Most Effective Diet To Lose Weight Faster

Fad or crash diets often promise rapid weight loss by following dramatic short-term changes in eating patterns. Quick weight loss programs may fail to meet your nutritional needs and can be hard to maintain over the long haul, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. The most effective diet plans involve adopting a nutritious eating plan along with regular exercise.

Function

Diets that encourage and produce fast weight loss often require monumental effort in calorie restriction and exercise, which are impossible to sustain over the long haul, notes the Mayo Clinic. Successful weight loss generally requires dietary and lifestyle adjustments that can be maintained permanently. A slow and steady weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs. per week is generally recommended. A well-balanced diet includes whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy items and lean protein sources. Successful weight loss programs also include regular exercise. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity at least five days a week. Talk to your health care provider before starting a weight loss program.

Features

Fast weight loss under a doctor's supervision may be safe under certain circumstances, points out the Mayo Clinic. For example, some diet plans like the Mayo Clinic diet have an introductory head-start phase that can result in a weight loss of 5 to 10 lbs. in the first couple of weeks. This initiation phase is followed by the suggested weight loss of no more than 2 lbs. per week.

Types

The HCG diet combines hormone injections with severe calorie restriction to encourage fast weight loss. HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced during pregnancy. The HCG diet typically limits calories to 500 per day. Food allowed on the diet is typically limited to a few fruits, vegetables, chicken and fish. Some rapid weight loss diets emphasize one particular food such as grapefruit. Promoters of the cabbage soup diet claim the weight loss plan can help you lose 10 to 15 lbs. in one week.

Disadvantages

Fast weight loss plans break the first rule of good nutrition, which is to eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods, points out the American Heart Association. Many rapid weight loss plans like the HCG diet discourage physical activity. HCG has not been approved by the FDA to treat obesity or help control weight. Once you go off fast weight loss diets, you are likely to regain any pounds you've shed, notes the Mayo Clinic.

Considerations

When choosing a weight loss plan consider whether it is potentially harmful to your health and if you can realistically incorporate it into your lifestyle. It can be hard to stay on a diet that leaves you feeling hungry much of the time, notes the Mayo Clinic. Talk to you health care provider about the best weight loss method for you.