Tips & Tricks To Lose Weight Fast In One Week

It's estimated that 40 to 50 percent of American women are trying to lose weight at any given time, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Many of those women have long-term weight-loss goals, but others simply want to lose weight fast for a reunion, wedding or another important occasion. Although health experts tend to frown on quick-loss weight programs, using such a diet for one week only can be both effective and harmless.

Liquid Fast Diets

There are many different versions of a liquid diet you can use for quick weight loss. One such strategy is to drink only fruit and vegetable juices and low-calorie sports drinks for a week. Other people use commercial shakes you can find in local drug and grocery stores that have balanced ratios of protein, carbohydrates and fat, along with added vitamins and minerals. Most of these have approximately 220 calories in each drink that you consume three to four times per day instead of meals. An inexpensive alternative is to drink only milk for one week.

Low-Carbohydrate Diets

A low-carbohydrate diet can help pounds fall off quickly, with the Atkins Diet the most well known of these. By using the Atkins induction phase, it's claimed you can lose up to 15 lbs. in two weeks. During induction, you consume just 20 g of net carbs per day, spread out over three regular-size meals or four or five smaller meals. Each meal includes 4 to 6 oz. of protein foods, 1 to 2 tbsp. of fats and lots of non-starchy vegetables. You'll avoid all grains, starches and sugars, although sugar substitutes are allowed. The low-carb eating plan was found to cause greater weight loss in the short term than any other plan, in a review published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2003.

Mayo Clinic Diet

In 2010, the Mayo Clinic published "The Mayo Clinic Diet: Eat Well, Enjoy Life, Lose Weight," which includes a quick weight-loss phase that promises a loss of 6 to 10 lbs. in two weeks. It's designed not only to jump-start weight loss but to help you learn healthy, permanent eating habits. Nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the core of the meal plan, and you're cautioned not to consume any sugar except what's found in fruit and avoid processed foods. You're also encouraged to get daily exercise and avoid restaurants unless they fit the plan.

Considerations

If you eat fewer than 800 calories a day, you may start to suffer from fatigue and a lack of essential nutrients such as protein, iron and calcium. Long-term calorie restriction forces your body into starvation mode and leads to loss of muscular strength, endurance and coordination, mental sluggishness, thinning hair and dehydration. Don't stay on a quick-loss diet for more than two weeks, and take vitamin supplements and drink plenty of water.