How Fast To Lose Weight

Rapid Weight Loss Usually Leads To Rapid Weight Gain

To some dieters, speed is everything. They can’t stomach the idea of spending longer than (say) 2 months on a diet. “Life’s too short!” they say. Instead, they prefer more instant results, so they take diet pills or else start a very-low-calorie diet.

That’s fine, except in most cases it doesn’t help them to achieve the sort of rapid weight loss they are looking for. Typically, it leads to even worse eating habits and rapid weight GAIN. And the heavier they get, the less patience they have, the next time they start a diet. It’s a vicious upward spiral to serious obesity.

Maybe it’s our “instant culture” that makes us so impatient, but whatever the reason, this obsession with rapid weight loss is totally counter-productive.

Are you a bit impatient? If so, here are some examples of how to change your thought process and increase your motivation.

An Impatient Way of Thinking

– How much do I weigh TODAY?
– How do I feel TODAY?
– How many calories did I eat TODAY?
– What will I weigh TOMORROW?

None of these thoughts are helpful if you are trying to lose weight. They simply encourage you to adopt short-term methods which don’t work and cause you to quit.

A Better Way of Thinking

– Am I eating enough to avoid hunger and tiredness?
– How can I keep busy enough, to avoid obsessing about food?
– How can I avoid the usual triggers for eating bad foods?
– What treats shall I buy for myself when I reach my next weight target?
– How will I feel in 6 months time when I’ve lost 50 pounds, or so?
– What clothes will I be able to wear in 9 months time?

These thoughts are much more forward-looking. They encourage you to adopt a more realistic and successful attitude to your diet.

Remember

Weight loss is not a short-term thing. It never was and it never will be. Because the human body is built to maintain weight, rather than shed it. The truth is, it takes weeks, or months to lose a significant amount of weight. And usually, the longer it takes to lose, the less likely you are to regain it. (Because a ‘slow’ diet gives us more opportunity to adjust to our new eating habits.)