Unhealthy Ways to Lose Weight

If you Lose Weight by Unhealthy Means you will Gain Weight Faster when you Stop

Losing weight is often a difficult process.  It takes a good amount of time and hard work to lose the weight which took weeks or years to put on.

Quick weight loss is a billion dollar a year industry because millions of people want to lose the weight they accumulated over 10+ years in months or even weeks.

A Balanced Exercise & Nutrition Program is the Only Truly Healthy way to Lose Weight

The only problem with losing weight properly is the time frame.  Healthy weight loss, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is only 1-2 pounds a week.

Most people do not like the idea of spending 10-20 weeks to lose the 20 pounds they just decided they don't want anymore so they turn to weight loss methods which are supposedly quick and easy but are really unhealthy ways to lose weight.

Unhealthy ways to lose weight are often based on misinformation such as nutrition myths.

The media often publicizes if not glorifies unhealthy weight loss when covering celebrities and even professional athletes.

Here are Some Harmful, Unhealthy Weight loss Techniques Which Should be Avoided

Starvation

Starvation is not fasting.  Controlled fasting can be healthy and serve purposes such as cleansing and detoxifying the body and is done while physically inactive.

A controlled fast lasts for a specific amount of time, after which a person resumes their normal eating habits.  During a controlled fast the person does not exercise and is sure to follow the structured fasting protocol.

Starvation involves long term food restriction.  The body does not get enough calories or nutrients to function properly.  Weight is lost from all compartments of the body including water, fat, muscle and even bone.

Why Losing Weight by Starvation is Unhealthy

The eating disorder anorexia nervosa is marked by self induced starvation diets by its sufferers.

Using starvation to lose weight the body becomes undernourished, not get enough calories to function properly.  The body is also malnourished because it is deficient the essential nutrients to function properly.

Those who use starvation for weight loss, regain all of the weight and usually more when they resume normal eating habits.

Lack of energy is least serious consequences of starvation diets which can include a variety if illnesses as well as lowered immune system, weak bones, diminished mental capacity and even death.

Drugs

Illicit and diet drugs have been used for weight loss for years.  Unless prescribed by a credible doctor, diet drugs are usually unhealthy for the people who take them.

Illicit drugs such as methamphetamines (speed), crack and cocaine have also been used in the past for weight loss purposes.

Prescription drugs used for ADHD Ritalin and Adderall have recently been reported to have been used by celebrities for weight loss.

Why Drugs are Unhealthy Ways to Lose Weight

All drugs which have been used for the purpose of unhealthy weight loss have different effects in the body.  Weight loss for illicit drugs is a side effect which comes along with the other negative effects of the drugs.

What is common amongst all drugs is when they are discontinued the body no longer receives the affects of the drug.  The effect of discontinuing the drugs can lead to withdrawal symptoms and most likely gaining the weight lost.

Laxatives

Laxatives are foods, compounds, drugs or supplements which induce bowel movements or loosen the stool.  Laxatives come in the form of pills, powders suppositories and teas.

Laxatives have been erroneously used for weight loss for years.  The belief is that laxatives will prevent absorption of consumed foods.

The calories of the ingested food have already made it to the bloodstream by the time the laxative takes effect.  The only weight loss from laxatives is water weight.

Why Laxatives Unhealthy for Weight Loss

Improper use of laxatives can cause short and long term problems.  Short term problems associated with laxative abuse include dehydration and hemorrhoids.  Long term effects include intestinal paralysis, renal failure, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and even pancreatitis.

Purging

Purging is the act vomiting the food from the stomach directly after eating.  As with the eating disorder bulimia nervosa binging on large amounts of food is commonly followed by purging the food from the stomach.

People who do not suffer from the eating disorder bulimia have used purging as a weight aid loss for years.  Purging is usually used exclusively after excessively large unhealthy meals.

Purging is based on the idea that the person will be satisfied by eating the food, but will not absorb the calories and gain weight from it.

Why Purging is Unhealthy for Weight Loss

Purging can lead to many problems the least being malnutrition due to purging the essential nutrients obtained in the diet.

Purging can cause serious problems of the stomach and esophagus such as ulcers, tears and ruptures.  It is rare, but chronic purging has been linked to esophageal adenocarcinoma which is an often deadly cancer.

Smoking

Even though research has shown that smoking cigarettes causes an increase in metabolic rate and suppresses the appetite, the positive effects are insignificant to the negative effects of smoking.

The dangers of being overweight or obese do not compare to the dangers of chronically smoking.

Why Smoking is Unhealthy for Weight Loss

Just in case you have been living in a cave, outer space, or under the ocean your whole life, cigarette smoking is the cause of 85% of lung cancer cases.  Smoking has so many negative effects on the body, not limited to the heart and lungs making it pointless to list them.

Saunas & Sweat Suits

Sweat or sauna suits and saunas have been used for weight loss for years.  The weight lost by using these suits or saunas is entirely water weight.

The suits have been used by athletes who are required to compete in a specific weight class for cutting weight for years.

Athletes use the suits to achieve a certain weight only for competition.  After the weigh and competition the athletes never wear these suits to lose weight.

Why Using Sauna Suits is Considered Unhealthy Ways to Lose Weight

Saunas or sweat suits or both can cause problems which can be deadly.  The least dangerous effect of dehydration and increased body temperature can become deadly if it gets out of control.

One extreme example of unhealthy ways to lose weight was a high school wrestler who used multiple unhealthy ways to lose weight in preparation for a wrestling meet.

The student athlete took the dangerous diet supplement ephedrine while he ran stadium steps in a sweat suit in order to make weight for the next day's competition.

He was found dead the next day.  Even though he had been dead for over 8 hours, his body temperature was still over 100 degrees.

If you Want to Lose Weight as Fast as Possible, the very best thing to do is, Slow Down

Weight loss is not meant to be a quick process.  Avoid unhealthy ways to lose weight and focus on proper nutrition, training, rest and you will become physically and mentally healthy and be able to maintain it for a lifetime.

Lose Weight Naturally and Effectively with the Following

Weight Loss
Get the real scientific, truth about weight loss.

Fat Loss Matrix
Learn what it takes to lose fat, maintain your muscle and be ideally defined.

Cardiovascular Training
Most importantly cardio keeps your heart healthy.  Cardio also burns calories which can burn fat along with a healthy lifestyle.

Resistance Training
Weight training will keep your metabolism high as well as keep your muscles toned and strong.  Resistance training is a key element in all balanced fitness programs for weight loss or general fitness.

Proper Nutrition
Nutrition is not changing your eating habits for a short period of time.  By making positive long term decisions, you will improve your lifelong nutrition.  Avoid unhealthy ways to lose weight at all costs.

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