Fasting for Weight Loss, a Good or a Bad Thing?

Fasting has been practiced many years for various reasons, mostly for religious causes and others for weight loss issues. You will find many articles and sites promising you that fasting is something beneficial to your body when it comes to weight loss and it's true. Fasting makes you lose weight within a short amount of time but the consequences of fasting can be harmful and in some cases devastating if it is practiced for too long.

You've probably heard of cases where people shed 30 pound of fat within a month or so. But what happens next? After a certain period of time they gain back all the weight and all the fat they had lost. Things get even worse than before they had started fasting. Your cravings increase because you've restricted your body from so many essential nutrients. Therefore, you will eventually eat more and you will gain back all the weight you had lost.

What Does Fasting Consist of?

The typical weight loss plan consists of drinking only water, juice and in some cases consuming laxatives which is really not a good idea if it's combined with fasting. By fasting you're already restricting your body from all the nutrients and energy your body needs and the purging will just make you weak. Although, some plans do allow to consume some solid foods but with very few calories.

Are all Fasts dangerous?

Not all fasts are dangerous. If you're a healthy adult and practice religious fasting for a day or so, there is very little chance that it can be dangerous and a risk for your health. Religious fasting will not promote weight loss since it's done for a very little time. If you're a pregnant woman, a child, an older person, or someone with some type of disease or condition, it is not recommended to practice these kind of fasts. Keep in mind that if a fast is instructed by a physician, it is perfectly safe to follow the fast as long as you're being supervised and follow the instructions.

The real danger of fasting comes when you fast for more than 3 days. The dangers of fasting are many and they range from health problems to a wide variety of illnesses.

Some of these include:

• weakness
• renal failure
• electrolyte imbalances
• hair thinning
• anorexia nervosa
• cardiac arrhythmias

...among many others.

You also burn calories more slowly when you're fasting since fasting slow the metabolism. If you want to lose weight the thing that you DO NOT want to do is slow your metabolism. Your metabolism plays the key role in your weight and fat loss process. The initial weight lost on a fast is just pure body fluid and not fat.

Don't get fooled. If you really want to lose weight fast and quickly there are other much effective ways of losing weight.

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5 Tips for Rapid Weight Loss

There are no magic pills, it's about smart choices. No one is perfect. Simply move in the direction to get better each day.

Think of your diet as a lifestyle for longevity. Eat a wide variety of natural whole foods based on what you just did and what you're about to do.

Enjoy what you love without the guilt, but eat healthy most of the time.

Have earned meals, not cheat meals. When you eat the correct foods most of the time you earn the ability to eat whatever you want. How often depends on your individual goals. Cheating brings up a negative image. Don't be negative about something you've earned.

Don't stress. Stressing out over your diet is counterproductive because stress is directly linked to weight gain.

5 Tips for Rapid Weight Loss

1- Drink Water. Ditch any liquid high in calories but drink lots of fluids, mostly water.

A lack of water affects your kidneys and liver. This hinders fat burning. When dehydrated, your body also holds on to the little water it has, causing you to feel bloated.

Drinking enough water brings everything back to equilibrium. Water can also enhance metabolism. Your body works more efficiently when hydrated which speeds up weight loss.

2- Cut back on Salt. Salt isn't bad, but too much of it can cause problems.

Salt does not cause your body to gain or lose fat. But, high consumptions of salt cause your body to retain water. Reducing the salt in your diet causes your body to shed water weight. Some salt is necessary for health so don't cut it out completely.

Diets high in salt are also associated with weight gain. This is because high levels of salt are commonly found in unhealthy calorie dense processed foods.

3- Dump Highly Processed Foods. Highly processed foods often lack essential nutrients and are high in bad fats, sugar, and artificial chemicals.

Your body processes whole foods very differently than it does highly processed foods. Some highly processed foods overstimulate the pleasure neurotransmitter, dopamine, which can lead to cravings.

Processed foods also cause a temptation to eat in excess which can lead to other health problems. Stick with natural whole foods.

4- Double Dark Leafy Greens. Leafy greens are nutritious and come in a wide variety.

Vegetables like kale, spinach, collard greens, cabbage, broccoli and others are some of the most nutrient dense foods on a calorie per calorie basis.

They are rich in fiber that keeps you feeling full. Fiber can also lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and moderate blood-sugar swings by slowing the absorption of carbohydrates after meals. Leafy greens also contain a lot of water, which helps to keep you hydrated.

5- Prioritize Sleep. Skipping sleep packs on the pounds.

It can also hinder the effectiveness of your diet. People who get less sleep are more likely to be overweight or obese.

Don't be temped by junk foods. Research from Harvard shows that missing a few hours of sleep may also make you more susceptible to junk foods. The prefrontal cortex is highly sensitive to a lack of sleep and it is the part of the brain responsible for self-control.

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