Get results from an effective weight loss program

The fact is that although there are claims to the contrary,
fast weight loss is not only difficult, it is also unhealthy. While many sites and organizations tout “fast weight loss” programs, these are rarely effective – at least in the long term.

The fact is that weight gain did not happen overnight, and neither will effective weight loss. Programs such as eating nothing but protein, cutting out white flour and sweets can produce dramatic results in a fairly short time – but can have serious health consequences in the long term.

A “traditional” weight loss program that involves simply cutting back on food intake can be counterproductive as well. This has to do with the nature of fat build-up in the first place. Our earliest direct ancestors evolved on the hot, dry savannahs of eastern Africa – a place where food supplies were far from certain. In times of famine, the bodily metabolism slowed down in order to conserve energy; it was during these times that the bodies of these early hominids would survive on fat stored during times of plenty.

Although society, technology and culture have changed greatly in the past 6-7 million years, biology has not; when you deny yourself food, your body perceives it as a famine, whether you are in the lush agricultural regions of California or the dry plains of Kenya. Therefore, the metabolism slows down, and those extra pounds refuse to come off, preventing quick weight loss.

Recent research indicates a strong connection between the use of “high-fructose corn syrup,” a largely artificial sweetener added to nearly everything from cola drinks to commercial breakfast “cereals” and snack foods, and the current epidemic of obesity. The “fattening” of America began in earnest around 1980 – the same time that big corporations began using high-fructose corn syrup in virtually all commercial food products. As the use of this substance has increased, so has the weight of the average American. Is this a coincidence?

While there are no sure ways to accomplish fast weight loss in a healthy manner, there are steps one can take in order to be more successful in a weight loss program. One is to read the ingredients of prepared foods. If it contains high-fructose corn syrup, and/or has ingredients that sound like they came from a chemistry lab, avoid it.

Better yet, join the “slow-food” movement. The closer a food is to its natural state, the more nutrient-dense it will be – and the less of it you will need in order to feel satisfied while maintaining good health.

Any exercise program used in conjunction with a weight-loss program should include strength training as well. Muscle tissue tends to burn more calories, even when one is at rest.

You may not achieve quick weight loss, but your weight loss program will have better long-term results.

Susan Slobac is a nutritionist who works with individuals in developing weight loss programs that are most effective for them. Rarely has she seen quick weight loss as a long term solution, in her experience, when fast weight loss occurs it is usually at the sacrifice of overall health. She encourages a shift in lifestyles to complement any weight loss program.