Crash Diets: They Can Work But Be Careful

By Team Beachbody

There are many trendy "crash diets" that seem to be in vogue at any given time. The reason for this is that so many people become overwhelmed when they think about the long-term commitment that it takes to have a fit and healthy body. Instead, they look for the quick fix that crash diets offer. Health experts often blast these diets, and for good reason. Most contain practices that you wouldn't want to work into your life-long daily habits.

On the other hand, regardless of possible perils, these diets will always be around and always be practiced. Some of them can work. You may lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. Sure, it may only be temporary but that doesn't outweigh the fact that you want to look good for, say, a fast approaching party or reunion.

Here are a few nutritional guidelines that, if you insist on crash dieting, will help you do it effectively and safely:

1. Water, the great supplement. Your body is made up of primarily water and, while most crash diets involve a lot of dehydration (hence the reason you don't keep the weight off), drinking water at the right time can help curb your appetite. Drink two large glasses of water 30 minutes before every meal and you'll find yourself less hungry. This is the safest and one of the most effective diet "tricks" in the book!
2. Alcohol, skip it. Many people would lose weight if they did nothing but stop drinking. Alcohol slows your metabolism. Any crash diet attempts to boost your metabolism. Beyond this fact, alcohol is high caloric and makes you hungry.
3. Ditch the salt. Sodium causes your body to retain water outside of your cells, which is nothing short of "water weight," and exactly the kind of weight you want to dump.
4. Ditto for sugar, which causes a blood-sugar spike, raising insulin levels and slowing your metabolism. Lose the sugar and the weight will follow.
5. Take some nutritional supplements. Vitamins will make sure that you get most of the nutrients that you're leaving out so that your body continues to function normally. Take them right before a meal with another glass of water and they'll reduce your appetite even further, and mentally reduce the stress that you aren't getting enough nutrients (which, by the way, you still may not be).

Last time we talked about high-protein diets with trepidation. If ever, this is the time you want to try one. Don't consume any carbohydrates at night, only during the day when you will burn them straight off. This will help your body to use stored fat as fuel. It may also promote dehydration, which you will want for this type of thing, but you won't let it get dangerous because you will be consuming lots of water, right?

Lastly, do not crash diet for more than a couple of weeks - and a month is the absolute maximum to consider - and be careful with crash diets in combination with suddenly increased exercise levels. (That means all of you folks in the middle of Power 90^® - trust the program and don't crash diet while you're on it.) If you return from your crash diet to a truly healthy diet and avoid bingeing (which can cause you to gain the weight right back in a matter of days), you may find a short interval of crash dieting to be effective.