by Marina Stein

Created on: June 29, 2010   Last Updated: July 01, 2010

Before addressing that question, let's determine what is considered to be a quick weight loss. Weight loss is considered rapid when you lose more than 1-2 pounds in a week. That kind of weight loss can be achieved by following a very calorie restrictive diet and/or a very intensive exercise routine.

Since quick weight loss is usually achieved through drastic restriction of calories, your body goes into starvation mode. That mode was critical for survival of human species in the Paleolithic era when food supplies were scarce. When in starvation mode, your body thinks that there is no food coming for a while and, in order to survive, it will cling to fat storages for as long as possible. Instead of fat, your body will use any other source of energy available such as lean muscle tissue.

Even more, your body will try to preserve any consumed calories as fat, thus restricting supply of nutrients to your body systems. Rapid weight loss due to insufficient caloric intake may lead to serious vitamin and microelements deficiency. That will cause you to be hungry, tired and irritated. Your hair will lose its shine, your nails will become brittle and your skin will look dry and pale. Your bones will be leaking calcium and your immune system will weaken. Besides, you may experience problems with kidneys due to additional effort of metabolic products elimination.

It is tempting to lose 10 pounds in two weeks, especially for some big event in your life such as wedding or high school reunion. However, your body can't jump back to normal mode of functioning right at the moment you go back to old eating habits. Your body will stay in starvation mode for a while and it will continue putting almost all calories in fat storage.

Besides, your metabolism (the ability to burn energy) is determined mostly by the amount of muscles in your body because it takes more energy to support muscles than fat. Since you lost some muscle tissue during your restrictive calorie diet, your metabolism now is lower than it was before you began your weight loss routine. It means that even if you return to exactly the same way of eating as before, you will regain your weight faster and possibly in greater amount.

Conclusion:

It is almost impossible to maintain a rapid weight loss. Nobody can stay on the very restrictive calorie diet for a prolonged period of time without having serious health problems and, after returning to the old habits, all lost weight (and maybe even more) will be regained.

The best way to achieve long-term weight loss results is to change your lifestyle. Find the way of eating and exercising that will produce steady and slow weight loss and follow it for the rest of your life.

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