As we start a new year the focus for many people is to improve their heath and well being and more specifically they’re looking to lose weight.
In fact weight loss usually ranks as the #1 or 2 resolution made each year and has for decades now. Yet despite that less than 8% of people who make the resolution each year, and in many cases year after year, actually succeed.
The biggest reason I’ve found in my many decades of coaching people to lose weight is that they set very unrealistic expectations.
If you ask people how much they want to lose they might say 10, 20, 30 or more pounds and that’s all doable. The problem is when you ask the next question which is how fast do you expect to lose it.
Most people think it will only take them a month, maybe two. Now if you’re looking to lose 10lbs sure that’s a realistic goal to have. But if you’re looking to lose 30, 50 or even 100…well my friends that is not only unrealistic but unhealthy.
And that in my opinion, is why so many people don’t succeed on their fitness/weight loss journey. Those unrealistic expectations.
Having said that however we must also be realistic that changing those expectations in many (if not most) cases isn’t going to happen.
Much of the blame to be sure is because of the marketing gimmicks that diet & weight loss industry uses to get people to spend their money. Promises to lose 20 pounds in a month or even in a week aren’t uncommon and I’d say have become the norm.
And after having spent years trying to get people to see past that I have to admit that little has changed. No matter how much you explain it to people they still believe they should be able to lose weight fast.
Knowing that reality let’s look at some benefits and drawbacks to losing weight both fast and slow and give you the information you need to choose what’s the best approach for you
The Benefits and Drawbacks Of Fast Weight Loss
Fast weight loss is doable, and we must be fair and say that for some people it offers numerous benefits, some of which include:
● You achieve your goal quicker;
● You can spend more time on other pursuits (like muscle-building);
● You are less likely to give up if you see results
● You are more motivated, and you see larger weekly changes.
With that said, quick weight loss also has some drawbacks. Namely:
● Hunger and cravings tend to be higher;
● You are more likely to lose muscle mass;
● You can get more tired quicker.
● You’re more likely to give up if you don’t see results
The Benefits and Drawbacks Of Slow Weight Loss
Slow weight loss offers its benefits, too and if you look at real data and science it has been shown to have a much higher rate of success (especially long term) than fast weight loss. Here are some of the benefits:
● It’s more leisurely, and it doesn’t impact your day-to-day life as much;
● You get to preserve your performance and muscle mass much better;
● Hunger and cravings are much less noticeable;
● You’re not as fatigued or food-focused.
● People are far more likely to keep the weight off and not gain it back
But, it also has its fair number of drawbacks:
● Results come much more slowly, and you might feel like you’re not going anywhere at times;
● Tracking your progress is trickier, especially as far as scale weight is concerned;
● You’re more likely to get tired of ‘dieting’ and give up.
Which One’s For You?
Right now, you’re probably wondering: “Which one should I go for?”
The truth is, both options can work.
But, if you find that you have binge-eating tendencies and you easily become food-obsessed, then it might be better to go with a slower and steadier approach.
On the other hand, if hunger isn’t a problem and you crave the results, then give rapid fat loss a try.
No matter what, it might be worth experimenting with both protocols – it’s a great way to learn more about yourself and see which option works better.
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