We would all like to tone arms, and we would all like to do it fast. In this day and age, we expect lightning quick results.
You may think that crash dieting is an effective way to get toned arms ASAP. Unfortunately, the female body resists such extreme dieting and you could end up worse once you resume normal eating. So here are 7 reasons why crash dieting does not work to tone arms:
1. Not enough nutrients. In our society it\’s hard to get enough nutrients even with a surplus of calories. So a massive decrease in calories can put you at risk for being malnourished.
2. Brittle bones. Bone density is a very important thing for female health. As we age, our bone density can be compromised because of cyclical levels of estrogen output. And restricting calories too much to get rid of arm fat, can reduce bone density.
3. Decreased strength. A loss in strength and muscle translates in a decrease in metabolism which translates into less calories burned even while you sleep.
4. Decreased secretion of arm-fat-burning hormones. Hormones are the most powerful substances in your body. If they are not working for you, you\’re missing out big time. Decrease calories by more than 20% and expect a suppressed hormonal output.
5. Reduced immune response. Nobody likes to get sick because it\’s a huge time sink. Getting sick will set back your flabby arms mission by many steps. And rest assured that if you cut calories too much, you\’ll get sick very often.
6. A loss of period. Cut calories too much, and it\’s very likely that you\’ll lose your period. Without enough food coming in, the body shuts down the reproductive organs.
7. Risk of depression. Your body and mind needs calories and carbs to make serotonin, the main feel-good hormone. Study after study have shown that restrictive diets increase the frequency of depression. Simply cut out all carbs for one day and see how cranky you\’ll get!
In my opinion, extreme caloric restriction is not worth it. Even if you do lose a lot of arm fat, it\’s most likely to come back once you start eating normal again. This has happened to me multiple times in the past! A far better (and sustainable) approach to tone arms is to follow a balanced diet so that your body doesn\’t shut down.
Writer Katherine Crawford, a Harvard fitness expert and former arm fat sufferer, instructs women on how to tone flabby arms with the best techniques. Discover how to get sexy and toned arms by visiting her website about slim, sexy and sculpted arms now!
