Fast weight loss? Yes or no?...

Do you only think of losing weight if there is some kind of event in sight, like a holiday or other special occasion?

I find that most people want to achieve their goal as quickly as possible, without making too many changes to their lifestyle.

It’s undoubtedly motivating to see the scales go down quickly spurring you, plus there is limited evidence to suggest that a quick weight loss for a couple of weeks can have minor benefits.

But what if you need to lose alot of weight and your goals are long term?

Ask yourself why time is so important to you!

We are living in a world of instant gratification. We are so used to having everything we need at our finger tips, or delivered at the push of a button. Want a takeaway? Order one and its delivered within thirty minutes. Need to speak to someone two hours away? We pick up the phone.

You might know deep down that the concept of obtaining results overnight is crazy but are you still tempted by promises of quick fat loss results?

You may think that under-eating for long periods of time, relying on special foods, using meal replacements, or excessive cardio is going to give you the quick results you want.

But, it’s easy to forget that the consequences of that can mean that you don’t learn the skills to maintain your results, meaning your efforts could be futile and actually making your weight problem worse.

Here are some reasons as to why I don’t recommend quick weight loss if you want to sustain your results:

• Your weight gain might be due to changes in lifestyle or habits. You may have a reduced metabolism as you are getting older or through years of excessive dieting. You might have entered menopause effecting your hormones. So it might be a case of self-analysis and taking the time to educate yourself as to which of these factors have influenced changes in your eating habits and how to manage them. This is not something that can be achieved over night.

• Over restricting calories for a few days is easy whilst your motivation is high, but then as time passes there are changes to hormones; leading to increased hunger and cravings and reducing feelings of satiety and fullness. Finding out the best ways to lose fat without going hungry over a period of time will help you be consistent.

• Your body is primed for survival. To conserve energy during times of calorie scarcity, the body may break down muscle tissue for fuel. This is counterproductive for those seeking to lose weight because lean muscle tissue is metabolically active, meaning it burns calories even at rest. Losing muscle can slow down your metabolism, making it more challenging to maintain or continue losing weight. Losing weight at a slower pace will ensure you lose it from fat stores rather than muscle.

So; I challenge you this:

Instead of asking how quick you can lose weight; ask yourself the following:

• How can I lose weight sustainably so that I can get to my goal and learn the tools needed to maintain it?

• How can I stick with it for an extended period, such as two or three months?

• Will my plan include my favourite foods so that I won’t feel deprived, leading to inconsistency?

Finally, weight loss is personal to you, your lifestyle and your goals.

Quick fixes and extreme measures are rarely the path to long-term success. This can only be achieved through patience, consistency, sustainability, healthy habits, and education.

Setting realistic goals and making informed choices is going to have a better outcome. Sometimes seeking professional guidance may be needed.