Do Fast Weight Loss Diets Really Work?

Do fast weight loss diets really work? They sound easy and simple, but can you really count on these diet plans to help you keep weight off?

Slow Weight Loss Diets Vs Fast Weight Loss Diets – Which Is Better?

So what is fast weight loss anyway? Most health authorities usually recommend losing about 1 pound (0.5 kilo) a week, and most people seem to manage to keep that rate up, even when dieting and exercise aren’t really part of their daily routine. So, losing more than just a few pounds (two to three pounds) in a short amount of time seems too good to be true, right? And if it’s too fast, what’s the catch? Are there any health problems associated with it?

The answer to both questions is a big, fat “no.” If you eat fewer calories than your body burns, you’ll lose weight – and most experts consider that the best way to do that is to eat fresh, whole foods as much as possible. Eating vegetables, fruits, lean meats and whole grains help you do that. So eating only one to two servings of fruits, vegetables and lean meats a day isn’t fast weight loss by any means.

Eating Less Isn’t Always Effective

But eating less often certainly can make a difference in your appearance, health issues or overall fitness level. So if you’ve lost a lot of weight in a short period of time, it may seem like your body is working even harder to maintain that weight. That’s because your metabolism has slowed, causing you to burn fewer calories even while eating the same amount of food. In fact, many people believe that you should do just enough to satisfy your body’s needs, so that it will speed up its own processes and work even harder to burn those calories. This is why diets work for so long for some people but don’t help others: they’re either too short or too long.

But when researchers compare long-term weight loss with those who didn’t make any changes, they find that those who made healthy eating behaviors (like drinking lots of water, walking to the gym, and getting 30 minutes or more of exercise) experienced significantly fewer health risks after four years on the program than did those who didn’t make any changes. Why? The scientists suspect that by changing their habits, people were able to increase their metabolism and burn off those extra calories, thus eliminating a number of potential health risks. That’s a good point.

And what about fast weight loss diet plans? Do they really work? Many people have tried diets that lasted for several weeks or months without success, so people have always been leery of the promise that you can drop pounds quickly and keep it off. A lot of people believe the hype that the fast way to lose weight is unhealthy and doesn’t offer long-term benefits. And some simply can’t handle the thought of giving up everything they love in favor of a fad diet that may not even work.

There Are No Magic Pills

So the truth is that there is no magic pill that will give you the kind of gradual, sustainable, and healthy weight loss that you need to achieve your goals. What you do need is a sensible plan that you can stick to. And if you are willing to be consistent – and to make healthy eating behaviors a part of your daily routine instead of a replacement for them, then you can achieve and maintain your weight loss goals. And you can do this without going through the hassles of going on one diet after another. As research shows, most people need to make changes over multiple dieting cycles in order to successfully lose the weight they want and keep it off.