Quick Weight Loss; Is it worth it?

Have you seen these ads and ever wondered how it could be true?

“How to lose weight fast.”

“Drop two dress sizes in 2 weeks.”

“Lose 5kg in 1 week.”

These titles are attention-grabbing, and the allure is vital for those who have the long-standing desire to lose weight. The caption under the title will tell you, “This one works,” and then show you the proof through before and after photos and sharing client testimonials. You then click to read more and learn you need to give up all the foods you love, starve yourself and pay half your monthly salary for fancy pills, teas or shakes. But you’ll give it one more shot, anything to achieve the weight loss you desire.

The diet industry is a trillion-dollar industry, and its’ marketing is clever and effective. It promises quick results and feeds into human desires to look a certain way. The purpose is to make money, and most don’t care how. You are provided pictures of the perfect body with a flat tummy that is “healthy” and then sold the solution. The desire to look that way is attractive to many, and they are prepared to go any length to get the desired result. There are many reasons why you may wish to lose weight. Perhaps it is to fit into your wedding dress or feel more confident in yourself, or maybe a family member or a doctor said it is best to lose weight for your health—either way, the method you choose to lose the weight determines whether you succeed or fail.The reality is we all come in different shapes and sizes, and there is no one size fits all.

Most of us are in a hurry to lose weight – and so when we don’t see results quickly, we lose faith and stop. It is not as simple as popping the pill in your mouth or cutting out an essential food group. It is hard work that requires time, deep thought, commitment, and loads of motivation. 

Remember creating change takes time, and you need the change to be long-lasting for the weight you lose to stay off. You might have a few bad dietary habits, and you cannot expect to change them overnight. Ideas like choosing to wake up on a Monday morning and overhauling your diet and lifestyle will likely fail you. It is not sustainable, and you are asking too much of yourself in a short space of time. Research has shown us time and time again that ‘when people lose weight quickly, they cannot successfully keep it off, this is because they have taught themselves no new habits and the diets they follow are too restrictive and make them unhappy. 

Did you know that 99% of diets fail and that 75% of those following restrictive diets that succeed, shortly regain all the weight they lost, plus more?

What’s the harm in trying a new fad diet?

There are two ways to look at this.

Firstly, those who somehow manage to stick to a quick weight loss diet will most likely experience the following:

1. Nutrient deficiencies – many rapid weight loss diets cut out entire groups of foods, which means deficiencies that can result in low energy, brittle hair, and even constipation will often arise.
2. A slower metabolism – a significant reduction in your daily calories triggers your body to go into conservation mode, making it harder to lose weight. Meaning your body is using fewer calories than usual to compensate for the rapid reduction in food.
3. Muscle instead of fat loss – rapid loss often means muscle loss, which in turn means a further reduction in your metabolism.
4. Dehydration – fast weight loss from low carb diets is due to a large amount of water lost in short-term carb stores around the body, which means that dehydration could be a substantial reality.
5. Cravings (Ravenous behavior / binging) – this happens due to the diet triggering your hunger hormone (leptin) to overproduce to try and compensate for the loss of calories.
6. Your mental health dips –  your brain is a fuel-hungry organ, and not providing it with enough can impact your concentration during the day and more.

Secondly, those who fail, tend to damage their relationship with food and, in some instances, lead to more severe outcomes like an eating disorder.

What is the best method for weight loss?

Steady and healthy weight loss is always best, as this will allow you to understand your body’s individual needs, create long-lasting habits and be happy in the process of losing weight.  

Sustainable weight loss is on average 0.5-1kg weight loss per week.

It may seem like a small amount, but it is healthy. In taking time and following this weight loss rule, you can focus on a few small manageable changes in your diet and feel motivated to achieve these changes successfully, and in turn, this will drive you to continue to believe in your goals. If you have struggled with dieting in the past, consider working on your relationship with food. Keeping a food journal to understand why you are eating things or looking at triggers can help.

Eat Smarts free Plate Model is a great place to start. You can learn how to portion your plate when looking at different food groups. But if you are mentally ready to begin your weight loss journey, Eat Smart has weight loss plans and an eBook, all available online, including diet gems for your success.

We can also help you create a personalised weight loss plan, which considers the calories you need to eat in a day to get to your goal weight safely. If you are still unsure, remember to do your research before buying into the new fad diet you see on social media. Or find a good Dietitian. Our Eat Smart dieticians will set you up with all the knowledge and tools for success and provide you with ongoing support and accountability. We focus on your diet and work with you on other aspects of your lifestyle, such as stress, sleep, and physical activity, as these factors influence your outcome.

Remember, do what is best for you! 

Top diet trends to watch out for in 2022…..

Detoxes with Juicing & Smoothies

Fasting diets

Ketogenic diet

Gut Cleanses

Blood Type Diets

To find out more about our healthy balanced weight loss plans, contact us, and we will be happy to work with you.