Rapid Weight Loss

From LoveToKnow Diet

Rapid weight loss is promoted by many diet programs. While the diets do work toward shedding pounds quickly, there are a few things you should know before embarking on one of these programs.

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Diets for Rapid Weight Loss

The most popular fad diets, such as the Grapefruit Diet, the The Cabbage Soup Diet, and the The Lemonade Diet are certainly formulated to cause quick weight loss. In this way, these diets remain perennial favorites for dropping a few pounds before that big event you plan on attending in your "skinny" outfit. Other diets that advertise quick weight loss include theScarsdale Diet, the Hollywood Diet, and a variety of liquid diet plans. Meal replacement diets, such as SlimFast (hence the name) and Medifast (again, hence the name), also gear their approach to swift weight loss.

Herbal supplements and commercial diet pills also provide a speedy drop in pounds. While the results may be astounding when it comes to the rapidity of weight loss, it is best to use caution when using these supplements, especially for any long period of time. Many of these supplements work by suppressing appetite and/or elevating metabolic rate. Read the enclosed pamphlets accompanying the products carefully and be aware of serious side effects.

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How Rapid Weight Loss Works

There are three primary methods that cause weight loss:

Calorie restriction
Appetite Suppression
Raising Metabolism (also referred to as fat burners)

In the case of rapid weight loss, the diets put the above methods to an extreme. For example, liquid diets (no solid foods are consumed) are a drastic drop in calories. The Scarsdale Diet reports an average calorie allowance much lower than the average 1200 calories the human body needs to function. Appetite suppressants and fat burners are potent strangers to the human body, hence their effect is also dramatic.

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Is It Worthwhile?

There are many reasons why losing weight in this manner is detrimental to your overall health and future weight loss efforts. While the advantage is the ability to wear those favorite jeans (and get into them without lying horizontally on the bed or floor), the weight loss is often short-lived.

In fact, the day you decide to have a meal you may see the scale move upward. The reason for this is simple: your metabolism did not appreciate its scarce food intake. In retaliation, your metabolic rate slowed itself down, from necessity for that matter, because you did not nourish it with an appropriate amount of energy to work. It has no other choice than to use less energy and put the brakes on. The symptoms of this down shift in gears are fatigue, depression, loss of concentration, lethargy, and irritability, just to name a few.

Another disadvantage to losing weight rapidly is your compromised immune system. As soon as your immune system is threatened in any way, it is highly vulnerable to the next germ passing your way. You may find yourself fighting more colds and infections than ever due to the lack of vitamins and minerals in your body.

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Is It Safe?

Effective as they may be, diets causing drastic results are not healthful and can be dangerous for certain individuals. While calorie restriction may not seem to be harmful in comparison to weight loss supplements, it can certainly lead to eating disorders and a lifelong obsession with calorie counting. The pills and herbal supplements on the market today are not overseen by any governing agency, and their side effects can be quite severe, if not deadly. Ephedra was taken off the market a few years ago due to several deaths associated with its use.

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Alternative Weight Loss Stategy

Only with persistent and consistent dedication to your goal can weight loss be enjoyed safely and for the long term. An adequate dietary intake and exercise sufficient to your level of ability are the two keys to unlocking the weight loss door. There is no magic pill, diet, or approach that will offer you rapid weight loss that is safe and permanent. Perhaps one day there will be, but for now, enlist the help of a physician, a nutritionist, and your local gym or walking buddy to lose your extra weight for good.

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