Weight Loss Diets Examined

Fad Diets & Dieting Fads: Do they work?

Meal Replacement diets: Do they work any better than your average diet?

Meal replacement has become popular as a means of losing weight. The most well known is “Slim Fast”. Walk into any supermarket or grocery store and chances are you'll see Slim Fast shakes, Slim Fast bars, and other products displayed. Many other companies are entering this lucrative meal replacement market. Recently, Kellogg’s Special K has joined with their Special K 2 Week Challenge.

The Slim Fast plan is easy one to follow. In all likelihood, that's the only good thing about it, it is so easy. You have one of their products for breakfast, and then another for lunch along with 200 calories of whatever food you would like. For dinner, you eat about 500 calories. You can also have three 120 calorie snacks between meals. This could be one of their snack products or some fruit or vegetables.

The Special K challenge is similar. For breakfast, you eat a bowl of special k with skim milk and fruit. You then replace another meal with either more cereal, or a special K protein bar. Your third meal should be “normal”. You are allowed to have two more snacks which can be Special K protein snack bars, cereal bars or snack bites. It is also recommend that you drink water, eat fruits and vegetables for additional snacks.

Do these diets work? They do! - At first. Anytime you consume fewer calories than you have been, you're going to lose some weight. But these diets should not be used long term. Why?

First, you are not be getting enough calories and nutrients that your body requires. Secondly, the ingredients in the Slim Fast shakes are not as nutritious as their advertising would have you believe. As for the Special K program, we know cereal is good for you.

But what about all the new replacement bars they peddle? Is there really any value to them? Not according to nutrition experts and dietitians. Besides. the Special K challenge is only supposed to last for two weeks. What happens afterwards and you resume your regular eating? Be careful. If you can't control your eating after the two week period, you may gain weight with a vengeance. The same with Slim Fast. It's impossible, impractical, and down right dangerous to stay on these programs for any length of time.

Meal replacement diets are very temporary measures. They do not offer lasting result. If you have to lose a lot of weight, stay away from these. Most people who use Slim Fast or Special K do so if they're looking to drop a quick five pounds for an upcoming event. But to use it for serious weight loss is foolish. For serious weight loss, stick with diets that offer a permanent solution. This usually means new habits regarding food.