How to Avoid Weight Loss Gimmicks

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In this video,
Mahalo's fitness expert Torri Shack shows you how to avoid weight loss gimmicks.

Getting Started
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The appeal of any weight loss gimmick is that you will supposedly see results within a very short period of time. While that may be true, the results are very seldom sustainable, causing an individual to regain any weight lost (and possibly more). Here are ways to spot gimmicks and what you can do to lose weight the healthy way. It may take a bit longer, but the results are worth it.

Gimmick #1: Lose 10 Pounds in a Week
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It is physiologically impossible for your body to lose 10 lbs of fat in a week. Typically, the majority of the weight you lose in your first week is water weight, either from sweating it our during exercise or from your body eliminating your pre-diet bloat. After this initial loss, though, your body will start losing weight at a more healthy rate (usually 1-2 lbs per week depending on how overweight you are to begin with).c 

Gimmick #2: Fad Diets
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Cutting out an entire nutrient group (carbohydrates, fat, protein) can lead to short-term weight loss, but eventually your body needs a balance of all three groups to function properly. Diets like the Master Cleanse, the Grapefruit Diet and the Sacred Heart Diet will cause you to lose weight initially, but depriving yourself will only lead to binge eating and rebound pounds, because your body doesn't know the difference between starvation and dieting.
Also, many people are emotional eaters, so changing the types of food you're eating won't change the amount of food you're eating. WebMD recommends keeping a journal so you can identify triggers to your emotional eating or distracting yourself with a healthier activity like taking your dog for a walk or calling to talk to a friend.
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Gimmick #3: No Exercise Needed
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Many diet pills and plans try to appeal to your lazy side by promising results without having to exercise. But studies have shown that the only way to lose weight and keep it off is through eating a balanced diet combined with regular exercise. While it is possible to lose weight through diet alone, you must be extremely diligent over a long period of time to see lasting results. Exercise gives your metabolism an extra boost to burn the calories from that donut you know you shouldn't have eaten this morning.c 

Gimmick #4: Weight Loss Supplements
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Most pills work by throwing off your hunger cues, which suppress your appetite, so that you eat less. But just like with fad dieting and calorie-restricted diets, your body enters starvation mode, lowering your basal metabolic rate (the amount of calories your body naturally burns throughout the day). Then once you stop taking the pill, your body re-acclimates to a normal diet, and you gain back all the weight you lost plus more. Try Discovery Health's BMR calculator to help you determine your daily minimum caloric intake.

Gimmick #5: Infomercial Gadgets
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Sure, the Ab Rocket and Gazelle look great on TV with their personal-trainer endorsements and promises of "six-pack abs in a week," but the truth is that these gadgets in and of themselves won't get you fit. Only consistent exercise that combines cardio and resistance training can yield those kinds of results.

The Solution
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The only way to achieve long-term, sustainable weight loss is through a healthy, balanced diet that doesn't deprive you (who wants to think about what they're NOT allowed to eat all day?) combined with moderate exercise. Here are some resources to help you get on track for healthy weight loss:

How to Exercise in Your Daily LifeThe Importance of Consistency and Variety in a WorkoutCommon Workout MistakesWhat to Eat Before and After a Workout* And check out Mahalo's
healthy recipes and tips on finding fresh produce at a farmer's market

Read more by visiting our page at:
http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-avoid-weight-loss-gimmicks/