“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” — Colin Powell
There are countless stories online telling us how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off, and there are equally as many websites pushing quick-fix diets and extreme weight loss solutions. With people searching for diets such as “Lose 30 Pounds in 10 Days” and thousands of sites offering terrible fitness advice, is it any wonder we’re fighting a losing battle with obesity?
Why Easy Fixes Don’t Work
Rarely, if ever, is the easiest way to do something also the best way. Weight loss is no exception. Extreme weight loss gimmicks promising fast results with minimal effort are not going to give you the long-term results you want. If anything, they will offer a small, short-term weight loss that will be inevitably followed by weight gain when you go back to your regular eating habits. Without integrating real changes to your fitness habits, you cannot achieve long-term weight loss.
Also, extreme fad diets can have serious adverse health effects including gallstones, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, hair loss, malnutrition and more. In almost all cases, your health will be worse after trying a fad diet than it was before.
What Does Work
We know fad diets aren’t a good solution for weight loss, so what can we do to lose weight and keep it off? You must commit to making real changes to your eating habits and your fitness routine. It will not be easy, and it will not be fast, but if you truly commit yourself to making this change, it will be worth it.
Choosing a Method
The most important part of choosing a weight loss method is to pick one that is sustainable for the long-term. Losing five pounds in the first week on a very low-calorie diet won’t do you much good if you can’t endure the diet and you quit right away. Plus, you’ll probably gain all the weight back with a few more pounds as your body rebounds from the crash diet.
You should also research your plan to ensure it has been reviewed by health experts and studied for long-term health impacts. Diets such as the Paleo diet and intermittent fasting are examples of plans that work well for weight loss and are safe for prolonged use.
