Extreme diets that promise fast weight loss are typically just fad diets. Such diets go to the extreme as far as calorie restriction, overexercising or cutting out complete food groups. There are five extreme diets that have gotten a lot of attention. The following is a list of these extreme diets, how they work and what the pitfalls are.
The Master Cleanse
This extreme diet goes by many names. It is also referred to as the Hollywood Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, The Lemonade Diet, A Juice Diet and Beyonce's Maple Syrup Diet. The premise of the diet is the same in each of these. It is a fasting diet where you drink a liquid of some type for a set number of days with the intention of cleansing your colon to help lose weight. Many fad diets suggest that dieters follow a cleanse before they begin the official weight loss program. The problem with the Master Cleanse Diet is that the body doesn't get enough calories. It is also a short-lived extreme diet. Someone who follows this type of cleanse and returns to their normal eating habits will immediately regain any weight they lost during the cleanse period.
The Cabbage Soup Diet
This extreme diet is a seven-day plan that offers a limited menu with as much cabbage soup as you can handle. It is meant to kick start your weight loss and is not intended as a long-term weight loss plan. The Cabbage Soup diet is a fad diet that causes the body to go into starvation mode. It provides quick weight loss, but dieters tend to find it hard to stick to the Cabbage Soup Diet because it doesn't offer enough calories to keep them satisfied and they get tired of eating the soup, even if it is available in endless quantities.
Restrictive Calorie Diets
Reducing calories is a common way to lose weight. Taking it to the extremes or following a low-calorie weight loss plan for an extended period of time is not a good way to lose weight and maintain the weight loss, though. Restrictive calorie diets often include meal replacement bars and shakes. Dipping below 1200 calories a day, even as low as 800 calories, puts your body in starvation mode and slows your metabolism. This makes it even harder to lose weight over time, which leads to frustration and eventually getting off track from the diet altogether. Cutting back 250 calories a day is a safer and healthier way to lose weight.
Negative Calorie Diet
This extreme diet makes the claim that the less you eat, the longer you'll live. The idea is to eat foods that take more energy to digest. The meal plans consists mainly of fruits and vegetables. It is a very restrictive diet plan, and therefore is hard for dieters to stick with it. The bottom line is that the Negative Calorie Diet does not provide a balanced diet. Also, like any other extreme diet, once you eat normally again you'll regain all the weight you've lost on the diet.
The Tapeworm Diet
Possible the most extreme diet, the Tapeworm Diet is a fad diet that involves swallowing a cyst. The cyst is then removed by taking medication 10 days later. The parasite shares the calories you consume. The problem with the Tapeworm Diet is that it is unsafe. The sale of tapeworms is banned in the US. It is dangerous for your health to host a parasite. While this weight loss method does provide quick results, it is hardly worth the risks.
While some extreme diets can help you lose weight quickly, they are not long-term plans. Extreme dieting is effective for quick weight loss if you need to lose weight by a certain date, but it is not a healthy life plan. Restrictive diets are not long term solutions. Avoid extreme diets and concentrate on healthy living with a balanced diet to lose weight and maintain the weight loss.
Tracy Rose - Tracy Rose is a powerflifter who holds the state record in deadlifting and has had success in her own weight loss journey.
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