Weight loss is a big issue for an important part of the American population. Even from young age we are subject to temptations such a fast food, sweets and carbonated soft drinks, which are poor in nutrients but rich in sugar, preservatives and empty calories. Once an individual passes a certain weight limit, controlling it becomes practically impossible. This is where the diet struggle begins.
Experience shows that many overweight people want to shed their pounds as fast as possible. The most determined ones will starve themselves, hoping they will regain the looks they once had. Those persons ignore the fact that by starvation, the body is deprived of those nutrients that are needed to support life. This is how they can develop severe anemia or other nutritional illnesses. When this happens, they resort to doctors who put them back on real food. Soon, they return to their unhealthy eating habits and the pounds return, many times even in bigger numbers.
What is it considered rapid weight loss? Traditional diets state that everything that's more than 2 pounds a week is considered rapid. The calculation is based on the conversion of pounds into calories. If a weight loss program assumes a calorie deficit bigger than 1000 calories per day, it will be very hard to compensate with exercise, therefore the person won't be able to secure the minimum amount of nutrients the body needs.
It's funny what people would do to lose a few pounds as fast as a couple of days. They have short term objectives. For instance, a girl might want to lose a three-four pounds from Monday to Sunday, because she's going to a date or a party and she wants to fit inside a certain dress she loves. For that matter, she'd starve herself for five days, without considering she might harm her stomach or even trouble her metabolism. If she doesn't make sure she drinks enough water, she might also experience dehydration. This is a big price to pay for simply fitting into a dress.
A long term low protein diet will cause malnutrition. It will also lead to diminishing the muscular mass, because the body will consume its own protein when it doesn't find it in the food. Protein is found in muscles. When you lose weight, you want to get rid of the fat, but keep your muscular mass intact. This is why you need a minimum protein intake no matter what diet you choose.
Experience shows that rapid weight loss significantly increases the risk of developing gallstones. This risk occurs whether or not the weight loss is intentional. If it is unintentional, a visit to a physician is recommended as soon as you notice it, even if you were overweight, so losing weight without doing anything for it seems awesome.
There might be situations when rapid weight loss is actually needed and recommended by a doctor. Weight loss surgery, for instance, may require the patient to lose a significant amount of weight in order to become eligible. However, such cases will always be closely monitored by doctors, so the risk of developing secondary conditions is minimized.
If you were just thinking to start some rapid weight loss diet, consider talking to your doctor first. Your body will thank you.
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