6 Common Unhealthy Ways To Lose Weight

1. Low Fat Diet:

Our bodies need fat, plus healthy fats actually help you burn fat. Unfortunately, the zero-calorie trend is one of the most popular, leading people to consume harmful artificial sweeteners in the name of losing weight. Also, diet drinks can actually cause weight gain.

2. Drugs and Pills:

We’re all familiar with this one and we know there’s not a magic pill that will make you skinny. Sadly, drugs, like cocaine, are often used as a quick fix for weight-loss. But in the long run they can severely damage your heart and your brain. There are certain supplements that can aid in fat-burning, but they must go along with healthy eating and exercise.

3. Fad Diets:

The Annals of Internal Medicine reviewed 10 of the nation’s most popular weight-loss programs and found that except for Weight Watchers, none of them show proof that they actually work at helping people lose weight and keep it off. About 45 million Americans diet each year, spending $1 billion to $2 billion each year on weight-loss programs. Yet the United States remains the most obese country on earth. Not eating a balanced diet will not help you lose weight and can actually inhibit any weight-loss.

4. Skipping Meals:

This approach may appear to make sense, but really it’s a harmful and unhealthy way to lose weight. Your metabolism increases after eating, and if you chronically skip meals, your metabolism can slow down and actually lead to weight gain. Starving or skipping meals is extremely ineffective in weight-loss.

5. Smoking:

Another popular way to suppress hunger. Smoking sends vague signals to the brain which increase the metabolic rate, and consequently kill hunger. Chronic smokers can skip meals and not feel any effect. However, this method causes long term damage as the body becomes weak and more susceptible to cancers and other infections.

6. Over-Exercising:

If your body is already undernourished, over-exercising can be one of the worst things you can do to lose weight. Sticking to a rigorous exercise regime can rarely be considered a bad thing, but extensive amounts of cardio won’t help you drop the remaining weight. Burst training for 20 minutes, 3-5 times per week is an appropriate amount, along with strength training.

Working out and sticking to a healthy diet should complement one another in order to lose weight in a healthy way. Losing weight requires a lifestyle change, especially if you want it to stay off. It’s hard work, eating healthy and exercising.

Join us for a FREE weight loss seminar on Saturday June 2nd at 11am! Come learn about our different weight loss programs that not only help you achieve your weight loss goals, but get truly healthy! Click for more details!