The Problem With Rapid Weight Loss

This is a good blog post from WebMD. It confirms want I’ve been saying all along. The problem with rapid weight loss is you don’t lose any fat. If you don’t lose fat, the weight comes right back.

Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days!

Eat as Much as You Want — and Still Lose Weight! But, what kind of weight are you losing? It’s not body fat.

Drop One Dress Size a Day!

Rapid weight loss can be quick and easy — if you believe the advertising claims.

Fad diets and weight loss supplements promise a slimmer body in no time. In the U.S. alone, consumers spend $33 billion each year on weight-loss products.

Do any of these products really produce rapid weight loss? Are they safe? And what are the risks of such fast weight loss? WebMD took a look at some rapid weight loss claims, as well as the available evidence.

First, consider that anyone can lose 10 pounds if you’re overweight. How you might ask?

Rapid Weight Loss: What Is It?

So many marketers promise “fast weight loss” that it’s difficult to sort through them all.

Most rapid weight loss pitches fall into these categories:

Starvation Diets

Beyonce popularized the so-called “master cleanse” diet: water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. Variations of these diets have been around since at least the 1950s. They often also promise “detoxification” through colonics or enemas. All that’s really happening is that you’re emptying out your system of all the solid matter that’s in your intestines. Most people have about three days worth of food in various stages of being digested. Most of these quick weight loss diets just clean you out. This type of diet isn’t really a diet and you only

Diet Pills and Supplements

Dozens of diet supplements promise to speed up weight loss. Generally, they claim either to block absorption of nutrients, increase metabolism, or burn fat.

Very Low-Calorie Diets (VLCDs)

One proven method of rapid weight loss is the medically supervised very low-calorie diet (VLCD). Most of what is known about rapid weight loss come from studies of people on these diets.

Creams, Devices, and Magic Voodoo Spells

There seems to be no end to the dubious ideas promoted in the name of rapid weight loss. Most promise to replace diet or exercise.

Does Rapid Weight Loss Work?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests regulate dietary supplements; however, it treats them like foods rather than medications. In other words, if you don't die or get sick then it's okay to sell it. That's why we have soo many foods on the market that have no nutritional value. 

The FDA also does not regulate claims made by over-the-counter weight loss products. Unlike drug manufacturers, the makers of supplements don’t have to show their products are safe or effective before selling them on the market. This means that dietary supplements do not need approval from FDA before they are marketed. That could be risky, but most of them are safe, they just don’t work. They give them the same test; if you don't get sick or die then they are okay to sell.

Aside from the very low-calorie diet and weight loss surgery, no other product, pill, or diet has been proven to work for fast weight loss. The prescription drug orlistat can help, but it works slowly and only with diet and exercise. Orlistat is marketed as Xenical. Labeling for orlistat notes that it can cause severe liver damage.

In any rapid weight loss program, what really burns fat is not a pill or type of food. It’s the drastic reduction of calories, combined with exercise. Your liver is very important to your digestive system and you only have one. You want to take care of your liver. Liver disease will stop you from burning calories, so you start gaining weight and lose energy. A malfunctioning liver will cause other diseases and your health will slowly deteriorate.

Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone.

 Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.