The Temptation of Quick Fix Diets
Posted by on October 21st, 2009
In our desire to shed those all frustrating ‘extra pounds’ we are often prepared to go to the extreme. From experimenting with the latest dietary craze to hit Hollywood to trying one of the every day ‘quick-fix diets’ of cabbage soup… the lengths we will go to, to lose weight fat and become slim is astonishing.
No matter how tempting a crash diet may feel you should never give me. The scales may be telling you that you are losing weight, but this weight loss is not all that it appears to be.
For example if you are losing more than 2 pounds a week, the reality is you are probably losing only water weight and muscle, not that much needed fat.
What is water weight loss?
According to recent research diets that promote weight losses of 10 pounds a week, actually consist of 60% water weight loss. And the problem with this type of weight loss technique is that the moment you re-hydrate your body you WILL put this weight back on.
The truth is your body needs a certain level of hydration in order to function, so when you choose to dramatically modify your calorie intake and eating habits, what you are actually doing is promoting water loss.
The science
When your body becomes deprived of calories, it immediately seeks a quick energy supply to fulfil its needs, more often than not from your carbohydrate and glycogen stores.
However when glycogen is used, this biochemical breakdown causes a substantial amount of water to be lost which results in rapid weight loss. Sounds good, it isn’t.
The problem is as soon as you begin to deprive your body of your glycogen stores, you immediately start craving sugary, carbohydrate rich foods which will cause all that water weight to be regained and then some.
Natural route to lasting weight loss
To successfully lose weight and ensure you are losing only fat, not water or essential muscle tissue, you need to find the right balance between your calorie intake, your diet and your exercise levels.
To burn just 1 pound of fat you either need to cut your calorie intake by 3,500 calories a week (500 a day), or burn an extra 3,500 calories a week over the course of 8-9 workouts.
REMEMBER: fat can only be burned at a certain rate. You can not force it to lose more without facing the negative consequences of other tissues being thrown into the weight loss mix i.e. protein and carbohydrates which can result in dramatic water loss.
Combating muscle loss
It is true that within the first stages of weight loss you can lose muscle tissue. However by quickly developing a routine of resistance and weight training you can help minimise the amount of muscle tissue lost whilst you are dieting.
Clinical studies have found that by the 3rd week of weight loss – if powered by a modest calorie reduction and exercise routine – 90% of your weight loss will be pure fat.
Read more about weight loss work outs
Why Lose Weight Recommends
If you are looking for a natural solution to assist your weight loss, we thoroughly recommend Proactol. Formulated using 100% organic ingredients, through its unique composition you can bind up to 28% of your dietary fat intake without having to go on a diet.
So if you are concerned about the potential effects water weight loss or muscle deterioration, Proactol can give you the helping hand you need to remain in firm control of your weight loss.
Tags: how much weight loss, how to lose weight, lasting weight loss, why diet, why lose weight