Now the diet trend on everyone's lips is Alternate Day fasting (ADF), that not only helps weight loss but improves generl health and well-being. We can't help but wonder how it will measure up.
Don't fret it's not about completely starving yourself, but to cut down calorie intake to about 5-600 one day and eat whatever you want to following day. Then back to fasting for a day, and then to eating whatever you want. And so on and so forth.
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An eight-week study on two groups of overweight patients following was carried out by Dr Krista Varady from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Perhaps surprisingly, she discovered that on the non-fasting days dieters could eat whatever they wanted and still reap rewards.
"If you were sticking to your fast days, then in terms of cardiovascular disease risk, it didn't seem to matter if you were eating a high-fat or low-fat diet on your feed (non-fast) days," she said.
Michael Moseley attempted the ADF diet on BBC's Horizon: Eat, Fast and Live Longer, but found the standard ADF diet too difficult to live by. He opted for an alternative version known as 5:2 - involving two days of fasting per week and five days of eating normally.
"I stuck to this diet for 5 weeks, during which time I lost nearly a stone and my blood markers, like IGF-1, glucose and cholesterol, improved. If I can sustain that, it will greatly reduce my risk of contracting age-related diseases like cancer and diabetes."
There is no concrete evidence that the ADF diet works, research is still being carried out.
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Dessert For Breakfast
It sounds too good to be true, but a group of scientists reckon they've figured out how to prevent weight-gain and food cravings - and it involves adding a cookie or a slice of cake to your breakfast.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University's Wolfson Medical Center in Israel believe that dieters would have less trouble fighting off pesky hunger pangs throughout the day if they ate a carbohydrate-rich, protein-packed breakfast - with a helping of dessert.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/06/26/health-dessert-breakfast-weight-loss-food-craving_n_1626701.html" target="_hplink">Read more here.</a>
'Time' To Diet?
Weight may depend as much on when you eat as what, research suggests.
The body clock's effect on metabolism could be an overlooked factor driving obesity, say scientists.
New evidence from studies of mice suggests that 24-hour snacking, especially at night, can pile on the pounds.
Restricting eating to sensible meal times, on the other hand, may help fight the flab - even with big helpings.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/17/health-weight-depends-on-what-time-you-eat_n_1524195.html" target="_hplink">Read more here. </a>
Weight-Loss Glasses
Japanese inventors have designed a hi-tech (and slightly bonkers) device that claims to help people lose weight - and it involves a pair of 'slimming spectacles' that trick the brain into thinking that food is 50% bigger than it really is.
The 'Meta Cookie+' gadget has been developed by a team of researchers from Tokyo University, Japan and was showcased at Tokyo's Digital Content Expo.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/19/japan-dieting-craze-metacookie-slimming-glasses_n_1437782.html" target="_hplink">Read more here.</a>
Nose Drip Diet
An American doctor has sparked a potentially dangerous diet trend by creating a drastic, quick fix weight-loss programme that involves the dieter feeding through a nose drip.
The 'K-E Diet' (or the Ketogenic Enteral Nutrition diet), created by Florida-based Dr Oliver Di Pietro, promises to shed 20lbs in just 10 days and has so far proved popular with brides-to-be wanting to shift weight leading up to their wedding.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/17/k-e-diet-worrying-trend-weight-loss-nose-drip_n_1431618.html" target="_hplink">Read more here.</a>
Cold Baths, No Breakfast and Coffee
According to the author of Six Weeks To OMG: Get Skinnier Than All Your Friends skipping breakfast, drinking coffee and taking cold baths - really help you get thin.
Venice A Fulton is well prepared to challenge his critics and says that many health professionals are already on his side.
"I've already had doctors say they find it refreshing and useful for them," Fulton told <em>Huffpost Lifestyle</em>.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/05/health-six-weeks-to-omg-diet-really-works_n_1650323.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-lifestyle" target="_hplink">Read more here.</a>
We're used to reading up about barmy diets from Six Weeks To OMG which recommends ice-cold baths to the K-E diet involving a 'nose drip'.
