| Weight Loss Quickies | | | | balance these types of diets, health problems may |
| When trying to lose weight, it is normal for typical | | | | develop. |
| programs to set goals of weight loss between 1 and | | | | The body was not made to last that long on low |
| 2 pounds per week (~ ½ to 1 kg ). This may not | | | | calorie consumption and it is normal for people to feel |
| seem like a lot but this type of weight loss actually | | | | irritable and fatigued. Other side effects may include |
| helps keep the weight off on a more permanent | | | | constipation as a result of inadequate fiber |
| basis. These types of programs help the body | | | | absorption. |
| maintain a proper metabolism and retain necessary | | | | Another thing to worry about with these types of |
| muscle mass. | | | | diets is your metabolism. The body naturally prepares |
| This isn't to say that fast acting weight loss | | | | itself for life threatening situations. During these low |
| programs don't exist, but for people who are not | | | | calorie diets, the body may actually believe it is in |
| clinically obese, these programs are not healthy and | | | | danger and kick into starvation mode where the |
| are strongly recommended against. The fact is that if | | | | metabolism slows down to protect the body. Since |
| you are just looking to lose 25 pounds or less, then a | | | | you are really not starving but merely dieting your |
| fast weight loss program is NOT for you. | | | | body goes into a yo-yo affect once regular food is |
| Do these rapid weight loss programs work? | | | | reintroduced. Also, when rapid weight loss occurs it |
| The fact is there are numerous amounts of fast | | | | can often eat at your muscle mass (catabolism), |
| acting weight loss programs that exist in the market | | | | which is something you definitely do not want. |
| today. Most of these programs try to incorporate | | | | Who are meant for these programs? |
| healthy balanced diets while still retaining the fast | | | | These programs were actually designed for the |
| acting result obtained by low calorie consumption. | | | | obese, which by definition is someone with a BMI of |
| One of these programs is Medifast, which has been | | | | over 30. If you are someone who just struggles a |
| used by medical professionals for a long time. This | | | | little with your weight and are slightly above your |
| program promotes a 2- 5 pound per week loss. | | | | ideal, these programs are not recommended as they |
| These diets are all very similar and consist of very | | | | can cause potential problems long term. You'd rather |
| low calorie consumption. This is why they fall under | | | | think of other weight-loss methods, for example |
| the category of a VLCD (very low calorie diet). | | | | exercises and healthy food. |
| These diets only allow a consumption of 800 calories | | | | A few of these VLCD's need a physician's approval, |
| or less. Popular diets in this category like the Optifast | | | | although programs do exist that may be done |
| or the Cambridge Diet, should never be done without | | | | without it, such as Medifast. |
| the medical supervision of a healthcare professional | | | | What about fad Diets? |
| and are only meant to be short term. | | | | Fad diets like the famous Atkins or South Beach Diet |
| What's there to worry about with rapid weight loss? | | | | are mostly all based on an introductory phase where |
| Since rapid weight loss diets are mostly all based on | | | | weight loss is significant. These diets, however, have |
| low calorie consumption, the potential to have a | | | | many strict restraints on food elements such as |
| nutritional deficiency as a result of these diets is very | | | | carbohydrates and weight loss with these programs |
| evident. If there is not proper caution taken to | | | | is actually really due to loss of water weight. |