If you have walked around a book store, or an e-book store online, you have probably seen that weight loss is a fairly well stocked section of just about any retailer around. There are a ton of weight loss diets, most of them fads, but not all of them. Think of an odd diet choice, and you can probably find a book that was written on it and targeted to the weight loss crowd. All of these fad diets promise fast weight loss, explain why the reader is overweight, and then usually include some pseudo science that is sure to draw the ire of at least one other author, creating an Internet war of words.
It isn’t always that bad, but you probably get the point by now. Of course, some of these diets do result in quick weight loss, getting a lot of press and popularity quickly. The lasting weight loss issue is the real trick though.
There are plenty of ways to trick the scale and elicit a solid amount of weight loss, but to continue that weight loss is where a better approach needs to be taken. And here’s the kicker, for nearly everyone, a solid and long term approach is likely to look strikingly similar. Some people do better on lower carbohydrate diets, while others do better on higher carbs and lower fat, but in the end they all have one thing in common: eating a bit less than needed to maintain weight.
Sticking on the topic of fast weight loss though, why not start on a fad diet and then move into something more sustainable? That’s a good question, and one that doesn’t have an easy answer. The main reason that can probably fit most people though is that it is difficult to transition from diet to diet. Also, many fad diets are not going to be nutritionally sound, so you will end up lacking something that you may require for optimal health.
What can be a better alternative is to start out on a plan for those two weeks, and no look at the scale at all on a day to day basis. Simply begin your diet plan with a reduction in fatty foods, starches, sugars and all the other stuff that the diet “experts” tell you to avoid, and see how you feel. If you are kicking the cravings, then you’re probably doing fine. After five days or so of eating less, and hopefully moving more, check the scale.
Odds are, you are going to see a weight loss that is much more dramatic than you expected. The big reason being that weight loss, at least in the beginning, is usually bigger because there is so much water that gets dumped.
This can be much different for men and women, but typically, the results will catch up to even things out fairly soon.
So next time you think about starting a fad diet for fast weight loss, try and see what you can do to simply eat healthier and a bit less. Your body will thank you, and you will almost certainly feel better as well.