose to follow, therefore the choice is in your hands.

-CONS-

 Slimming World doesn’t educate you about calories therefore once you finish taking part in the sessions you may struggle to keep the weight off.