How to Lose Weight Fast… Don’t!

When it comes to the speed of weight loss, you have to accept the fact that rapid weight loss seen on TV reality shows or weight loss advertising claims are usually unrealistic, so expect that it will take you longer to see the same results. When it comes to losing weight fast, there are no magic beans, miracle cures, or quick fixes. Trying to lose weight too fast has side effects, such as:

• Headaches - Hunger headaches often strike right before mealtimes. This is a common side effect of skipping meals or limiting your food intake and is likely caused by low blood sugar levels that results in muscle tension.
• Irritability - If your belly is grumbling and you find that you are snippy with people all day, you may not be providing enough energy to adequately fuel your body to get complete your daily activities.
• Fatigue - Losing weight at the right pace often results in increased energy as you have less weight to carry around. If you are feeling fatigued due to rapid weight loss, try adding fiber-rich carbohydrates to your daily intake.
• Dizziness - People who follow a low-carbohydrate weight loss program should maintain adequate amounts of liquid to avoid sudden feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness due to orthostatic hypotension caused by a sudden change in position.
• Constipation - If you are on a diet that restricts certain food groups or requires you to increase the intake of other foods, your body might respond by producing hard, infrequent stools due to changes in hydration and fiber intake.
• Menstrual Irregularities - Extreme weight-loss deprives your body of the essential nutrients that are necessary for healthy function. Women who try to lose weight too fast often suffer menstrual irregularities due to deficiencies.

A key to successful, long-term weight loss is a steady, but determined, weight loss journey. Make sure your caloric deficits each day do not require you to forego healthy eating habits or obsessive workouts in the gym. When you lose weight too quickly, it is not just fat that you lose. Unfortunately, fast weight loss is mostly water weight and vital lean muscle tissue, which leaves you weaker with a slower metabolism.