Rapid Weight Loss

                You wake up one day, look in the mirror and no longer recognize the person you see.  You decide that you need to lose weight – a lot of it and fast!  The problem with that is that we do not gain weight overnight, so we cannot expect to lose it overnight.  (If you did gain 10 pounds overnight, call your doctor and schedule an appointment as soon as you can.)

                There are a lot of weight loss methods that promote rapid weight loss – and several can work for the short run.  These diet plans do not, however, prepare you for the side effects that can occur with rapid weight loss.  Typically you could have headache, irritability, dizziness or confusion.  You may also experience menstrual irregularities or hair loss as nutrient deficiencies occur.  Rapid weight loss also places people at increased risk for gall stones.

                In the long run, fad diets often lead to weight gain, because the particular restrictions are difficult to maintain for any length of time.  Be sure to follow a sensible plan that leads to lifestyle changes – not fad diets.