Quick weight loss is not only difficult, it can be unhealthy. Sites and organizations touting quick weight loss programs have flooded the media but these are rarely effective – at least in the long term.
The fact is that weight gain did not happen overnight, and neither will effective weight loss. Weight loss programs such as eating nothing but protein, cutting out white flour and sweets can produce dramatic results in a fairly short time – but can have serious health consequences in the long term.
A “traditional” weight loss program that involves simply cutting back on food intake can be counterproductive as well. This has to do with the nature of fat build-up in the first place. Our earliest direct ancestors evolved on the hot, dry savannahs of eastern Africa – a place where food supplies were far from certain. In times of famine, the bodily metabolism slowed down in order to conserve energy; it was during these times that the bodies of these early hominids would survive on fat stored during times of plenty.
Although society, technology and culture have changed greatly in the past 6-7 million years, biology has not; when you deny yourself food, your body perceives it as a famine, whether you are in the lush agricultural regions of California or the dry plains of Kenya. Therefore, the metabolism slows down, and those extra pounds refuse to come off, preventing quick weight loss.
Recent research indicates a strong connection between the use of “high-fructose corn syrup,” a largely artificial sweetener added to nearly everything from cola drinks to commercial breakfast “cereals” and snack foods, and the current epidemic of obesity. The “fattening” of America began in earnest around 1980 – the same time that big corporations began using high-fructose corn syrup in virtually all commercial food products. As the use of this substance has increased, so has the weight of the average American. Is this a coincidence?
While there are no sure ways to accomplish fast weight loss in a healthy manner, there are steps one can take in order to be more successful in a weight loss program. One is to read the ingredients of prepared foods. If it contains high-fructose corn syrup, and/or has ingredients that sound like they came from a chemistry lab, avoid it.
Better yet, join the “slow-food” movement. The closer a food is to its natural state, the more nutrient-dense it will be – and the less of it you will need in order to feel satisfied while maintaining good health.
Any exercise program used in conjunction with a weight-loss program should include strength training as well. Muscle tissue tends to burn more calories, even when one is at rest.
You may not achieve quick weight loss, but your weight loss program will have better long-term results.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Anorexia
By: wrong/right | 10-07-2008
My parents think i'm anorexic and i hate that cause i know for a fact i'm not but the more they keep telling me i am the more it's getting to me and probably making me become anorexic.But they don't understand how i feel and i try telling them i'm not but they are always making jokes on how i look like it and it hurts me mentally. How can i prove to them that i'm not??
Windpipe
By: Erin | 09-07-2008
can you get hurt from being slapped in the throat / chest?
What is the best treatment for ostio and ...
By: joleen | 08-07-2008
what is the best treatment for ostio and rheumatoid arthritis after going through chemo and radiation therpy for breast cancer
I am looking to see if anyone has taken pills ...
By: erika | 07-07-2008
I am looking to see if anyone has taken pills called thermo grass to lose fat and weight???Anyone does it work and how long before u see results.???
Maeshmallow consumption
By: norm | 05-07-2008
How many marshmallows are consumed in the United Staes each year??
Fading away LOL
By: Loveless | 04-07-2008
I wanna to put on a few more pounds an maybe do some weightlifting but i cant gain calories for i burn em to quick i have a high metaboilisim so its hard for me to gain weight any comments would be helpful.
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