In a time when people differ from each other as much and maybe more than ever, it is not often that almost all people share something in common. One thing, however, that many people share in common is that they want to know how to lose weight fast. Whether it is just losing 10-pounds total, or just looking for a strong start to larger weight loss, people are always looking to lose a couple pounds.
People have another thing in common, and that’s impatience, especially when it comes to weight loss. It is difficult to stay disciplined when losing weight since the effects aren’t usually noticeable from day to day. Not only can it be difficult to stay on a diet or a weight loss plan, but sometimes you need to lose weight for something near in the future. Maybe a friend’s wedding is near, or maybe this year’s first beach trip is around the corner. Regardless, people want to lose weight fast.
So, can you lose 10 pounds fast?
As always, there’s a short answer and a longer answer. The short answer is very short and simple – no. Sorry to let you down, but there is no quick way to lose 10 pounds.
While some crash diets might claim that you can lose 10 pounds fast, you must ask yourself if they follow the two general rules of dieting. First, if it’s sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. And of course, losing 10 pounds in as little as 3 days does sound like it might be a little too good to be true. The second rule with diets usually holds that unless you could maintain a diet for the rest of your life, then it is most likely an unhealthy diet. It would certainly be very difficult to maintain a diet that causes you to lose 10 pounds fast for the rest of your life. It seems clear that such a diet does not follow two of the most significant diet rules.
Why?
Understanding why such a diet fails to follow the two dieting rules provides the longer answer for why you can’t just lose 10 pounds fast. There are four general reasons for why a quick 10-pound die is not an actual thing.
1. One of the most important aspects of any diet, weight for weight loss or not, is the dietary balance. While burning calories helps you lose weight, you must remember that you eat food for more than just calories. The nutrients and minerals from your food and drinks is equally important, and a healthy, balanced diet ensures that you get all of the nutrients and minerals that you need. It’s extremely unlikely that you would be able to achieve balance in any diet that involves intake levels small enough to cut 10 pounds in a matter of days.
2. Another integral aspect of losing weight effectively is coupling your diet with some exercise especially when you’re aiming to lose a lot of weight or to lose weight very quickly. The problem with any diet that involves losing 10 pounds in a matter of days is very simple. Without enough calories, you will not have much physical energy. So, either you physically lack the proper energy levels to exercise effectively, or at all, or you need to eat more than your diet suggests. In either case, exercise and a fast, 10-pound diet does not mesh well.
3. Another reason that you cannot lose 10 pounds fast is again related to energy. Following a diet limited enough to ensure anywhere near a 10-pound loss in days would certainly result dramatic decreases in energy. Accordingly, such a diet might also tend to result in gaining bounce-back weight after the few days due to the body’s need for energy. Maintaining any diet that’s extreme enough to cut 10 pounds fast long enough for your body to get used to would be impossible, which means as soon as the days off arrive your body will need quite a bit of food to rejuvenate.
4. The final issue with losing 10 pounds fast has to do with where the weight loss comes from when you lose a lot of weight quickly. Just about everyone that wants to lose that much weight is probably hoping to lose fat. However, as soon as your body reaches an extreme calorie deficit and is in need of calories to burn for energy, the body turns to its muscle deposits, not fat. Not only would this cause your metabolism to slow, but it is also extremely inefficient in regards to weight loss aims. Losing weight from muscles, rather than fat, can result in your body seeming flabbier than before. Also, burning your own fat leads to a larger proportion of fat in your fat, which will increase your water weight levels. So, in the end, losing 10-pounds fast is incredibly ineffective and unhealthy since the weight would be water and muscle, not fat.
When it comes to weight loss, it is important to remember that the name of the game is slow and steady. Just as you did not put the weight on overnight, you should not expect to reach your ideal weight overnight either. The most effective diets and weight loss plans aim for a 1 to 2-pound loss each week, not 10 pounds in a matter of days.
While you might need to just accept the fact that you have to go to your friend’s wedding in a dress size bigger than you would like, you can still get on track to reach a healthy weight for events a few weeks down the road. Losing weight and keeping it off require more than a quick diet. So, if you want to lose 10 pounds, make sure your weight-loss plan involves a balanced diet, consistent exercise, and the development of good habits.