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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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
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?????
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"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
when my mum made me do slimming world at the ripe age of 11😔.
Always Tired 3 days 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.
#4
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 2 days ago
I swear these pseudo "nutritionists on youtube don't actually follow the horrible advice they give.
"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.
#6
raw vegan. ate nothing but fruit & veggies for like 2 years. i was the girl in the math problem buying 20 mangos.
#7
i did an egg fast and on the third day i s**t myself in the car.
"It's not diet, it's not exercise, it's do you believe in yourself? Can you love yourself? Everything else comes from that," Gorfinkel said. "If there is enough self-love, then a person is far more likely to sleep better at night and to be motivated to do the things that improve the way they feel, and that includes exercise. That also includes eating a healthy diet."
If the doctor were to give one piece of advice to those of us who want to make healthy and sustainable changes, it would be to focus on your mental health first.
"It is the foundation to achieving the other tentpoles of wellness, like ensuring a good night's sleep or proper diet," she highlighted.
#8
cabbage soup diet. the smell of it will make me throw up now.
Tyranamar Seuss 3 days 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.
#9
Am I the only one who’s unhealthy diet was overeating.
#10
One apple a day. It didn’t keep the doctor away when I went to the hospital.
Michael Largey 2 days ago
An apple a day keeps the doctor away only if you hurl it with great force.
#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 2 days 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..
#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
My mom told me I had to stop keto because I was too mean.
StrangeOne 2 days ago
So that's why my keto pushing, now ex-friend was so mean to me on our first meet up in 15 years.
#15
freshman year me learned what “water fasting” was !! very very bad idea 😍.
#16
The one after I found out what calories were and decided I didn’t need them.
#18
The one where you give yourself an irreparable relationship with food.
Michael P. 2 days 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.
#19
i would eat 2 eggs a day and when i would start feeling hungry i would go to bed.
#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 2 days 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 2 days 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.
Peeka_Mimi 2 days ago
I had an eating disorder because I grew up poor and stayed poor well into adulthood. When I finally could afford to eat 3x a day, I went a little nuts. Since I regulated, I've lost 118lbs and only need to lose about 25 more pounds.
#23
“I don’t eat anything and then when I’m about to faint I eat a cube of cheese.”
#24
My dad put me on a diet where all I was allowed to eat was carrots (I’m allergic) and tea w/ honey😁✊🏻.
#25
I had coffee for 3 days straight and by hour 40 I puked coffee.
Petra Peitsch 2 days 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.
#27
I didn’t eat on my period. All I had was water and gum.
#28
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) 2 days 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.
Alex Mosby 2 days ago
I've never tried to go on a weight loss diet but I did try to go *healthy* cold turkey a few times. I gave up sugary drinks a million times before I tried weening myself off over a few months. Other than an occasional milkshake, and the lactose intolerant side effects, I haven't had sweet drinks since 2016. I do miss orange juice.
#33
✨water and air diet✨.
#34
One jar of Nutella per day coz one jar was equal to your daily calorie needs 😅.
Tyranamar Seuss 3 days ago
Gross. Just eating a jar of Nutella. Yuck. We do crazy things to ourselves.
#35
THE iu diet at the ripe age of 13.
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 2 days 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.
Denise Melek 1 day ago
I feel this. It was such a mess, like managing two lifes. Good for everyone who overcome this!
WonderWoman 2 days 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 2 days 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.
LauraDragonWench 2 days ago
My dad was on the grapefruit diet back in the early 80s. (The diet's been around since the 1930s. Basically you suck down a grapefruit for every meal and really cut down on calories - like, starvation-level calorie reduction.) I think my dad, who's 6'6" and weighed close to 275 lbs when he started the diet, only ate about 700 calories a day. Yeah, he lost a c**p-ton of weight, but once the diet ended, guess what? He gained back the weight and then some, and it no doubt screwed up his metabolism permanently.
E Menendez 2 days 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.
Denise Melek 1 day ago
I feel this. It was such a mess, like managing two lifes. Good for everyone who overcome this!
WonderWoman 2 days 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 2 days 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.
LauraDragonWench 2 days ago
My dad was on the grapefruit diet back in the early 80s. (The diet's been around since the 1930s. Basically you suck down a grapefruit for every meal and really cut down on calories - like, starvation-level calorie reduction.) I think my dad, who's 6'6" and weighed close to 275 lbs when he started the diet, only ate about 700 calories a day. Yeah, he lost a c**p-ton of weight, but once the diet ended, guess what? He gained back the weight and then some, and it no doubt screwed up his metabolism permanently.
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