There are a lot of different ways to tackle weight loss. One of the most popular lately? Eating as many healthy, nutritious meals as possible, in combination with regular exercise.
That sounds like a pretty solid strategy, right? It can be. But it also can be challenging, time-consuming and often unsuccessful. The problem is that while many diets offer great advice and sound principles, they don’t work for everyone.
In other words: they don’t work because they’re restrictive and not sustainable over the long term. Realize that most people who diet fail in part because their plan isn’t sustainable—it's too restrictive and lacks variety.
They end up binging and then stopping their diet—and then binging some more afterwards...and not being able to explain why.
That’s where this article comes in… We're here to answer
some of the most common questions about different phases of weight loss so you
know what you're getting into...and what to expect next along the way.
What is weight loss?
Like any other goal, healthy weight loss is simply a journey
towards a particular destination. It can’t be rushed—but it can be achieved
gradually and safely. Healthy weight loss is achieved when you lose significant
weight (5-10 pounds) while eating healthy, balanced meals.
How to lose weight how quickly?
The fastest way to drop weight is to starve yourself—and then binge on a bunch of fast food, take-out and sweets. While this sounds pretty extreme, it’s the quickest way to get to a dangerous and unhealthy place—and it’s not sustainable.
You’re at risk of excess weight and health
problems, as well as feeling miserable. Unfortunately, this is what a lot of
people do when they want to lose weight quickly. They go on crash diets that
are really restrictive and don’t allow you to eat normally. They eat unhealthy
food, significantly restrict their calories and exercise very infrequently.
Then, after a few weeks, they get discouraged, frustrated and give up.
How long does it take to lose weight?
While there are plenty of celebrities and social media
“fitness” gurus who are quick to claim weight loss is quick and easy, the truth
is that dramatic changes in body composition (from losing fat to gaining
muscle) take time. On average, it takes about one year to achieve significant
weight loss if you consume healthy, balanced meals. It can take longer if you
exercise too little or too much, binge on unhealthy foods or use a restrictive
diet.
What’s the difference between dieting and healthy weight loss?
Dieting is typically very restrictive and includes unhealthy
techniques and foods. While some diet plans are healthy and safe, many are not.
Healthy diets focus on nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, lean protein and healthy fats. The types of foods you eat are just as
important as how much you eat.
The 6 Stages of Healthy Weight Loss
This is the TL;DR version of what you need to do to achieve sustainable weight loss. If you want to know more, keep reading...
- Embrace a healthy lifestyle - Move your body and eat healthy foods.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Be patient and persistent - Be realistic about your goals
Bottom line
So, what’s the bottom line? Healthy weight loss is a long-term commitment to making healthy lifestyle changes. It’s not about cutting calories, obsessing over food or restricting your intake in any way. It’s about taking control of your diet, exercising regularly, and sticking to a plan that fits your lifestyle and goals.
There is no “magic bullet” or quick
fix that will miraculously help you lose weight. Instead, it requires a healthy
diet, plenty of movement, and consistency with your goals. And yes, that
means eating healthy meals and drinking water every single day!
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