Training for Baby: Diet, exercise fads

When I was trying to lose weight for my wedding three years ago, I decided to try the South Beach Diet. The frozen meals were OK (my favorite was the cheese pizza), but the turkey wrap meals (their version of a Lunchable) tasted like cardboard.

I ate that cardboard though because I was getting results.

I used to go to bed hungry every night.

So, I decided to incorporate some elements of the Special K diet – cereal for breakfast and lunch and a protein bar for a snack. By the time I got to my “sensible dinner,” I was ready to chew my arm off!

I ended up losing 10 to 15 pounds during that phase, but I was miserable the entire time.

This time, I had success through good old fashioned diet and exercise. I have never gone to bed hungry this time!

Thinking about past diets got me thinking about the diet and exercise fads we buy into in an effort to lose weight quickly.

A lot of celebrities try juice fasts to lose weight. I would be so miserable doing that!

Have you ever gone on a fad diet?

Have you ever bought a piece of exercise equipment guaranteed to help you drop 10 pounds in two weeks if you only use it 3 times a week for 15 minutes each time?

My mom had a few of these devices in the house when I was growing up. I remember trying out this small resistance device. You put your feet on these pedals on the bottom and then pull up on these bars. A spring creates a resistance. It was impossible to use!

Another one of the infomercial products that made its way through our house was the ab roller, which assisted us with sit-ups. It really only worked upper abs though.

I haven’t purchased any infomercial exercise equipment, but I have been tempted. Especially with that one machine you just hook up to your abs and it creates electrowaves that “tone your muscles.” I like the idea of sitting around and having my muscles tone themselves.

Have you ever bought into a fad and did it work?