It's a Crime to Lose Weight Quickly

Ok, not a literal crime. But we had to get your attention for a very important message. Everyone wants to lose weight quickly. Sure, we get that. We're on board! But there is "fast" and then there is "suicidal."

Remember, the goal isn't just to lower the number on the scale as fast as possible. You could starve, take drugs, or do any number of other harmful things to achieve that. The goal is to reduce body fat rapidly while optimizing health.

Losing weight too quickly brings with it a host of ill effects that make "optimizing health" impossible.

Many turn to any method that will lower that number they see on the scale almost ove ight. It's a great motivator! You see the number go down and you think, "Wow, I'm making progress."

Unfortunately, a lot of that initial 'success' is actually just water loss. Consume too little water and you stress the kidneys. Their main function is to cleanse the body of toxins. It takes water to do that.

Many others turn to ultra-low carb diets to lose weight quickly. Not a horrible idea since most people consume far more carbohydrates than they need. They also tend to consume them in less than ideal forms like complex sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, etc.

Many studies suggest HFCS is a contributor to increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and other sugar-related health problems. It's believed to up the odds of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. It's used in some fruit drinks, breakfast bars, yogurt and a great many things otherwise thought to be healthy.

Still, things are not so simple. (We all wish they were!) Some carbs are essential, both in amount and kind. Carbohydrates usually come in the form of some sugar, like glucose. That is the body's main source of energy.

That energy is used to power and repair cells. It's used to drive a bewildering array of biochemical processes. And, of course, it's used to power basic muscle movements. One of those is the beating of your heart. Clearly, some carbs are vital for living.

Making useful recommendations is complicated by ongoing controversy by experts over how much to consume.

USDA guidelines suggest 50% of our daily diet should come from carbohydrates. (That's 250 grams for a 2,000 calorie diet.) Those may be in the form of grains (chiefly bread and cereals) or legumes. Or, they may come from fruits such as apples or bananas.

Advocates of the paleo diet and other low-carb diets say "No!" They suggest that our digestive systems didn't evolve to eat lots of grain. Lower carb fruits like blackberries and raspberries are preferred by South Beach, Zone, and similar diet plans.

Almost everyone agrees, though, you should stop committing felonies against your digestive system. Cut total calories. Eat more slowly. Lay off the pizza for a while. Balance proteins, fats, and carbs in the right proportions.

Adopt a program for losing weight quickly, sure. But do it safely. You'll shed body fat and optimize your health at the same time. That's following the law... the laws of nature and nutrition science.