Weight Loss Plans That Respect Your Hormones

Losing weight too fast is unlikely to produce the long-term results you wanted. Recent studies suggest both fast and slow weight loss plans can produce modest results over the long term. However, participants in both groups worked with a weight loss specialist to personalize his or her weight loss plan. Set smart goals for living healthier and avoid unwanted setbacks, such as:

• Loss of Hair - Rapid weight loss is a stress to your system. Telogen effluvium is the cause of hair loss in people who are losing weight at too fast of a pace and are not consuming enough nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and protein.
• Menstrual Changes - Not consuming enough calories can interfere with the production of female hormones needed for ovulation. So, too fast of weight loss can cause you to stop having periods or to have irregular periods.
• Sexual Problems - A underlying cause of low testosterone and low libido in men is poor nourishment. Diet plans with severe restrictions can allow for rapid weight loss but major changes in hormonal production can change impact your sex life.
• Depression and Withdrawal - Weight loss messages are so heavily woven into today’s culture you might mistakenly think the numbers on your scale control your happiness. Unfortunately, unwanted hormone imbalances can leave you feeling socially depressed.
• Poor Protein Intake - When you fail to consume enough protein during rapid weight loss, you can suffer from edema where your body retains fluids causing swelling in your extremities, especially your feet and ankles.
• Changes Liver Health - The National Institute of Health has issued warnings that rapid weight loss due to following a crash diet can lead to malnutrition and inflammation of the liver within a relatively short timeframe.

If you are one of the millions who plan to go on a diet this year, don’t. Fact is diets only work for the short term and your chance of keeping it off are slim. Instead, chose a weight loss program with personalized menus that delivers tons of support and encouragement. As you lose weight, especially body fat, the number of different hormones in your body can change dramatically. Some of these directly affect how full your feel as well as how fast or slow your body’s metabolic response will be.