Fad diets are supposed to come and go like a breeze during the day. Some, however, have turned into religions for many.

Fad diets have a ton of followers and are typically riddled with questionable theories. Most have a M.D. backing their way of eating, and they cost you money to learn about or to do. What’s more, fad diets are rarely recommended by the food health professionals as a healthy approach to nutrition.

It seems like almost every year there is yet another fad diet craze going on. The media loves to exploit the emotional side of dieting because people are very interested about losing weight or getting into shape. I am going to tear apart some of the most popular fad diets over the last 20 years and that are still thriving as a sales force in the United States of America. Those such as Atkins, The Zone Diet, South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, The Subway Diet, The Svelte Gourmet, and Body for Life.

Many of these diets are full of great well-written handiwork. Some have absolutely die hard and wonderful content. Often, for some of the diets, full pages are written in a way that include healthy approaches and skewed thinking into one. This combination, to the untrained eye, can all seem very believable and doable, even exciting. Add the fact that many of you recommend what works to your friends and family and the word-of-mouth marketing becomes viral. So, even today, with all of the science that proves how the body works, there are many myths and untruths that are being touted as fact by herds of people.

In my first article, I exposed The Atkins Diet. In my second thru fifth articles, I exposed The Zone Diet (2), The South Beach Diet (3), Weight Watchers (4), and Jenny Craig (5). Now you get to examine The Subway Diet with me. You be the judge for yourself and choose for you, the most important person in your life.

THE SUBWAY DIET:X

Does the The Subway Diet approach work to lose body weight: Yes.

Is it a healthy approach? Yes*

THE SUBWAY DIET: Jared

The United States of America. You have to love America, even if you do not agree with the politics or its government tactics in the World; The Subway Diet just goes to prove, yet again, how truly amazing the United States is.

Jared “The Subway Guy”, who has not heard of him? Certainly the corporation of Subway is thankful for his popularity and his book that followed. Their sales reportedly doubled during Jared’s main promotional period between 2000-2008 in the form of revenue in the billions of dollars. Impressive.

Here is a synopsis of his story, the one that was the catalyst behind The Subway Diet. I will add that Jared wants his approach to not be labeled a ‘diet’ as is evident by the title of his book, “Jared, The Subway Guy” and that has “Not a diet book” repeated across the top of its cover.

Jared Fogle was a student at Indiana University in 1998 when he began to make changes for himself. Jared was a morbidly obese man weighing over 400 lbs when he began his trek to make his body more resemble that of a Porsche than that of a Land Rover. He decided to not tell anyone, and he began to reduce his food intake and use Subway as his vehicle for weight loss-His point of focus and stability. After losing about 100 lbs through reducing solely his calorie intake, which took him about three months, he began exercise in the form of walking.

Ultimately, Subway hired Jared and he has been promoting health & fitness around the country at different events and by giving speeches. Good for him, I say!

What followed is his book that is now available. For many years Subway promoted Jared by their commercial in which they stated, “The Subway diet, combined with a lot of walking, worked for Jared. We're not saying this is for everyone. You should check with your doctor before starting any diet program. But it worked for Jared.” 

Furthermore, Jared has enjoyed the benefit of celebrity as expressed by coverage by the CBS network, in addition to making appearances on other national sources such as Oprah and Subway.

THE SUBWAY DIET: Not a diet, an approach

Diets tout eating methods and direct you in your consumption by generally giving you an outline or a comprehensive structure to follow. As I covered in both my Weight Watchers (1) and Jenny Craig (2) articles, the emotional aspect of nutrition can be both a difficult and sensitive subject to cover. This is where Jared and his approach can walk through the door of your psyche rather than try to trample over all the walls that are up like would otherwise be customary.

Jared has been there. He was over 400 pounds! What better way to identify with you than to have been there once too? Jared accomplishes this feat, and kudos to Subway for sparking excitement into many by their promotional campaigns. I’m usually not a proponent of industry solely when they have a financial interest and not a sincere caring approach, but in this case it works. People that have been in the same shoes as Jared and walked, or walk, in their sandals while significantly overweight have made changes due to Jared’s story. How wonderful!

Where The Atkins Diet, The Zone Diet, The South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig potentially fail miserably at the task of solving the million dollar question, “How do we get people to make changes that are true and last with their diet?” Jared seems to push through.

Jared wittingly had the intelligence and strength to tell himself to change, and he did. This is evident in one of his interviews where he stated, “It was a pretty good shock to my system initially but I went into it knowing that it is going to take sacrifice, it is going to take commitment, it is going to take being focused and I am going to have to deal with it.” Congratulations Jared, I am proud of you. How many of us can take this same quote from Jared, The Subway Guy, and put its application to use in many other areas of our lives as well? Jared got it right.

THE SUBWAY DIET: How to eat

Jared Fogle is respectfully honest in his thoughts and ideas when it comes to nutrition. He has made statements such as, “A plan that works for everyone else may not work for you.” I couldn’t have said that any better myself.

