Okay, so I cant help it but I am going to have to go on a little rant here. Click here to check out a disturbing article on the Twinkie Diet. Gross. The reason I went into the field of nutrition is because I felt so frustrated by all the misinformation out there. I was fed up with reading magazines about new fad diet that are unrealistic and not sustainable.
Do not be conned! Twinkies are not the key to a slim waist or a healthy heart.
1. The article talks about how Haub “got healthier” by the end of the diet because he lost weight and his cholesterol went down. FACT: To lower your cholesterol all you have to do is lower caloric intake. No matter what you eat, if you start eating fewer calories you will lose weight. Twinkies did not help this man lose weight—he just dropped his total daily calories. Why do you think so many people lowered their cholesterol on the Atkins diet? By eating bacon and steak? Nope. By eating fewer calories.
2. Just because you are thin does not mean you re healthy. Haub may have lost 27 pounds but if you lose all your muscle mass, have visceral fat (weight around your belly) and do not eat a healthy diet full of nutrients you are not healthy. You may fit into a smaller clothing size and people may not be able to see it from looking at you, but it is all not all about the number on the scale. It is necessary to eat to nutritious foods! Processed foods cannot be a staple in your diet.
3. One thing about this article is true. Dialing in your nutrition is essential for weight loss. Many people think that exercise is the key to weight loss but if you do not focus on your nutrition, weight loss is going to be tricky. It is important to find a caloric level that allows you to lose weight while feeling satisfied or it will not be sustainable. Exercise is key for weight maintenance. Keeping weight off for the long term requires an exercise plan.
Too many of us live our lives based on lies and nutrition myths. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regular, manage stress and be sure to treat and pamper yourself. While there is no quick fix or easy way to do it, finding a balance feels pretty darn fantastic. You can do it!