Now the diet trend on everyone's lips is Alternate Day fast...
We're used to reading up about barmy diets from Six Weeks To OMG which recommends ice-cold baths to the K-E diet involving a 'nose drip'.
Now the diet trend on everyone's lips is Alternate Day fast...
The basic premise of intermittent fasting, or IF, is to enjoy better health via repeatedly fasting for longer periods than is typical on a daily breakfast-lunch-dinner schedule.
I started alternate day fasting after my future hubby and I watched that Dr. Michael Mosley show on PBS. It has been 6 days and I am blogging about how it is going: http://tryingadf.blogspot.com/. Biggest problem isn't being hungry right now, it is a headache I have been getting.
el_kay7: I started alternate day fasting after my future hubby and
I read about this and I decided to try it. I started Jan 13 and I stuck to it religiously. I ate 600 calories or less every other day. Well I'm impressed. I don't feel hungry and I have lost 75 lbs in just 3 months. I will stick to this diet for the near future increasing my intake slowly and eating more sensibly. Thanks to who ever thought of this!
Justintime007: I read about this and I decided to try it.
Hi all
I have been on this diet for 10 days now. I alternate with a very low carb diet. I had a dodgy knee and could not kneel or bend it beyond a certain point. I am now kneeling and playing all sorts of games on the floor with my kiddies. On a fast day I have breakfast at 6am and do not eat until 6am next day. I drinks loads of water and I have coffee with full fat milk and sweetener once a day. I started off at 100kilos and have not weighed myself since but trousers are falling off and my energy levels are higher
Im starting tomorrow. Will see if it works! But from what I have read it sounds perfect for someone with a fairly active social life.... Heres hoping... Im blogging my journey also - http://declansadf.blogspot.com.au/
declanwinter: Im starting tomorrow. Will see if it works! But from
This sounds very similar to the eating habits my friend (who is a doctor) had about 10 years ago. When she was visiting me, every Monday she would have a bowl of oatmeal or grits with a tablespoon of flaxseed, then drink water all day. The rest of the week she would eat regularly. She also limited her phone calls and conversations, so it was a completely regenerative day for her. From my observation, she seemed so much more centered on Mondays and ready to take on the rest of the week. It was not called a diet per se and her goal was overall good health rather than a focus on weight loss -- but she still follows this practice and is in great health. I tried it a few years ago but did not continue, I think I'm going to give it a go again this coming week.
gumboville: This sounds very similar to the eating habits my friend
I was wondering - Is ONE fruit smoothie okay on the fast day? I'm thinking of trying this and mostly having lemonade sweetened with stevia and melon smoothies on my fast days. think it would be okay?
rkyobo: I was wondering - Is ONE fruit smoothie okay on
My partner and I have been using ADF since the programme aired - just coming to the end of week 12. We eat nothing until the evening - black tea/coffee and 2/3 litres of water only and then stir fry veg with a small piece of chicken or fish. On eating days we eat basically whatever we like and if that is a bar of chocolate or a slice of cake - no problem!
We absolutely love it! We have lost weight steadily, have felt hungry rarely and have both noticed an increase in energy levels and better sleep patterns. Other unexpected benefits - our skin has improved a lot and we both noticed independently how much better food tasted! My partner says he has also noticed a marked improvement in his sense of smell.
This is no fad diet - it's the lifestyle we should all be adopting to combat ever increasing levels of obesity, cancer and heart disease. I feel relieved to have found a painless way of controlling my weight which has the added benefits and couldn't be happier!
Sueneedham: My partner and I have been using ADF since the
The idea of alternate day fasting (ADF) isn't to lose weight, but it's to give the body a chance to repair itself, as demonstrated on the Horizon program. (Losing weight is just a bonus!)
I am reassured by the amount of studies that are being done into researching the health benefits.
From the research done with animals, I was particularly interested to learn that during fasting, cell production is slowed and the body starts repairing existing cells. Another study discovered that during fasting, new neurons grow in the brain.
I started the diet after the Horizon show and following the initial shock to my system (headache and waves of hunger on the first fast) I can honestly say that I now find the fasting "easy" and on my eat days I am generally satisfied with smaller portions.
