Fast weight loss can be an enticing concept, particularly because excess weight can lead to cardiovascular disease and increase your risk of heart attack, diabetes, certain cancers, arthritis, asthma and even infertility. However, losing weight too fast can also be detrimental to your health. Check with your doctor before beginning any new diet or exercise routine. She can help tailor a workout and eating program to your situation.
Unhealthy Weight Loss
According to the Weight-Control Information Network, a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, losing more than 3 pounds a week can lead to painful gallstones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also suggest that people who lose weight too quickly will often be unlikely to keep it off.
Dangers of Fad Diets
Fad diets may help you lose weight at first, but often lack the nutrients your body needs to function and stay healthy. Most fad diets are geared toward eating a lot of one kind of food, such as protein, while avoiding others, such as carbohydrates. Eating too much protein can cause you to consume an unhealthy amount of fat and cholesterol; your body needs fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates to thrive. A healthy, balanced diet is important for long-term weight loss.
Herbal products that claim to help you lose weight fast, meanwhile, usually are not tested by reliable government sources for proof of effectiveness or healthfulness. While they may be popular, they may not be safe. Consult your doctor before taking any kind of supplement, herbal or otherwise.
Healthy Weight Loss
Aim to lose between ½ and 2 pounds a week to stay healthy. To do this, you must use more calories than you consume. One pound equals 3,500 calories. To lose 1 pound per week, you must use 500 more calories a day than you ingest. For 2 pounds per week, you must use 1,000 more calories a day. Combine diet and increased physical activity to boost the number of calories you use per day without depriving yourself of the calories you need.
Tips to Lose Weight
To lose weight and keep it off, begin by setting realistic and reachable goals. While you may need to lose 50 lbs., set a short-term goal of 5, 10, or 15 lbs. Losing even 5 percent of your body weight --- 10 lbs. for a 200 lb. person --- can significantly decrease your risk of debilitating, weight-related disease, the CDC advises. You can also increase the amount of water, fruits and vegetables in your diet, allowing you to eat more food and consume fewer calories.
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