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Detox, macros, biohacking, alternate-day fasting, mindful eating... there's always a new buzzword that dominates online algorithms and promises to fix your relationship with food.
And the allure is strong: a recent survey of 2,000 UK adults discovered that 44% of them wouldn’t research a new weight loss method before trying it. However, out of the 56% who have attempted a fad diet, 71% reported that they didn’t achieve their desired weight loss goals, and 11% even gained weight during the process.
So, dietitian Cassandra Lepore decided to do her own little study and asked people on TikTok to share the worst diet they've tried, receiving a buffet of cautionary tales about the pitfalls of chasing trends.
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#2
Keto. Somehow eating fruits isn’t okay bc they’re “too high in sugar” but eating sticks of butter as a “snacks” is considered healthier?????
"Probably the most common misconception about dieting is the 'eat kale and move' approach," Iris Gorfinkel, M.D. general practitioner, medical researcher, and the founder of PrimeHealth Family Practice and Clinical Research, told Bored Panda.
"That's actually what people are told. And what does that do? It makes them feel bad about themselves because they ask, 'Well if it's that easy, how come I haven't been able to do it?' It leads to depression and increases obesity by as much as 50%. It's incredible."
#3
raw vegan. ate nothing but fruit & veggies for like 2 years. i was the girl in the math problem buying 20 mangos.
#4
i did an egg fast and on the third day i s**t myself in the car.
"People often don't realize there are over 140 different genes that control and influence weight," Gorfinkel said. "Of course, epigenetic things influence whether or not those genes get expressed, but I think this whole terrible mix starts with people not believing enough in themselves."
Which, again, is largely our collective doing. "Pictures of so-called beautiful people — often unrealistically thin — are constantly shown in the media [and everywhere around us], and the messaging is, 'Eat kale and move', 'What's wrong with you?'"
The doctor believes this is actually the basis of the problem. And it's hard to argue. A survey of 4,250 Good Housekeeping readers discovered that 48% of them disagree or strongly disagree that they are happy with the way their bodies look and feel and 17% said they'd shave years off their lives in exchange for their ideal body.
#5
I did a diet by a “nutritionist” influencer that was like 700 calories. She would specify stuff like “2 tbsp” of rice, “3 almonds” “half an apple” I was miserable.
StrangeOne 19 hours ago
I swear these pseudo "nutritionists on youtube don't actually follow the horrible advice they give.
#6
when my mum made me do slimming world at the ripe age of 11😔.
Always Tired 21 hours ago (edited)
Your mum shouldn't have made you do it so young. While eating healthily is important, you need decent food when you're growing.
#8
cabbage soup diet. the smell of it will make me throw up now.
Tyranamar Seuss 21 hours ago
Ah, we did this as a family when I was a child. What I remembered was that we were pretty hungry and our farts smelled awful. And we quit after only a few days.
#10
Am I the only one who’s unhealthy diet was overeating.
#11
Thinking 1200 calories was a caloric deficit for me when I’m a combat sports athlete who turns out burns 2500-3000 cals total a day…
Warren Peece 7 hours ago
If you use 2500-3000 a day, then 1200 calories a day was a caloric deficit for you. What is your point?
#12
I used to count the calories in sticks of gum and be nervous the 5 calories would make me gain weight..
Huddo's sister 15 hours ago
My mum went through a calorie counting period. She would only have half a cup of coffee because she didn't want the calories of a full one. This was when she was about 17/18 or so, before I was born.
#13
I’ve just always counted cals but in the time I was trying to eat 1200 I would take TEN grapes (yes, ten) and CUT THEM IN HALF so that I could feel I was eating more so yeah.
#14
The one after I found out what calories were and decided I didn’t need them.
#15
i would eat 2 eggs a day and when i would start feeling hungry i would go to bed.
#17
My mom told me I had to stop keto because I was too mean.
StrangeOne 20 hours ago
So that's why my keto pushing, now ex-friend was so mean to me on our first meet up in 15 years.
#18
freshman year me learned what “water fasting” was !! very very bad idea 😍.
#19
The one where you give yourself an irreparable relationship with food.
Michael P. 17 hours ago (edited)
If you ever watch "My 600-Ib Life" on TLC, the people on that show have an unhealthy relationship with food. Many of them had traumatic experiences growing up and so turn to food for comfort. They often have large meals that can feed a family of four.
#20
My friends and I all did the Special K diet in high school where all we ate was 3 bowls of Special K a day 😭😭😭 like WHY was that a thing, no wonder we all always felt awful.
