A quick internet search on diets will yield countless results, so it’s important to know what’s legit and what’s fantasy. A good rule of thumb is that you need to understand that effective diets will always be a combination of consuming fewer calories and regular exercise. They are hard work, so a good rule of thumb is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Hope Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has four examples of diets or diet products that will waste your time and money. 

• Diet Creams

Here’s an example of a “miraculous” product that sounds too good to be true. There are creams on the market that claim that if you rub them in areas you want to lose fat, they will “melt” the fat away. Nutritionists say this is not possible without eating properly and exercising regularly.

• Brief Workouts

You may remember the “8-Minute Abs” series or the seven-minute workouts that are popular today. Experts say that exercising for only a short period of time per day will not make a noticeable difference. Federal recommendations say you should have around 30 minutes per day of moderate-intensity exercise, five days per week.

• Detoxifying Drinks

Several celebrities swear by detoxifying teas and other drinks that lead them to weight loss. The problem is that these drinks replace meals, so any weight loss is usually associated with losing water weight and dangerously low-calorie intake, so it’s not a sustainable dieting method.

• No-Carb Diet

You may remember the Atkins Diet and other no-carb spinoffs. These are generally a successful way to lose weight initially, but the diet will leave you feeling moody and lethargic, especially if you are an active person. The key is eliminating empty carbs (white bread, pasta) and keeping good carbs like whole grains and sweet potatoes.

To learn more about Hope Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://hope-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.