As the pace of society quickens and the demand for high speed and fast results increases, so does the prevalence of fitness products and programs that advertise fast results. Weight loss is in high demand and as hedonism takes center stage, the drive and determination to spend hours in the gym and limit fatty foods diminishes. Losing weight takes work and discipline. The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) recommends a weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs. per week.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a diuretic, says nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky of the MayoClinic.com, which will cause you to urinate more frequently. Drinking large amounts of caffeine will dehydrate you and cause you to lose weight in the form of water.
Saunas and Sweat Suits
Saunas and sweat suits are both advertised to help you lose weight, but all they accomplish is a significant depletion of sweat which causes water weight to fluctuate. The weight you lose immediately after using a sweat suit or sauna will be regained right after you drink the appropriate amount of water for re-hydration. In addition, the rapid dehydration can be dangerous. A 1997 report by the "Journal of the American Medical Association" records the story of three athletes who died while training in plastic sweat suits.
Very Low Carbohydrate Diets
Each gram (g) of carbohydrate consumed causes your body to store 3g water, says dietitian Joanne Larsen, American Dietetics Association member. Diets that are low in carbohydrate will cause you to lose 5-to-10 lbs. water initially and then your weight will plateau. After that, you begin to lose more weight because your body can no longer support your muscle mass.
Diet Pills
Popular diet pills like Hydroxycut, TrimSpa and Zantrex are loaded with caffeine. They will have the same effect as several cups of coffee. Some diet pills--like ephedrine--have been outlawed for being responsible for several deaths, reports the Psychiatric News website.
Very Low Calorie Diets
The basal metabolic rate is the amount of calories the body needs to maintain its weight if you were to lie in bed all day. While some diet plans suggest simply limiting the amount of calories you consume, Larsen calls these 600-calorie plans semi-starvation diets. She reports that after the first few days, after its stores of sugar are depleted, the body turns to breaking down muscle tissue for energy.
References
- National Academy of Sports Medicine: Program Design Concepts
- Journal of the American Medical Association; " Hyperthermia and Dehydration-Related Deaths Associated With Intentional Rapid Weight Loss in Three Collegiate Wrestlers; 1998
- MayoClinic.com: Caffeine: Can It Help Me Lose Weight?
- Ask the Dietitian: Fad Diets
- Psychiatric News: Did Delay of Ephedra Ban Cause Unnecessary Deaths?
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