Detox diets almost always lead to weight loss. (When you only eat celery for two weeks, such an outcome is inevitable). But what happens after you finish the diet?

Temporary measures rarely provide effective solutions to weight or health problems. Once you switch back to regular eating, the weight you lost during the diet usually comes straight back on and you are no better off. In fact, you haven't learned anything to help you change the behaviors and habits that caused weight gain in the first place.

If you're considering detoxing as a method of weight loss, also keep in mind that shed pounds are sometimes the result of one of the following:

• Supplements. Many detoxes require you to take supplements. Often these are really laxatives in disguise, designed to make you go to the bathroom more often. Laxatives reduce your body's ability to absorb the nutrients from the food and fluids you consume and can cause unhealthy weight loss if taken regularly. Taking laxatives is never a good idea, as it can lead to dehydration and problems with your digestive system.
  
  
• Fluid loss. If you're fasting or severely restricting your food intake, your body will naturally struggle to maintain its weight - however a lot of the weight you lose will be fluid, soon to be replaced when you return to normal eating. 
  

It's also important to remember that your body needs a balanced range of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to function correctly. While cutting down on junk food and alcohol is a good idea, eliminating major food groups (such as carbohydrates or dairy) almost always has negative consequences for health. A lack of dairy products in your diet could cause problems with osteoporosis later in life, for example.

Some commonly reported symptoms of detox diets include headaches, dizziness, lack of concentration, bad breath, and tiredness. This might be said to be a sign that you're ridding your body of toxins, but in reality these symptoms are usually caused by a lack of food.

Fasting or eating only minimal calories is a bad idea at any time, but especially so when you are exercising. When you are involved in physical activity your body uses the food you eat as fuel. If you're not eating enough, your body cannot cope with doing much at all - let alone running or pumping weights.