You may have put on some weight recently or must have had it growing up, and might have received a lot of ‘advice’ from family and friends to lose it. You may have been fantasying wearing that trending outfit for a while and you have made it a goal to wear it before it leaves the scene. You’ve seen some of your favorite celebs trim down and you are loving the new look. A good gym has been recommended to you and you’ve signed up. You plan to lose the weight as soon as possible.
Now hold up; wait a minute. This may be a good decision for health reasons and all that but it is important to know that you shouldn’t rush through it. You probably gained that weight over a period of time and you could be doing yourself more harm than good if you plan on shedding it off almost all at once. It is advisable to give your body the time to gradually adjust to the change instead of rushing it through the process. It could fight back with unpleasant side effects forcing you to halt your attempt at weight loss.
Here are a few reasons why rushing your weight loss regimen could be a terrible idea:
- It Could Damage Your Liver
Apparently, alcohol abuse isn’t the only factor that puts you at risk of developing a fatty liver. Losing excess weight rapidly is a risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver. According to Harvard Medical School, rapid weight loss of 4 or more pounds per week can end up damaging your liver. You don’t want to end up with a slim body and a damaged liver, do you? I thought as much.
- You could develop gallstones
Gallstones are known to be one of the most common complications of rapid weight loss. You have a greater chance of developing gallstones if you lose 3 or more pounds a week than if you lose weight slowly, according to the Weight Control Information Network. Gallstones are solid pebbles made of cholesterol that form in your gallbladder, the organ responsible for storing bile for fat digestion. Rapid weight loss may prevent the gallbladder from emptying properly or cause an imbalance in bile salts and cholesterol, causing gallstones to form.
- You stand the risk of accelerating diabetes
Some studies have shown that respondents who lost weight too quickly increased their chances of becoming diabetic over the long run. Alternatively one may develop insulin imbalances as a result of stress responses. The body responds negatively to crash dieting because it is forced to work under conditions completely alien to it. Therefore the body responds in a way to keep the body intact while avoiding the worst effects of the weight loss program. However if caution is not taken, it is possible to lose all the benefits that you have accumulated through your careful program of dieting.
- Your metabolism might be in trouble
Your metabolic rate refers to the rate at which the body is able to use up calories. A quick decline in food intake can force the body to retain calories as body fat so that it can rely on them just in case you are really starving.
A disturbed metabolic rate can lead to fatigue, unexplained lack of energy and irritability. You will feel dizzy and may even faint.
Other known signs are hormonal changes and hair loss as well as abnormal weight gain. You definitely don’t want to have hair troubles in addition to the stress the body might be feeling under the weight loss program.
The bottom line is: go slow and steady. Eventually, the body will be in tune with your ambition and will readily comply. Any rushed actions could be regrettable.
