The Disadvantages of the
Quick Weight Loss 'Fad' Diets
Wanting a slimmer and sexier body is no lofty ambition. Many people have succeeded in sculpting their physiques to make them look healthy and desirable. However, this end is not attained with a simple snap of the fingers or by skipping meals. It, without exception, takes commitment, time and effort.
The Seduction of the Quick Fix
For some people though, patience is not a virtue. They seem not to be able to afford the required attention, time and money to get the body they have always wanted. As a result, these people resort to any number of 'fad' diets and quick weight loss practices and programs which may not be as good as the purchasers are led to believe.
These quick weight loss diet plans are known as 'fad diets' for a very good reason - because that's exactly what they are, just a fad. In time, when the hype is over and their popularity wanes, people will realize that the dieting method they have depended on so far is not really that reliable at all. By then though, there'll be another 'fad' created by the marketers - and the whole cycle begins again.
It's Just Not That Simple
Most people are not aware that there is no such thing as an effective rapid weight loss diet and that there is no simple path to genuine weight loss for people who want to be slimmer quicker than what their body can handle. Nevertheless, most still tend to opt for the fad or fast fixes not realizing that these approaches are not worthwhile at all - especially in the long term. Many of these 'get-thin-quick' diet plans are guaranteed to backfire because they do not employ the right principles nor do they portray the right attitudes for losing weight and keeping it off.
However, the long term results are what everybody really wants. I would think there wouldn't be anyone who, when embarking on a weight loss program, would want to lose 30lbs in a month only to have it come straight back three months later. In reality, you will always do much better setting smaller, achievable targets for yourself.
It Can Be Just 'Smoke & Mirrors'
There is scientific research showing that rapid weight loss does not necessarily mean an individual is losing unwanted excess fat - commonly most of what is lost is water. Unfortunately, when it's mainly water that's lost, it is also regained very quickly. So actually the net amount of fat lost turns out to be much less than first thought. Therefore, don't be foolish enough to be seduced by the advertising of certain diet pills and supplements out there in the market - especially those which claim to help you lose a whopping amount of fat in a short period of time. They usually only end up dehydrating your body at best.
And just so it is very clear: the body can only effectively lose about two or three pounds of actual fat per week. One would be exceptionally lucky if four or five pounds are lost, but normally, it's about three. "That's not much" you might say, but do this consistently over a period of many months and you'll see the weight start to really disappear. Before you know it, you'll have that body you've always wanted. Looking at it another way - three pounds of excess fat per week is about twelve pounds of excess fat per month. Do that for six months and there's 72 pounds gone already!
The 'Roller Coaster' Effect
According to research, fast-track diets are one of these rapid weight loss practices which may not be as good as they first seem. Fast-track diet programs, as scientific research shows, are only good while they last. Rapid weight loss often results in, ironically, rapid weight gain once the program or practice is stopped. This is also known as the 'Roller Coaster Effect' - first down then back up.
Also, people who concentrate solely on these types of drastic diets normally revert back to their old eating habits simply because human beings cannot actually continue using this type of diet scheme for the rest of their lives without making a fundamental shift in their eating habits, patterns and lifestyle.
Starving yourself never works - either physically or emotionally. Losing weight 'long term' is a matter of creating a better, healthier lifestyle rather than simply focusing on what you eat. Yes, it's definitely part of the equation but long term success is much more than that.
Here are some of the telltale signs that should make you stay away from these fad diets which are, unfortunately, selling like hotcakes in the market today.
- Skipping meals
Does your diet plan require you to skip meals? If it does, then, it's a fad diet for certain. Abstaining from food completely is not a healthy habit in any way. All this does is train your body to store the little food it does get because it doesn't know when the next meal will be. Your body ends up storing more (as fat) than when you ate regularly. Such an approach can even cause some other more serious complications or problems especially for those who have diabetes. Skipping meals will only cause hypoglycemia - a condition wherein your blood sugar is really low. Another common trait of such an approach is that it can make you eat twice as much at your next meal.
- Dieting without exercise, or vice versa
Exercise is crucial to the human body if it's to remain healthy and efficient. It's also very important for proper blood circulation and other body system functions. So, diet plans that do not require you to exercise are not really giving you the best chance of success - either weight loss wise or health wise. Humans were born to be active. But then again, exercise alone is not sufficient enough and so a healthy, balanced diet AND exercise go hand-in-hand.
- Outlandish and 'too good to be true' promises
Everybody knows, if they're really honest with themselves, that losing a lot of excess weight takes time AND effort. Keeping it off, once it's been lost, then requires ongoing sacrifices too. As someone once said, "There's no free lunch" and this is so appropriate here (please excuse the pun). Yes, there are 'options' that people can take to lose some weight very quickly but it usually doesn't last or the health risks are simply not worth it.
In conclusion
There's all sorts of pills and drugs and laxatives and teas and supplements that promise this and that - and some may actually work as stated in the short term but all of these 'artificial' methods come with a price - and I'm not talking just about money here. I'm talking about your long term health.
Just ask yourself before embarking on any of these 'non natural' paths - "Is it worth it to risk my health - and even my life - with this approach?" In life there will always be the risk takers - and good luck to them. But most people tend to err on the side of caution - particularly where their health is concerned - and this is very relevant here. It's just that many are not aware of the inherent risks of these alternatives. But now you are aware. Are YOU one of those risk takers?
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