There are a various unhealthy ways to lose weight that do not include taking diet pills. It is important to recognize that even if you do not take pills to aid in weight loss, it is possible that the choices you make may be unhealthy. As rewarding as fast weight loss is, if it leads to health complications or regaining the weight, it is not worthwhile.
Eliminating Food Groups
Any diet that eliminates entire food groups is not healthy and is difficult to maintain. Cutting out carbs, dairy, protein or fats will lead to weight loss. Reducing your choices will lead to consuming less calories, and a lack of choices often decreases your appetite. But cutting out entire food groups makes it more difficult to get all of the nutrients you need to remain healthy.
Drastically Cutting Calories
Calorie needs vary, depending on your activity level and lifestyle, but you can use the Harris Benedict Equation to estimate how many calories you need. First determine your basal metabolic rate using an online calculator or the following formula: For men, 66 + (6.23 * weight in lbs) + (12.7 * height in inches) - (6.8 * age). For women the formula is, 655 + (4.35 * weight in pounds) + (4.7 * height in inches) - (4.7 * age). Take the resulting number and multiply it by 1.2 if you are sedentary, 1.375 if you exercise lightly, 1 to 3 times each week, 1.55 if you exercise moderately, 3 to 5 times each week, and 1.725 if you exercise intensely, 6 to 7 times each week.
Cutting calories much lower than the Harris Benedict formula indicates your body requires makes it difficult to remain on a diet. People who consume too few calories often have trouble concentrating, exercising and sleeping as well. After remaining on a strict, low-calorie diet for a few days or weeks, you may find it impossible to stay on track and end up binging.
Over Exercising
Exercise is important for general health as well as weight loss, so it is easy to believe you can't overdo it. It is possible to exercise too much, however. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise each week to maintain health and weight. It is fine to go over this recommendation, but too much or too rigorous exercise can lead to over training. Signs of over training include loss of interest in exercise, trouble sleeping, irritability and an elevated resting heart rate. Too much exercise can also lead to injuries, such as shin splints and stress fractures, that require you to quit exercising entirely while you heal.
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