Are Quick Fix Diets Ever Worth It?

Why do we look for instant weight-loss solutions?

Whether you’ve indulged in a few too many ice creams over the summer or, like me, you’re a seasoned dieter, this time of year we’re bombarded with quick-fix diets and nutritional advice offering fast results. As the weather cools and we swap loose summer clothes for more fitted options, the urge to get rid of those extra pounds quickly becomes all too tempting.

It’s easy to believe that a new diet plan or “magic” ingredient will be the solution to losing that holiday weight. But before jumping into another crash diet, it’s worth asking—what are we really signing up for?

Quick Fix #1: The Juice Cleanse

Juice cleanses are still being marketed as a quick way to detox and lose weight fast, but many of them are little more than glorified fruit water. One cleanse I recently saw was basically cucumber and watermelon (both over 90% water) with a touch of apple cider vinegar and stevia “to taste.”

While drinking water is good for hydration, relying on liquid-based diets alone won’t keep you full, especially if you're not consuming anything substantial. This approach isn’t a sustainable weight loss method, and once you start eating solid food again, you’ll likely overeat to compensate for feeling deprived.

Bottom line: Water-heavy cleanses won’t keep you full, especially as the cooler months approach.

Quick Fix #2: Cutting Carbs or Fats

Low-carb and low-fat diets are still popular, with promises of fast weight loss. However, cutting out entire food groups isn’t practical for most of us, particularly if you live with others—children, for example, thrive on carb-heavy foods like pasta!

Instead of eliminating carbs or fats completely, it’s more effective to focus on balanced meals that include healthy lifestyle changes. Removing key nutrients can make a diet difficult to maintain and may lead to cravings or binges down the line.

Bottom line: Opt for balance rather than deprivation when making food choices.

Quick Fix #3: Extreme Calorie Restrictions

I’ve lost weight with very low-calorie diets in the past, so I understand the appeal of seeing the scales drop quickly. But, like many others, I’ve also experienced the inevitable weight regain once I resumed normal eating habits.

While strict calorie restrictions may provide fast results, they’re hard to maintain, especially when you have to cook different meals for others in your household. Plus, after summer indulgences, shocking your system with drastic cuts can make it feel like you’re continuing the cycle of feast and famine.

Bottom line: Drastically cutting calories may offer quick results, but it’s rarely sustainable and leads to yo-yo dieting.

Quick Fix #4: Intermittent Fasting Plans

Intermittent fasting has gained popularity in recent years, with plans like 16:8 or 12:12, where you restrict eating to specific windows of time. While fasting itself can have some benefits, many of these plans—often tied to subscription apps—dictate not just when but what you should eat.

For instance, some plans suggest skipping breakfast and having only lemon water, then limiting your food intake to low-calorie soups and nuts. This level of restriction often reduces your fasting window without offering substantial nutrition, and it doesn’t consider your individual lifestyle, activity level, or dieting history.

Bottom line: Fasting can be an option, but overly prescriptive plans might not work for everyone, especially in colder months when our bodies naturally crave more sustenance.

Quick Fix #5: New "Miracle" Supplements

It seems there’s always a new “miracle” supplement that promises to burn fat while you continue to enjoy your favourite foods. From fat-burning tablets to slimming teas, these products are often marketed as an easy way to lose weight without changing your diet.

However, magic supplements don’t address the underlying habits that led to weight gain in the first place. Additionally, many of these products have dubious ingredients, and the claims they make are often unsupported by scientific evidence. Rather than investing in supplements, it’s better to focus on mindful eating and long-term healthy lifestyle changes.

Bottom line: Supplements might lighten your wallet, but they won’t fix your relationship with food.

Sustainable Health Over Quick Fixes

Rapid weight loss can be motivating at first, but we all know that weight rarely comes off as quickly as it seems to go on. Instead of relying on fad diets and quick fixes, focusing on sustainable health and balanced, long-term approaches will yield better results over time.

By choosing lifestyle changes that work for you—whether it’s practising mindful eating or creating balanced meals—you’ll be able to avoid the rollercoaster of crash diets and find a more positive, sustainable path to well-being.