Worst Ways to Lose Weight

There are many healthy ways to lose weight, but here are some of the all time worst ways! Some should be pretty obvious, some may surprise you.

Starvation diets aka not eating or anorexia, is the not a good way to lose weight (I’m really hoping this was an obvious one for you guys)!! Starving yourself actually cause your metabolism to slow down and hold on to fat. By not eating at all your body does not receive the nutrition it needs and realizes what you are doing, it knows that you are not eating. Your body will slow its metabolism down, to try to hold on to any nutrition or proteins it can find in the fats.

Only paying attention to calories, and focusing on keeping a low calorie diet is one of the worst ways to lose weight. By low calorie diet I mean an extreme change from your normal daily intake. Even though it can be an effective form of quick weight lost, it really isn't any good. While only paying attention to the amount (or lack there of) calories that you are giving your body, you could possibly cause your body to drop weight quickly, however while doing so it is likely for your body to become tired and fatigued. Your body needs a certain amount of food to stay happy, healthy and energized. Plus, while losing weight with a low calorie diet may be effective, the weight loss is almost never maintained after. This is more like starving your body than anything else, so when your body finally begins getting more food again, it will hold on to it.

Skipping meals is also a horrible weight loss plan!! I used to think that by skipping breakfast in the morning I cut out an entire meals worth of food, and eat that many calories less in a day. Wrong! Skipping meals is one of the worst things you could do while trying to lose weight, especially breakfast. Breakfast jump starts our body in the morning. When we wake up our body's getting out of an eight (if you actually get eight hours of sleep a night like you should) hours fast it was on; by giving your body the food it needs in the morning it will start your metabolism strong and get it ready for the day. By skipping breakfast your body eats away at whatever else it still has in its reserve. Another huge flaw with skipping a meal to lose weight is that by skipping that meal, you are more likely to make yourself even more hungry for the next one, causing yourself to overeat later.

Detox or cleansing diets are another form of weight loss that is believed to work, when in fact it is one of the worst diets for weight loss. Most cleanses and detoxes consist of fasting and only consuming liquids, laxatives and herbal supplements. While a cleanse may help you drop some weight in just a few days, the cleanse won't help you keep that weight off. After a cleanse you are likely to regain that lost weight. When used excessively, cleanses could also lead to serious long term effects like anemia, low blood sugar or an irregular-heart beat.

So, when it comes down to it the best way to lose weight is still to exercise and eat healthy. Sorry there is no new special magically way to drop those extra pounds. But you can do it. Just stay active, get plenty of rest and maybe make a few simple lifestyle changes that to include plenty of water and a healthy well balanced meal.