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35 Times People’s Diets Made Everything Worse Instead Of Better
Detox, macros, biohacking, alternate-day fasting, mindful eating... there's always a new buzzword that dominates online algorithms and promises to fix your relationship with food.
And the allure is strong: a recent survey of 2,000 UK adults discovered that 44% of them wouldn’t research a new weight loss method before trying it. However, out of the 56% who have attempted a fad diet, 71% reported that they didn’t achieve their desired weight loss goals, and 11% even gained weight during the process.
@dietitiancass I’ll go first: Bulletproof #dieting ♬ original sound - 🖖
So, dietitian Cassandra Lepore decided to do her own little study and asked people on TikTok to share the worst diet they've tried, receiving a buffet of cautionary tales about the pitfalls of chasing trends.
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#1
Keto. Somehow eating fruits isn’t okay bc they’re “too high in sugar” but eating sticks of butter as a “snacks” is considered healthier?????
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"Probably the most common misconception about dieting is the 'eat kale and move' approach," Iris Gorfinkel, M.D. general practitioner, medical researcher, and the founder of PrimeHealth Family Practice and Clinical Research, told Bored Panda.
"That's actually what people are told. And what does that do? It makes them feel bad about themselves because they ask, 'Well if it's that easy, how come I haven't been able to do it?' It leads to depression and increases obesity by as much as 50%. It's incredible."
#4
I did a diet by a “nutritionist” influencer that was like 700 calories. She would specify stuff like “2 tbsp” of rice, “3 almonds” “half an apple” I was miserable.
"People often don't realize there are over 140 different genes that control and influence weight," Gorfinkel said. "Of course, epigenetic things influence whether or not those genes get expressed, but I think this whole terrible mix starts with people not believing enough in themselves."
Which, again, is largely our collective doing. "Pictures of so-called beautiful people — often unrealistically thin — are constantly shown in the media [and everywhere around us], and the messaging is, 'Eat kale and move', 'What's wrong with you?'"
The doctor believes this is actually the basis of the problem. And it's hard to argue. A survey of 4,250 Good Housekeeping readers discovered that 48% of them disagree or strongly disagree that they are happy with the way their bodies look and feel and 17% said they'd shave years off their lives in exchange for their ideal body.
#6
raw vegan. ate nothing but fruit & veggies for like 2 years. i was the girl in the math problem buying 20 mangos.
"It's not diet, it's not exercise, it's do you believe in yourself? Can you love yourself? Everything else comes from that," Gorfinkel said. "If there is enough self-love, then a person is far more likely to sleep better at night and to be motivated to do the things that improve the way they feel, and that includes exercise. That also includes eating a healthy diet."
If the doctor were to give one piece of advice to those of us who want to make healthy and sustainable changes, it would be to focus on your mental health first.
"It is the foundation to achieving the other tentpoles of wellness, like ensuring a good night's sleep or proper diet," she highlighted.
#11
Thinking 1200 calories was a caloric deficit for me when I’m a combat sports athlete who turns out burns 2500-3000 cals total a day…
#12
I used to count the calories in sticks of gum and be nervous the 5 calories would make me gain weight..
#13
I’ve just always counted cals but in the time I was trying to eat 1200 I would take TEN grapes (yes, ten) and CUT THEM IN HALF so that I could feel I was eating more so yeah.
#20
My friends and I all did the Special K diet in high school where all we ate was 3 bowls of Special K a day 😭😭😭 like WHY was that a thing, no wonder we all always felt awful.
#21
i went two months on liquids i did not eating single solid for two months out of my free will.
#22
probably the peak of my binge eating disorder when i would get mcdonald’s for dinner at 3am every night.
#25
My dad put me on a diet where all I was allowed to eat was carrots (I’m allergic) and tea w/ honey😁✊🏻.
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