Why You Should Start Slowly when Dieting

Most dieters want to lose weight now. I know it was hard for me to be patient when losing 65 pounds. However, there are many downsides to rapid weight loss. Here are some reasons you should start slowly when dieting.

Health risks. There are some risks to your health if you lose weight too quickly, especially over a period of time. According to WebMD, these include increased risk of gallstones, malnutrition, hair loss and even muscle loss. Muscle is made up of protein and protein is easier for your body to use over fat. Some vital organs are considered muscles. You're looking to reduce fat, not muscle, so start slowly when dieting.

Binging. When you start a diet full force you stand the risk of binging. When you have to make too many sacrifices from the start it is hard to stay motivated in your weight loss efforts. It's harder to maintain self control if you feel deprived or if you're actually starving yourself. If you start slowly when dieting and take things one step at a time, you reduce the risk of giving in to binging.

Yo-Yo Dieting. When you use a diet plan to lose weight quickly, you may go back to your regular eating habits once you've reach your desired weight. Not only can you gain back the weight you've lost, but you can gain weight above where you started. This can make you go back on another quick diet (since it worked so well the first time). You get into the weight loss-weight gain cycle of yo-yo dieting, which carries its own health risks.

Metabolism. If you cut your food intake too quickly, you risk slowing your metabolism. Your metabolism will slow down if there's not enough food for your body to use. Any food you do eat will be used to keep necessary body functions going for survival rather than burning off fat stores.

Keeping it off. When you go slowly on a diet, your weight loss is more likely to be permanent. By giving yourself time to adjust to each change, positive lifestyle changes are more likely to become positive habits you can keep to for life.

Stretch marks. Although many people diet for better health, just as many lose weight to look better. Just as when you gain weight too quickly, if you lose weight too fast you risk developing stretch marks. Your skin has stretched to fit over any added pounds. It takes time for skin to adjust to weight loss. Although the risk of stretch marks may not be totally eliminated, you reduce the risk by losing weight slowly when dieting.

RELATED READING ON DIETING & WEIGHT LOSS BY THIS AUTHOR:

Take Baby Steps when Starting a Diet

Weigh Less for Life Diet Plan

REFERENCE:

WebMD; Rapid Weight Loss