Fasting for weight loss is an attractive option for many people for several reasons such as quick weight loss and detoxification. There are several ways you can do a fasting diet; you can restrict all foods and only have liquids, restrict some food groups for a certain period of time, or restrict foods on alternating days. Some of them are considered as fad diet because it deliver fast result but it is so hard to keep the weight off once you return to your old eating habits.
So, is it safe to use this method as a part of your diet? It is depends upon many factors; individuals with specific health issues like cancer, type 2 diabetes, liver, kidney, or lung problems should not do this kind of program. Pregnant and lactating women are not recommended either, since it can harm both the mother and the baby in various ways.
Else, if you feel that you have a fit body, simply go for it; a day fast isn’t likely to trigger any problems to a sound body, even a little longer fast is still endurable for those who have a fit body.
Before you start on your fasting weight loss program you need to prepare your body and evaluate your lifestyle. If it is a program that involving ‘short complete fasting’ (lasts 5 days to 2 weeks) or ‘extended fast’ (last more than 3 weeks), you need to know a few things first:
1. Cut out heavy physical activity during your fast; it will cause unnecessary stress on your body if you ask it to work so hard with such a limited amount of nutrients coming in.
2. Prior to fasting slowly decrease the amount of canned and processed foods you eat; also decrease your consumption of cigarettes, salt, refined sugar and other foods that can cause food allergies. Cut them off totally all of a sudden will result in headaches, stomach aches, as well as other uncomfortableness.
3. About a week before you start your fast, slowly decrease the amount of food you eat and increase the time between meals. It will help you to regulate your mind, appetite, and stomach during the program.
4. Make sure you have all the instructions written and understood well. Keep remind yourself of the cause and objectives of the project, this will help you to stay away from any desire to give up halfway.
5. Make sure to consult your doctor if you are under 18 or have any chronic health problems.
Usually, this type of fasting can help you lose weight quickly as well as detoxify your body. For a ‘short complete fasting’, you should repeat it periodically until you get the results that you want. DO NOT extend it by yourself; stick to the program. For an extended fast, you should only do it under a doctor supervision.
The other type is the ‘short fast’ which is only last for a short period such as 1 or 2 days. There are only a few diet programs that can use this short of a fast and still get satisfying results. Personally, I’m recommend this type more since it is not difficult to do and doesn’t generate side effects like a longer fasting do.
Fasting for weight loss has many variations, benefits, and consequences. In the hand of knowledgeable dietician, fasting can be a powerful way to attain fast weight loss while keeping the user healthy for his/her everyday’s activities.
Read the facts of the top recommended fasting diet plan in Brad Pilon my Eat Stop Eat review. Moreover, check out yet another diet method that involving fasting on diet without exercise.