Few people are actually within a healthy body fat percentage range. Unfortunately, there are many mediums out there offering expensive, incorrect, or even harmful ways to lose weight. Here are a few ways of losing weight that you should simply pass over.
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.
Many people think that some kind of fruit juice will help them lose weight, as opposed to drinking alcohol and soda. There are simply too many calories in apple and orange juice to help with weight loss. Lots of water and some lowfat milk are the best choices.
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, make sure you talk with your physician before undertaking a new workout. Your goals should be realistic, and your methods of getting there should be researched. Planning out your diet and workout program are essential to your success. Stay focused and never give up!
David Stevens writes advice on how to lose 30 pounds using variations on diet and exercise.
