A young lady sits in a cubicle, fidgeting and tapping her feet to avoid her face crashing into the desk due to sheer fatigue. From the lack of notes she has written, it is evident that she has a long night of studying ahead of her. Then, suddenly she pulls a water- filled bottle out of her backpack along with a white medicine bottle. She takes some type of pill and seems to instantly be alert. This action peaks your interest, so you introduce yourself and start a conversation. During the course of this conversation you inquire about the medicine she takes, she tells you that they are caffeine pills. She elaborates on her response by informing you that the pills help her stay awake to study but most importantly, they suppress her appetite. Are you in this same predicament? Have you looked in the mirror at the extra pounds you gained over the holidays? Are you being told that you are too fat? Do you feel different from everyone else because you are not a size 2? Or, are you a size 2 and you go CRAZY because you gained a couple of pounds?
Like many college students we often turn to “Fad Diets.” Fad diet is a term used to describe fast, quick, often unhealthy diets that are aimed to lose pounds fast. Although pounds are lost initially, results are often not long lasting.
Many students who are looking to lose weight fast resort to diet pills. Many of these pills include Stackers, Dexatrim, Hydroxycut, Xenadrine EFX, and many more. Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh and the nutritionist for the Pittsburgh Steelers, says the problem with these drugs is that they often contain Ephedra. Ephedra is a central nervous system stimulant that can cause dehydration, stress, and fatigue (often very dangerous for athletes). Often these pills can range from $25.00 – $50.00 a bottle. Bonci says although you may find that pills suppress your appetite and you may lose weight, as a college student, often the weight is regained due to the lack of funds to support your habit.
When the pills don’t work many rely on a diet plan such as one of the following:
1. Fasting
Plan: skipping certain meals of the day or not eating anything for long periods of time
Downfall: slows metabolism which is the mechanism of the body that burns fat and gives you energy
2. Atkins Diet
Plan: cut back on carbohydrate intake; tries to stay within 20-40 grams of carbohydrates per day
Downfall: carbohydrates are needed for metabolism/ energy and brain function
3. Slimfast diet
Plan: liquid diet in which the dieter consumes Slimfast products that are loaded with calories
Downfall: bad on digestive system
4. Liquid Diet
Plan: liquids only
Downfall: very unhealthy, loss in very important nutrients needed for energy and metabolism
5. Sugar Buster
Plan: to reduce sugar intake to prevent overeating in foods with a lot of sugar
Downfall: body will eventually crave sugar and overeating will occur
These are only 5 examples of the many fad diets on the market. No, all fad diets are not bad, but these diets are labeled this way because they are not 100% effective long term. So, the question now is, what does work when losing weight?
Imagine this. You are in the MSC starving because you haven’t eaten all day. You have a choice between a salad filled with vegetables and a bowl of fruit on the side, or a grilled cheese sandwich with a large order of french fries. That’s right! The ultimate weight loss solution is COMMON SENSE! What types of food are going to help you reach your goal? Eating right, daily exercise, and knowledge about your weight/ fitness goals are essential on your journey to getting fit. If you plan to take on a diet plan, seek resources such as books, Internet, experts, and magazines to understand all risks involved. Be smart, safe, and love yourself enough not to hurt yourself!