StrangeOne 19 hours ago
Never was a cornflake girl. Thought it was a good solution hanging with the raisin girls.
#21
i went two months on liquids i did not eating single solid for two months out of my free will.
StrangeOne 19 hours ago
There are some days I just feel like drinking smoothies and coffee, and I don't want to eat anything that requires moving my jaw around.
#22
probably the peak of my binge eating disorder when i would get mcdonald’s for dinner at 3am every night.
#23
I had coffee for 3 days straight and by hour 40 I puked coffee.
Petra Peitsch 19 hours ago
I did this once but not for weight-loss. Literally I coiuldn''t eat anything, without throwing up right away. Affter weeks, it turned out, I have Pancreatitis caused by gallstones.After 2 weeks in hospital, from what 1 was in intensive care, it took like half a year to recover at some level.Guys, I really advice you to forget about any energy-drink.
#24
“I don’t eat anything and then when I’m about to faint I eat a cube of cheese.”
#25
My dad put me on a diet where all I was allowed to eat was carrots (I’m allergic) and tea w/ honey😁✊🏻.
#26
I didn’t eat on my period. All I had was water and gum.
#27
Broccoli, tuna, and 100 cal bags of popcorn for 6 months.
#30
Herbalife in college, lost 40 lbs, but I didn’t eat and it was sooooo expensive.
#31
The tumblr ED “diet” in 2011 (ABC anything but calories).
LakotaWolf (she/her) 13 hours ago
For those wondering, this one is EXTREMELY dangerous: https://www.theforkclinic.com/post/abc-diet-dangers-alternatives-ana-boot-camp-diet
#32
one meal a day in college before graduation.
DeoManus Argentem 4 hours ago
I only eat one meal a day, for around the last ten years or so. Not to save money or lose weight, though. Started out of necessity due to time constraints while I was working because I just didn't have time, and if I had a few minutes I didn't want to rush - much preferred having a large leisurely meal when I got home. I'm 41 and active, and still do this because I like it and don't get hungry during the day, even though I've been retired for five years now and have plenty of time for eating or whatever.
#33
✨water and air diet✨.
#34
THE iu diet at the ripe age of 13.
#35
One jar of Nutella per day coz one jar was equal to your daily calorie needs 😅.
Tyranamar Seuss 21 hours ago
Gross. Just eating a jar of Nutella. Yuck. We do crazy things to ourselves.
Note: this post originally had 54images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
Poll Question
What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of dieting?
Restrictive food choices
Social pressure
Lack of variety
Feeling constantly hungry
What do you think ?
E Menendez 18 hours ago (edited)
I lived off of cigarettes and coffee while eating less than 700 calories a day and running 3 miles a day. I was 5'7" and a size zero. I did not look healthy at all and I had colds all the time. I am in a better place in my life now.
WonderWoman 7 hours ago
Diets are designed to FAIL - because if dieting were successful no one would need them anymore. Societal misinformation permeates that you are overweight because you are lazy and if only you exercise you'd be thin, it is wrong.
V 1 hour ago
Back in the late 90's/early 00's everyone was on some kind of diet. Every girl.in my school was on a diet. It was insane. Even though I was skinny, with low muscle tone, I still tried diets just to fit in with the other girls. The special K diet was the big one for a while. And the Atkins diet.
Apatheist Account2 6 hours ago
I used to have 3 sandwiches for lunch (6 slices) and decided to cut down. Went to 2 and crisps, then 2, then 1 and crisps. Do it slowly, cut down to taking in fewer calories than you burn up, and you'll lose weight. Nothing magical about it.
E Menendez 18 hours ago (edited)
I lived off of cigarettes and coffee while eating less than 700 calories a day and running 3 miles a day. I was 5'7" and a size zero. I did not look healthy at all and I had colds all the time. I am in a better place in my life now.
WonderWoman 7 hours ago
Diets are designed to FAIL - because if dieting were successful no one would need them anymore. Societal misinformation permeates that you are overweight because you are lazy and if only you exercise you'd be thin, it is wrong.
V 1 hour ago
Back in the late 90's/early 00's everyone was on some kind of diet. Every girl.in my school was on a diet. It was insane. Even though I was skinny, with low muscle tone, I still tried diets just to fit in with the other girls. The special K diet was the big one for a while. And the Atkins diet.
Apatheist Account2 6 hours ago
I used to have 3 sandwiches for lunch (6 slices) and decided to cut down. Went to 2 and crisps, then 2, then 1 and crisps. Do it slowly, cut down to taking in fewer calories than you burn up, and you'll lose weight. Nothing magical about it.
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