Watch for Warning Signs of Losing Weight Too Quickly

A major concern with fast weight loss is that it usually requires extraordinary effort and can be unhealthy if maintained as a permanent lifestyle change. One to two pounds a week is a safe weight loss goal. Although losing a couple of pounds a week might seem like a slow pace, a slow and steady pace is more likely to help you maintain your target weight for the long term. Plus, you will likely lose more fat at a modest rate and can avoid unwanted side effects, such as:

• Weight Loss Not Sustainable - If your menu plan is unrealistic for you to do for the rest of your life, odds are you've gone a little overboard and need to make important modifications if you want to continue to see results over time and not burn yourself out.
• Feeling Lethargic - If you find yourself feeling lethargic or trying in vain to ignore a grumbling belly between meals, add lean protein and healthful fats to your menu plan. Living hungry is not a sustainable approach.
• More Sensitive to Cold - Thermogensis keeps your body warm by utilizing brown fat to create heat. If needed, white fat cells may be forced to act like brown fat. More research is needed to know how to harness energy-burning fat cells.
• Trouble Sleeping - A recent study highlighted the benefits of good sleep hygiene. Participants who reported not sleeping the same number of hours each night had less weight loss after a year than those with a regular sleep pattern.
• No Permanent Weight Loss - If you haven't trained your body to adapt to permanent lifestyle changes, you are much more likely to revert to your old habits and gain back all of that quickly lost weight.
• Change in Personal Relationships - Trying to force your significant other to lose weight when they clearly do not want to will never work. So, be creative and think of ways to boost inclusion aside from your personal agenda.

Whether your weight loss motivation is based on your health or how you look, it was poor lifestyle habits that got you to this point. Unless you make the appropriate changes to your behaviors, you will go right back to where you started. It is impossible to stick with a diet that is overly restrictive in caloric intake. If you are currently losing weight in a way that’s not enjoyable, you are not following a path to sustainable weight loss. Visit or call Metabolic Research Center for a free weight loss consultation.