Quick Weight Loss - Is There Such A Thing?

We've all been there. It's a week before the yearly trip to the beach; we try on our new bikini, and - eeeek! Looking in the mirror, we can see that we look like an over-stuffed bag of potatoes gone wrong. We know that we need to lose weight - and fast.

So for days we starve ourselves living on water and strawberries, do more exercise than an over-zealous triathlete, and drink water like it's going out of fashion. By the end of the week, we're exhausted, off-color, and most definitely not in the mood to get out of bed - let alone go on holidays. Which leaves us wondering: is there really a possible solution to quick weight loss?

Quick Weight Loss Solutions - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

There are a number of quick weight loss solutions out there for instant view on the internet, written about in magazines and newspapers, and heard about over the school-yard and office drinking fountains. However, many of them are not only absurd, but down-right dangerous, ranging from hour long treadmill runs dressed in a plastic bag, lotions and potions made from spices and herbal teas, and diets consisting of coffee and chilly for days on end. For any rational, health-conscience person, these ideas are enough to either make you shudder or give you a good belly chuckle - but for the crash dieter, some of these ideas are the basis for their next dangerous and detrimental weight-loss attempt.

Why it's so absurd

When we consider that it has been estimated that half a kilo (1 pound) of body fat equals around 16,000 kilojoules (or around 4,000 calories), we can see why it's nearly impossible to lose any substantial amount of body fat in a short period of time.

It doesn't matter how much we run, how little we eat, or what supplements we take, we're clearly not going to gain a calorie deficit large enough to lose any more that a kilo or two in the time-frame of a week - simple as that. Which makes any quick weight loss theory not only false, but dangerous too.

Any dramatic change in diet, exercise or supplement intake is going to have a negative effect on the body which is why many crash dieters often complain of symptoms such as nausea, headache, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, lethargy, sleeplessness or an inability to concentrate.

Losing Weight - The Effective Way

If we want to lose weight effectively, we need to do it at a realistic pace - say, for example, half to a kilo per week. And to do this, we simply need to eat less, eat healthier foods, and exercise more - simple as that. So if we want to be ready for bikini season, we need to start watching what we eat, toning up and exercising more months prior to our trip away.

After all, there's no short-cut to losing weight - quick weight loss ideas might be a short-cut to illness, injury and bad health - but unfortunately, not weight loss.