I have chosen to not eat any solids on my fast days but I do drink water and occasionally several cups of tea with a splash of skimmed milk. Maybe upto a hundred calories (?)
My weight loss has been approx 1.5 lbs a week but that's OK because I'm a stone overweight.
I was recently given a body MOT and my doctor commented that my cholestrol stats are greatly improved from last years results - which then were OK at that time.
I would recommend ADF; it's not difficult; and if I can do it, anyone can.
Andi-cadabra: The idea of alternate day fasting (ADF) isn't to lose
A few years ago I saved a little brown mouse from the jaws of my Bengal cat - the mouse looked to be around 8 weeks old and being the big softy that I am, I decided to keep her and put her in a large Hamster cage with a wheel and tubes etc for activity. Some days she was fed everything that was good for her like blueberries, strawberries, apple and all kinds of nuts etc plus mouse mix from the pet shop. On other days she was fed everything that was bad for her like chips, cheese, pisa chocolate cake and bread etc - infact anything bar meat and fish. Of course she grew big and fat but would exercise regularly on her wheel.She died at the grand age of 3 yrs and 10 months + the age she was when I saved her which makes her about 4 years old - that's twice the average lifespan age of a mouse in captivity!!
I also had a small Dutch lop eared house rabbit ( this breed had an average life span of 5 - 6 years) who was fed in the same way as the mouse - he was put to sleep at the grand age of 10 years old....again twice the average life span.
This proves that there may be some truth in Dr. Krista Varady's theory on alternate day fasting and live longer.
lorraine_Scrimshaw: A few years ago I saved a little brown mouse
It seems to be working for me, was on a low cal diet and going to the gym, felt down not eating, lost a bit of weight then stayed the same for 3 weeks, and then gained a pound,
Started this diet, 3 down days of 500 cals, eating what I want on Tuesday and Thursday and the weekend. Lost 7 pounds. Feel a lot better and have more energy.
I don't feel deprived at all because I know I can have that Chocolate bar tomorrow (not that I usually do).
Unfortunately it goes against everything we are taught about nutrition so there will be a lot of negativity about it being a fad diet. Surely a fad diet means we deprive ourselves though?
Indigobay72: It seems to be working for me, was on a
I've been fasting every other day for around 10 days. On fast days I eat breakfast and nothing else until the following day's breakfast, so it's a 24-hour fast. I also do around 30-45 mins on the exercise bike on the fast days - cardio exercises tend to suppress the appetite. Water helps with some of the hunger pangs, though not all - once or twice I've eaten a piece of toast or fruit to take the edge off.
I've lost more pounds than I expected, but as it's early days I can't yet claim that this is more than the 'water weight' lost more easily in the early stages of a diet. The exercise is certainly another factor of course. I wouldn't recommend ADF (or my version of it) to everyone because 24 hours is, psychologically at least, a long time to go without any food, but I prefer 'no food until tomorrow' rather than the constant worry of portion control, calorie counting and clock watching throughout the day. I get hungry, yes, but not as much as if I was having to think about food all the time.
I haven't experienced any negative side effects - no weakness or dizziness, both of which I'd half expected before I began. On the 'feeding' days I've not really over-compensated - if anything my ability/inclination to eat bigger portions has been reduced.
I'm comfortable with what I'm doing so I'll see how it works for me over the long term.
Nick_Gisburne: I've been fasting every other day for around 10 days.
I am on the ADF and I find it really easy! It's not like you're staving to death. You get 4-500 caloreis plus if I feel hungry I can have water, black tea for the day on the fast days plus my small meal and on eating days you can eat what you like. I look forward to my eating days but don't gorge myself you actually find you don't want to! I also find strangely, that I have more energy when I don't eat anything. On my eat days, I simply eat what I normally eat but just a little more (psychologically, I think I am storing some calories for the next day lol) I am doing this for weight control and health and hoping it will help help prevent brain disease
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The Huffington Post UK | Posted: 22/08/2012 11:59 Updated: 22/08/2012 11:59