By Libby Higham, RDN LD

I just LOVE this time of year!  It’s a time when we can set aside our cares, enjoy wonderful treats, dress up in fun costumes, and enjoy the lightheartedness of Halloween.  In thinking about what to write for the newsletter this week, I was inspired by the Halloween festivities and thought of some things that truly scare me.  I would like to take a short hiatus from the happy-go-lucky candy season, and discuss something serious and rather frightening: Starvation or Fad Dieting.

Starvation diets wear various disguises, though each are spooky.  To name a few: The Master Cleanse, The 5-Bite Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, The HCG Diet, juice cleansing, and an endless list of other ultra-low-calorie diet plans.  Who can ignore these diets when they masquerade under health halo titles such as “Cleanse” or “Detox?”  Heaven knows how tough it is to overlook the celebrity endorsements and promises for “quick,” “painless,” and even “permanent” weight loss.

Do you want to know what is really scary?  I totally get it- even I am intrigued by the claims!!  As a registered dietitian who has received years of education, and witnesses the harmful effects of these fad diets every day, I still see the enticing aspects of a quick fix diet plan.  Who wouldn’t want to drop 5 or 10 pounds this month?  Who doesn’t want to feel more confident in their body?

Just as there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is no such thing as a quick fix diet.  The problem with these diets isn’t that they don’t work, or that their ads are deceiving you.  In fact, they probably work and will (most likely) help you lose weight.  The problem occurs once the dieting stops or the diet stops working.

Sadly, both the body and mind are affected by starvation.  During the dieting phase, our metabolism slows down to accommodate a lower caloric intake- and this change does not suddenly stop once the diet ends.  The diet leaves behind remnants; fatigue, sluggishness, constipation, bloating, dehydration, malnutrition, and in many cases, the rebound weight gain is larger than the initial weight lost during the diet.  Let’s examine the big picture: while losing weight via fad dieting is challenging and empowering– gaining the weight back or failing at the diet is humiliating and painful.  Thus, the cycle is repeated, and we are left convinced that the diet is the answer, and that we are the problem.

So the question is, “If starvation dieting doesn’t work, what does?”

Fad diets aren’t going away.  Old ones will be recycled, new ones will be reinvented, and people will fall for them over and over again.  Humans are emotional and impatient creatures- so the temptation to try a fad diet (or something else drastic) will always be there.  Fortunately, a few simple shifts in your outlook can keep you out of harm’s way, and on the right path.

1.  Make health your primary goal; yes, even above the number on the scale or what size of jeans you wear.  This alone can protect you from the impulse-decision to fad-diet.

2.  Find enjoyment in the journey of healthy living.  Consistently striving for a lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, quality sleep, and appropriate exercise is the only way to ensure long-term results.

The best diet is not a diet at all.  No tricks!  Rather, health and wellness are achieved through a lifestyle of healthy habits.  If you feel caught in the Fad Diet cycle, don’t become discouraged!  Instead, I urge you to seek help from a registered dietitian, who can help you realign your lifestyle with your health vision.

In honor of National Chocolate Day on October 28th, today’s recipe is a surprisingly healthy and delicious breakfast (that will still give you your chocolate fix), Chocolate German Pancakes with Berries and Cream.  Happy Halloween!