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Holiday season’s here already, and desperate times call for desperate measures. We swore we’d be good, but those trans-fatty treats were just too tempting. In a bid to sculpt our beach bodies fast, we look to the celebs in the hope that they’ll have the quick-fix slimming solutions we need – no gym required. But by the looks of things, they’re just as a diet-clueless as we are.
Ladies, learn to love your muffin tops; fellas embrace the dad bod. Whatever you do, don’t try these shocking celeb fitness fads.
Waist Training
It was everything Emmeline Pankhurst fought for: women crushing their cores 3-4 hours a day in tight latex to achieve a super-tiny waist. Sounds ridiculous, but it’s exactly what Kim K does to sculpt her enviable hourglass figure. She’s the biggest advocate of waist training around, and isn’t afraid to show off the results. But is it healthy?
In a word, no. As we know, there’s no such thing as a shortcut. And whilst cinching your waist for an uncomfortable amount of time may have an indirect effect on weight loss; in reality, it provides no fat-burning benefits.
Rather than tightening the tummy muscles and strengthening the core, waist training does nothing to stimulate the muscles and can actually weaken the area over time. According to Professor Caroline Apovian of the Boston University School of Medicine, the effects of waist training are nothing but temporary – there’s no evidence to imply that it ‘reshapes the body or triggers fat loss.’
What’s more, waist training brings a whole host of other potential health issues. Excessive constriction and compression of the abdomen can damage internal organs and reduce blood flow to the rest of the body. Leave the corsets to the Victorian age ladies.
The Clay Diet-Detox
Not the most appetising of meals, but Hollywood stars Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz swear by it. The ‘Clay Diet’ involves stirring ‘edible clay’ into a glass of water and drinking it in the belief that, as the indigestible clay makes its way through your body, it takes toxins and negative isotopes with it.
As you can imagine, consuming what’s essentially 'rock' isn’t the best of ideas. Whilst a swig of clay a day may remove ‘toxins,’ it can also take the lovely vital nutrients we need to stay in good health with it. The Food Standards Agency even issued a warning, concerning the high levels of lead and arsenic found in certain online products – so steer clear!
Competitive Selfies
Dieting diaries through Facebook and Instagram can be great motivation for fitness-newbies.
But when slimming down starts to get competitive, you need to take a step back. Scroll through your feed, and you’ll see celeb after celeb flaunting their super-skinny selfies, which Dr Alex Yellowlees of the Priory Hospital Group believes can have a negative impact on vulnerable social media users.
Speaking to The Guardian, Yellowlees explained how the constant barrage of dieting selfies is fuelling a rise in dangerous eating disorders. They create a ‘new level of psychological pressure;’ setting unrealistic expectations that some are going to unhealthy lengths to achieve – celebs included. Ditch the competition and get fit for you.
Vitamin Drips
Drips, really? If Instagram’s anything to go by, this celeb fad won’t be disappearing anytime soon. Rihanna, Rita Ora, and most recently Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison have all attracted attention for their IV Instagram snaps, adamant that the increased nutrients boost energy and promote a youthful glow.
And whilst the trend isn’t anything new – there are cafés in Japan with vitamin-fuelled intravenous drips on the menu! It’s certainly not a way of life. IV’s are there to aid those that lack specific nutrients, not to ease a hangover.
Celebrity endorsements such as these will only inspire others to follow suit – encouraging people to consume excess vitamins and minerals that they a) aren’t deficient in, b) haven’t been tested for and c) don’t need. Increasing your vitamin intake on a whim can also harm your kidneys and liver if they’re unable to process them. It’s not worth it.
The Alkaline Diet
Many celebs have praised the alkaline diet for its ability to correct the body’s PH levels and reduce acid build-up. In fact, Elle Macpherson is so dedicated to this diet that she regularly checks her urine to ensure that her PH levels are A-ok.
Macpherson and other alkaline supporters believe that acidic foods are harmful to the body, and that overconsumption can lead to chronic health conditions. However, the medical world has a hard time accepting that the alkaline diet is as amazing as celebs make out.
The diet is centred upon eating lots of fruit/veg and cutting out sugar/processed foods, which is great. Not because it reduces acidity, but because getting your 5-a-day has always been important.
There’s very little research to support the health claims and restorative benefits attributed to the alkaline diet. The body is naturally designed to maintain healthy PH levels, without you having to alter your diet. What’s more, there’s confusion surrounding which foods are considered acidic and which aren’t. Technically, typically ‘healthy’ foods like walnuts, tea and cranberries are acid forming; are they a no-go too?
Cutting out major food groups is always a dangerous game, and in this case, could mean that you’re at a risk of neglecting protein in your diet. Don’t believe the hype, and concentrate on eating well-balanced, nutritious meals.
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