It is very easy to jump on the FAD diet train in hopes of getting similar results to other people. A fad diet is the promise of quick weight loss by following a very specific and structured eating plan. I’m sure at least 90% of you have tried a fad diet before.
Some common fad diets around today are…
Paleo Diet – ancestral foods
Autoimmune Paleo Diet – modified paleo diet for inflammation
Ketogenic Diet – high fat low carb
Gluten Free Diet – no gluten
Vegan Diet – No animal based food products
Whole food plant based Diet – similar to vegan but no processed foods
Calorie counting – moving more and eating less
All of these diets have benefits and the reason they become popular is because a handful of people have some seriously amazing results.
Why FAD Diets Don’t Work For Everyone
You might also hear of people doing fad diets for a couple months, maybe a year, and they feel great in the beginning but then they hit a wall and start to feel sick again. These diets don’t work for everyone and that is OK! Most people associate these diets not working for them as a failure and they feel hopeless. Most of the time there is a biological explanation for WHY the diet didn’t work!
Everyone is different and there is no “one diet fits all.” It is about finding the specific diet that YOUR body thrives on. It doesn’t mean that you failed, or that you have a character issue, it’s about your unique genetic makeup and that way of eating doesn’t work for your body.
For some people their genes allow them to thrive on a high plant-based or vegan diet. Their body is able to absorb all the nutrients they are eating and use it for energy. Other people’s ancestors may have thrived on a meat-heavy diet which makes their genes more equipped to handle a protein-dense diet. If your genes tell you that your body thrives on a high protein, high-fat diet and you’re only eating vegetables, you’re doing yourself a disservice even though you are eating healthily.
The problem, and how these fad diets come to be, is because if a certain diet works for one person, they begin to think EVERYONE should eat that way. There was a time in my life when I was eating a certain way and feeling great. I believed that if everyone was eating like I was, all their problems would go away. My wife, kids, and patients taught me that everyone’s diet should be unique to them because we all thrive on different foods.
The Calories In Versus Calories Out “Diet”
Another fad “diet” is the idea of calorie restriction or the “move more, eat less” mantra. There is a huge misconception around calorie restriction because that says that you can eat the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) in moderation. Well, the S.A.D. is not real food and for most people with chronic health issues, there are certain foods the body can not tolerate at all.
Calorie counting is very tedious and can become consuming and overwhelming. Having a calorie restrictive mindset is unhealthy because constantly focusing on what you “can’t” have puts you in deprivation mode. Will power can only last so long when we are in a state of deprivation before we cheat. If you focus too heavily on calories out via exercise it is easy to get in the habit of exercising to “make up” for eating too much. No amount of exercise can make up for a poor diet. Exercise should not be a punishment it should be therapeutic and healing for the body.
Customized Diets
I make sure every one of my patients has their own customized diet. I do this first by running tests which include a genetic, blood, and urine test. I also do a full exam to determine what foods your body is showing sensitivities to so I can tailor a diet to you. In my office, everyone starts on the same diet, called the “autoimmune paleo diet” and it is structured like an elimination diet. Over the course of 3-6 months, you will have completely cleaned up your diet. By the end you will know what foods your body is sensitive to so you can stop guessing. I’m not looking for the right fad diet for you. I am looking for what foods strengthen and weaken your system. After a lifetime of dieting, I can promise you that after just a few months you will have a personalized and customized diet and know exactly what foods set you off.
If you are tired of the yo-yo effect of FAD diets, struggle with resistant weight loss, or food sensitivities contact my office and schedule a consultation!
Dr. Steve Puckette