Every one of us in this world and in our galaxy, is unique. We may have similar traits because we are human, but the contrast between that which makes up our intellect and our minds is even greater than that of our differences physically. Scientists, doctors, and personal trainers want us to all fit into a nice little cookie cutter so that their job is easier. The fact is that while these individuals and ‘experts’ may be able to give us a template or some guidance, that we are our own person different than them, and different than the people they see. It takes a real intuitive, and simply aware, professional to give you the best guidance that they can truly offer.

Jared found his inner strength, and that great energy is transferred in everything he has done since being catapulted into celebrity status. His book will carry the essence of his positive energy and influence, as well-how can it not?

THE SUBWAY DIET: The science behind it

Jared was consuming 10,000 calories per day and not exercising when he was over 400 pounds. The equation is a little more complex than the mainstream media approach of “calories in vs. calories out,” but anyone with a stream of common sense can see that if you consume 10,000 calories per day and do not exercise; you will not lose weight-you will gain weight.

It is easy to get lost in the minutia when it comes to science and to get bogged down or overwhelmed with all of the claimed ‘facts’ or ‘proof’ by this diet or that diet. Our brains typically like to analyze and make logic out of a decision we make and because nutrition can be a very emotional and sensitive subject, the science many times can inhibit a change of action rather than promote one. Jared did not get side-lined by science or by becoming overly saturated with nutrition information to make his body transform. He did it by making adjustments in his lifestyle. He quit eating 10,000 calories a day and his body responded. Was it an easy task? Not at all. Jared openly talks about the difficulty his body had adjusting to the process and the mental strength that it took for him to overcome all of those sensations.

That is the answer to the million dollar question, “How do you make everlasting changes to your diet?” You prepare mentally. You give yourself realistic expectations. You keep trying until you find the process that best works for you. You understand that the task will not be an easy one. You accept it. You make yourself have courage and stand in the face of your fears. You breathe deep and stand steady as you press forward. Jared, in his way, tackles some of these elements in his book.

Science can be a stepping stone to efficiency in your nutrition approach. Science can also be only a part of your need for everlasting change. Modifying your nutrition intake is more than science-the intangible nature of your mind ensures this to be the case. The most genius professors, doctors and philosophers of anytime in our history on this planet have not fully understood the body, much less the mind and the ‘how’s and why’s.’ Your fix may not be a simple one, as Jared’s did not occur overnight either.

THE SUBWAY DIET: The book, ‘Jared, The Subway Guy’

It’s amazing to me that some of the best work, books in particular, are not expensive. Whereas diet methods and foods tend to be the opposite. Just as is the case with the Subway franchise, the diet & nutrition industry is a billion dollar a year industry. Jared comes across as a well meaning and forthright individual. His book may work for you in the realm of self-help and adding to the positive influences on your side to ultimately help you make the changes that you are looking for.

When I first reviewed Jared’s books chapters, I knew that Jared was on the motivational pathway rather than the diet trail. He, like Tony Robbins, understands that what it takes to change is not a particular diet; it’s you. In the best way he knows how, he transfers his suggestions and ideas in the form of his, “Winning Through Losing: 13 Lessons to Turn Your Life Around.”

This is not a book about telling you how to diet. Instead it is a book offering you different types of both motivation and inspiration through the eyes of Jared; a man who was successful in his tackling what seemed to be the impossible-changing the man within.

I absolutely recommend this book as an addition to your overall self. I implore you to contemplate his ideas and methods and use what works for you. The ideas and methods can be for more than just for changing your diet, the approaches can apply to many areas of life.

THE SUBWAY DIET: Conclusion

Jared, The Subway Guy offers good and sensible advice from a first person perspective. He bridges the emotional gap of diet & nutrition in a non-invasive way that the other diets and health professionals often fail miserably at. His approach is a fresh perspective and an authentic one.

The Subway Diet really is not a diet. Jared, The Subway Guy gives you something much more effective and longer lasting than a 12 week program. He gives you tools to aid in your battle of self. He gives you both motivation and inspiration and I’m sure Tony Robbins would give Jared a pat on the back.

You, too, can have the success of Jared. The old adage, “If it is to be, it is up to me” resounds true and without having to tackle a mountain of science and shrewd diet informational tactics, Jared, The Subway Guy gets my star of approval. Will it be better than Weight Watchers (1), or Jenny Craig (2) for you? I don’t know. Do your research and make the best selection that you feel most comfortable with!

You are the most important person in your life every single minute of every single day. Attempt that which will make you feel better about yourself in a way that empowers and strengthens that VIP-You!

I wish you great success in your health via both your nutrition and your exercise. Watch for my next articles on The Svelte Gourmet and Body for Life for the final two doses of my close inspection and analysis of this 8 part series on diets.

Thank you for your time, for your comments, and for your votes!