It might seem like a dream come true for you to lose 10 or more pounds in a week. But when you lose weight too fast, your body often can't cope with the sudden cut in nourishment. As a result, your body slows down all its functions, which puts the brakes on your diet efforts, as well. In addition, losing weight too fast can lead to health problems, some of which can be serious.
Metabolism Basics
It takes 3,500 calories cut from your regular diet for you to lose every pound. You'll find that dieting actually causes your body to need fewer calories just to stay at an even weight. This metabolism slow-down could be a survival response by our bodies to conserve energy in times of famine. However, it can hurt your weight-loss efforts. To counter this effect, you should aim to lose weight slowly -- no more than 1 to 2 lbs. every week.
Gastrointestinal Effects
You'll also likely see some gastrointestinal effects when you lose weight too fast. When you take in too few calories, your gastrointestinal tract can slow down dramatically or become easily irritated, leading to constipation or diarrhea. In addition, some people who experience rapid weight loss suffer from painful gallstones, especially if they follow a high-protein diet low in carbohydrates.
Cardiovascular Effects
However, the potential cardiovascular effects of losing weight too fast present more dangers than the gastrointestinal effects. When you lose weight too fast, especially when you use liquid high-protein diet drinks for your weight-loss efforts, you can develop an irregular heart beat. In addition, a study in mice raises the possibility that low-calorie, high-protein diets can cause plaque to build up quickly in your arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease.
Appearance
Your appearance could suffer if you lose weight too fast. Too-rapid weight loss might create loose skin, especially in places on your body where you previously had large fat deposits. If you slow your weight loss efforts down, losing less than 50 lbs. over about six months, you'll have a better chance of avoiding this common, ugly side effect.
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