SPORTS TALK HOSTS THINK SO, BUT I PREFER THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY!
Written by: Astro Mike Ganis aka Mike In DA
Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010
If you’ve been listening to local sports talk shows recently, you’ve heard a plethora of ads with testimonials from local talk show hosts of how they’ve dropped an enormous number of pounds in a short period of time using the Quick Weight Loss Center (QWLC) diet. But is what these people are doing the best way to go about dieting and should you do it the same way?
I am not a doctor and have never been successful at any diet and admit I am envious of these people because I’ve been trying to lose 10 pounds since 2005 at my doctor’s suggestion, but have ended up instead putting on a few LBs because I haven't changed my diet, which includes the consumption of a lot of bread, ice cream, Coca Cola, juices, fried foods, and plenty of meat.
However, I do know that miracles don’t happen when trying to lose weight, especially when you don’t even have to exercise and can still eat your favorite foods, as most of these people profess. You will be surprised to find out how many people are actually looking for a fast weight loss program. Why fast? Well, first of all, most of us are impatient. We live hectic lives (well I don't any longer, but I used to). We want results now, we want to notice the change right away, and we don't want to work hard to achieve those results.
Most people eat what they want all year round, prefer TV over exercising, and dream about how next week (or month/year) they are going to start a healthy lifestyle. Suddenly, one day they realize that there are just two weeks left before they have to go to a friend's or relative's wedding or that summer is coming up and they want to look good at the pool or beach.
Of course, TV and the Internet are full of commercials that promise you will lose 30-40 pounds in two months or so. They even show you tons of pictures of fit, smiling people with perfect bodies. Just pop a magic pill 3 times a day or eat prepared meals and you will turn into a supermodel or become sexually slim right away.
Sounds good, right? I hate to disappoint you, but this is just another scam created to get your money. There is no such thing as fast weight loss. I'm sure I'll get some infuriated comments at the bottom of this post like "That can't be true! My friend (or I) really lost 30 pounds in six weeks doing the Quick Weight Loss Center diet (or some other diet)!" Well you are in for another disappointment. You or your friend lost very little fat. You (he/she) lost mostly water and muscle.
The human body is a well coordinated working mechanism. It has no idea that you've decided to fit into a size 8 dress for women or a 32-inch waist size for men and are doing some new fad diet. It thinks you are starving. It's too concerned about survival to allow us losing weight fast. Instead, your metabolism slows down to conserve the energy. As soon as you'll start eating normal food, you'll gain all of your weight back and maybe some extra pounds in addition to that, if you're nor careful.
To make it simple, fast weight loss is almost always followed by fast weight gain with perhaps a few exceptions. In addition to that, when you lose weight too fast, your skin does not have enough time to shrink, it will become loose. The right amount of weight that the average person can lose in one week by eating correctly and doing exercises is around 2-3 pounds. That is a healthy, safe, effective amount to lose. It is the only way that you can get long lasting results.
I know it is not as fast as many people would like to lose weight, but think about how long did it take you to gain weight? I bet you a hundred bucks that you didn't gain 30 pounds in six weeks. It is only logical, that your body will not allow you to lose 30 pounds in six weeks. Sorry about that! I'm trying to save you money here, so repeat after me, "There is no machine, no special diet, no special workout program, no special pill, or special patch that will help me to lose weight fast and stay healthy at the same time". Repeat it to yourself every time you have an urge to buy some "quick fix" no matter how appealing it sounds.
Remember people who have created these commercials are professionals who know what you would like to hear. Don't let them fool you. Just try to eat right and work out. Be consistent. Make one little step at a time and you'll be surprised how far you can actually go. Let's say you've made the decision to lose weight as quickly as possible. You have your diet in place and you expect to follow it religiously. At this point, you may be wondering how much weight you can lose in a given week and whether fast weight loss can be dangerous for your body.
There are a number of things that can affect your weight loss. For instance, family history, or genetics, can play a significant role. Also, your weight loss may depend upon how much exercise you're engaging in. Your metabolism, or how quickly you burn calories, can also have a major effect. Theoretically, you could lose as much as 20 pounds a week. However, much of that weight would be water weight.
That means that, once you go off your diet, you are likely to gain much of that weight back. Also, unless you engage in strength training, you will be losing muscle as well as fat, since about ¼ of the body's weight consists of muscle. It is interesting to note that, at most, you can probably lose three or four pounds of fat in a given week. Nature has a way of protecting the body against excessive weight loss. If, for instance, your calorie count suddenly drops, your body will compensate for the fact by reducing your metabolic rate. As a result, you'll need fewer calories to maintain your weight.
This explains why some people lose weight up to a point and then cannot lose any additional weight, no matter how hard they try. If you lose weight quickly, there's a good chance that your health will be jeopardized. For instance, I read that fast weight loss has been linked to the appearance of gall stones. Also, you may experience loose skin as mentioned above, as your weight goes into free fall. Perhaps most distressing of all, if you experience rapid weight loss, there's a good chance that you will gain the weight back again. This is because it is very difficult to maintain a healthy diet regimen. After a period of deprivation, you may find yourself falling back into the bad eating habits that got you overweight in the first place.
SLOW YOUR ROLL
Fast weight loss also places you at greater risk for an eating disorder. This is why it is so critically important to lose weight under a physician's care, especially if you are in the obese category. Otherwise, you could be doing more harm to your body than good. Even the contestants on “The Biggest Loser” are under an expert’s care during their period of weight loss.
However, doctors believe that the go-slow approach is best for long-term weight loss. Otherwise, you could end up with a number of health problems you weren't anticipating. There are a number of approaches you can use to lose weight. For instance, regardless of what diet you follow, it is vitally important that you accompany your diet plan with an effective exercise routine. One of the best exercises you can do, in fact, is the easiest--walking. It has been said that you can lose as many as two pounds a week, just by walking alone.
In conclusion, rapid weight loss should be approached with caution. It is far better to lose a few pounds each week and maintain that weight loss over the long term. In essence, all good things take time, and that is particularly true when it comes to weight loss. Perhaps the best advice is to be patient. Follow a reasonable diet, get plenty of exercise, and drink a good amount of water. That way, you should be able to slowly lose weight-without jeopardizing your health in the process.
So when you are impressed with all the stats that John Lopez, Lance Z., Sean the Cablinasian, John Harris, the Mighty Gwinn, etc., brag about with regard to weight loss, remember what I told you here: If you want to lose weight, commit yourself to the reliable old-fashioned way. (This is a public service announcement from me.)
HMW
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2 comments:
I could have not put it much more clear. I am loving this, thanks HMW
Thnx Cynthia sister 4 ur time & comment!
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