Losing weight is the great American dream for many of us. It is easy to pack the pounds on, but getting them off can be a challenge. There are many different diets out there, but all seem to produce the same result. You start losing weight quickly and then it gets harder and harder. Let's look at the reasons why.
The first week of any diet can be tough, but rewarding. Getting used to eating a different set of foods can be tough and so can the smaller portions. Jumping onto the scale, however, more than makes up for it. That first week can produce weight loss of three to five pounds or even more. The reasons, however, are a bit fishy.
The primary weight loss in the first week or two of a diet comes from two things. First, you are eating less salt and thus tend to lose excessive water weight. Second, you are eating more fiber and that tends to clean out the plumbing if you know what I mean. There is nothing wrong with this weight loss and it should be celebrated and used as positive reinforcement. It can, however, cause false expectations and lead to problems down the road in the diet.
The primary difficulty is this. After a week or two, you don't have any more excessive water or waste to lose. As a result, your body returns to a normal rate of weight loss given what you are taking in and expending. A normal rate of weight loss is in the one to two pounds a week range unless you work out like a fiend. After losing five to seven pounds in the first week of the diet, this can be very discouraging.
To get over it, you need to understand how weight loss works. You need a certain number of calories to function every day even if you just stay in bed for 24 hours. The number depends on your weight, age, and a number of factors. Many people use 2,000 as an example. Well, a pound is the equivalent of 3,500 calories. To lose a pound of fat, you must take in 3,500 less calories than you expend. If you take in 500 less calories a day than you eat, you'll lose one pound a week [500 calories x 7 days].
This can be a shock to many people, but you have to get past that point. Losing weight is not about doing something for four weeks or eight weeks unless you are only looking for a temporary solution. Instead, you must commit to lifestyle changes. Stop eating processed foods. Eat veggies. Why? It is nice that they are good for you, but the real benefit from a weight loss point of view is you can eat an entire frozen bag of veggies and it will only equate to maybe 200 calories. This is why true vegans are always so thin.
Can you lose weight? Absolutely. If you want to be successful, just keep in mind that the process is more akin to a marathon than a sprint. To get through the rough spots, just imagine how happy you will be when six months from now you weigh 30 pounds less or a year from now when you've lost 60 pounds.
The first week of any diet can be tough, but rewarding. Getting used to eating a different set of foods can be tough and so can the smaller portions. Jumping onto the scale, however, more than makes up for it. That first week can produce weight loss of three to five pounds or even more. The reasons, however, are a bit fishy.
The primary weight loss in the first week or two of a diet comes from two things. First, you are eating less salt and thus tend to lose excessive water weight. Second, you are eating more fiber and that tends to clean out the plumbing if you know what I mean. There is nothing wrong with this weight loss and it should be celebrated and used as positive reinforcement. It can, however, cause false expectations and lead to problems down the road in the diet.
The primary difficulty is this. After a week or two, you don't have any more excessive water or waste to lose. As a result, your body returns to a normal rate of weight loss given what you are taking in and expending. A normal rate of weight loss is in the one to two pounds a week range unless you work out like a fiend. After losing five to seven pounds in the first week of the diet, this can be very discouraging.
To get over it, you need to understand how weight loss works. You need a certain number of calories to function every day even if you just stay in bed for 24 hours. The number depends on your weight, age, and a number of factors. Many people use 2,000 as an example. Well, a pound is the equivalent of 3,500 calories. To lose a pound of fat, you must take in 3,500 less calories than you expend. If you take in 500 less calories a day than you eat, you'll lose one pound a week [500 calories x 7 days].
This can be a shock to many people, but you have to get past that point. Losing weight is not about doing something for four weeks or eight weeks unless you are only looking for a temporary solution. Instead, you must commit to lifestyle changes. Stop eating processed foods. Eat veggies. Why? It is nice that they are good for you, but the real benefit from a weight loss point of view is you can eat an entire frozen bag of veggies and it will only equate to maybe 200 calories. This is why true vegans are always so thin.
Can you lose weight? Absolutely. If you want to be successful, just keep in mind that the process is more akin to a marathon than a sprint. To get through the rough spots, just imagine how happy you will be when six months from now you weigh 30 pounds less or a year from now when you've lost 60 pounds.
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