With new software updates every other day and the zeal to keep up with the fast-paced life, we have begun to seek shortcuts in our basic lifestyle also.

A new trend, therefore, has mushroomed called- Fad Dieting. We are fully aware of the importance of daily exercising but we are neither determined enough to spare 15 minutes for our health nor we are patient to wait and lose the extra fat through longer-lasting methods.

This blind race to look healthy but not actually invest in it for long has encouraged the concept of Fad Dieting. What it actually involves is increasing the intake of certain nutrients and completely decreasing or dialing down the consumption of the other one.

As kids, we all thought that healthy eating involves a balanced diet but certain misconceptions and the skillful marketing of bartering our insecurities for monetary profits have made people deny the fact that this may be harmful to our overall development.

The guarantee that all fad diets promise are:

Let us see why these guarantees are not completely true.

#1 There is no shortcut to success (or a healthy lifestyle).

If we believe we can instantly lose weight within a month- we are probably correct! Now, the question arises, do we need to lose WEIGHT or the UNHEALTHY FAT? Sounds a bit confusing, right?

The weight loss may occur due to loss of muscle, water or fat. It is the fat loss we should strive for not the former two.

Interestingly, on a weighing scale, a pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh the same but they look entirely different on one's body. Ever wondered why sports persons look fit yet weigh more than they actually seem? This is because they have a nutritious diet comprising almost all kinds of nutrients (even the ones containing fat) but it is optimized to build muscle and avoid fat storage.

Cutting down on carbohydrates reduces water stored in our body which reduces our overall weight, hence the disillusion of "losing weight".

#2 A healthy mind resides in a healthy body (not a starved one)!

We are promised a better focus in life with a firm and almost unrealistic determination to control our urge to have that plate of chhole-bhatoore or our favorite dessert.

Although, not all diets are so extreme in nature, yet, generally we end up regretting the "unhealthy sugar or oil" we ate. Ironically, we tend to binge-eat!

All doctors ask us to avoid eating from outside or junk food. They do not, however, ask us to completely shun the unholy street food. It is because once in a while eating outside satisfies our senses and we even have a good time hanging out, socializing.

Unless we are aware of our boundaries we can enjoy a balanced diet with a side dish of fast food.

#3 Carbohydrates, proteins are a good source of energy.

Our body is a complex system. Some nutrients it assimilates from our daily diet while some need to be taken from other sources.

For example, vegans have to opt for Vitamin B12 tablets as this is found in dairy products or other animal food sources only which are not incorporated in a Vegan lifestyle.

Similarly, if we decide to completely ignore one or more nutrient intake while encouraging the other, in the long run, it is not a feasible method of losing weight and may cause a deficiency in our body.

The best way out is to study the type of body structure we have, where does our body tend to store fat, how to build muscle and opt for a change in lifestyle instead of chasing a diet.

The best way is to consult a nutritionist or a doctor who will give you the true and correct advice.

Love yourself as you are and strive for a healthy body by adopting healthier ways!