Most people could stand to drop a few pounds of fat. With so many different ways to shed pounds, how does one know the right way? Well, here are a few ways that you should NOT try to lose weight.
The first thing I’ll be talking about is a little fruit from South America, the Acai berry. A lot of people try to tout this berry as some miracle weight loss food, but they’re just trying to make a buck. This fruit simply does not have negative calories, and it doesn’t over-rev your metabolism (it’s just a fruit).
The “liquid diet” consists of consuming nothing but liquids for a few days. While you may consume fewer calories this way, you don’t get all of the nutrients your body needs to function properly. This type of diet is reserved for those who have recently had jaw, throat, or intestinal surgery, not for those looking for weight loss.
For some reason, many people think that switching from soda to a healthy orange or apple juice will help them lose weight. Weight loss comes from reduced calories, and fruit juice is not considered a reduced calorie food. When thinking about what you’ll be drinking, stick with water and lowfat milk.
Many people think that they can lose weight by simply increasing their activity level. Fat loss is better achieved through diet than exercise, because it’s easier to regulate the amount of calories you put into your system as opposed to burning them. Also, sometimes people automatically eat more while exercising.
For fat loss, both a reduced-calorie diet and increased level of physical activity are the way to go. Doing this preserves your muscle, while shedding fat. Those who diet, but don’t exercise, will lose muscle alongside fat, and that is simply not usually desired.
TV, magazines, and the internet are full of advertisements showcasing a fit model using some sort of exercise machine. Before you go that route, get into a regular (equipment-free) workout. If you can work out regularly for over a month, then you may consider spending those big bucks on that equipment.
Of course, before starting any new exercise program, make sure that you are mentally and physically prepared (see a doctor). Set realistic goals and don’t be afraid to seek help. Coming up with a plan goes a long way in helping you reduce your calories and increase your physical activity. Good luck!
David Stevens writes advice on how to lose thirty pounds and other ways to promote fat loss.
