Could 2014’s first breakout weight loss plan be an old idea in a new suit?
The new year has begun much the same as every other year since baby Jesus was circumcised – with people swearing vengeance on their own imperfections and vowing to finally grab the reins of life and better themselves. As always, the month of January is rife with self-made, seldom-kept promises, and physical improvement is first and foremost on the list.
Enter the “Every Other Day” diet, this year’s first big dietary regimen, developed by Dr. Krista Varady, Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The “Every Other Day” diet, which is a slight variation on the popular existing idea of intermittent fasting, is a system in which the practitioner eats whatever they choose one day, and then reduces their caloric intake to 25 per cent the following day.
Following experimentation using lab mice, researchers closely monitored voluntary human subjects, and results provided evidence that those who chose to reduce their calories to 25 per cent every other day did not consume 175 per cent of their daily calories the next day. In fact, on average, they only consumed 110 per cent of their normal caloric intake, and therefore the participants succeeded in reducing their overall food intake.
Combined with further endorsement from fitness and nutrition professionals – like Ontario’s own John Berardi, who purports that fasting regimes like the “Every Other Day” diet are not only effective but also easier to adhere to than more traditional, calorie restricting diets –it seems that this approach may be a viable method for those looking to shed holiday pounds.
That being said, the “Every Other Day” diet doesn’t come free from any risks. First and foremost on that list is misinformation. Without proper research, embarking on any kind of diet or fitness regime can be dangerous. If one does not fully understand what it is that they’re doing, how can they understand the new risks and heightened stresses they’re placing upon their bodies?
Amanda Green, a graduate of the Institute of Holistic Nutrition in Mississauga, a dietary specialist and an overall health-nut, believes that this is indeed the biggest risk inherent to fasting plans like this.
“Having not read the actual book,” Green said, “my biggest concern would be that there might be inadequate emphasis placed on the necessary intake of nutrient dense foods. Combined with the increased stress on the metabolism,” she continued, “…if people were to attempt this lifestyle unprepared, they could not only find it hard to adhere to but also risk their personal health.”
In the end, like anything else, weight loss and long-term physical improvement only really requires three things: lifestyle change, commitment, and hard work. No matter the diet flavour of the month, the individual is always their own best friend and worst enemy. We would all do well to keep that in mind before embarking on any kind of diet, we most definitely need to do our homework before spending our hard earned money on the newest glamorized variation of the same old weight-loss testament we hear year in and year out.