Fasting for weight loss can have some very advantageous side effects like quick results and detoxification. There are several ways to go about a fasting weight loss program: restricting all foods and having a totally liquid diet, restricting foods only on certain days, or restrict certain food groups for a specific period of time. 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.
Is a fasting diet a safe way to lose weight? It is depends on many factors; people with certain health issues such as cancer, diabetes, liver, kidney, or lung disease are not advised to 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. For women who want to lose weight after pregnancy, check how you can do it without harming yourself or the baby at pregnancy weight – how to lose it.
Otherwise, if you think that you have a fit body, just go for it; one day fast is unlikely to cause any harm to a healthy body, even a little longer fast is still tolerable if you have a fit body.
If you do have a plan to starting a fasting weight loss program then you needs to prepare yourself properly, both body condition and lifestyle; depend on what type of fasting you will go through. Whether you’re planning a short fast (anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks) or a long fast (lasting more than 3 weeks), there are some things you need to keep in mind before you start:
1. It might be best to lay off the physical activity during your fast because making your body work so hard when you are limiting the amount of fuel it gets could lead to problems like headaches and other side effects.
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 completely all of a sudden will result in headaches, stomachaches, and other discomfort.
3. Reduce your meal portion and increase the times between meals gradually before begin the first fasting day. That way, it will be easier during the fast to control your hunger.
4. Before you start make sure you know everything you will need to do; writing all the instructions down is a good idea. Keep remind yourself of the cause and goals of the project, this will help you to stay away from any desire to quit 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 ‘short complete fasting’ program, repeat it over every specific time until you get the results that you’re looking for. DO NOT extend it by yourself; stick to the program. Check my recommendation for this type of fasting at lose weight in a week – how to do it. For an extended fasting program, talk to your doctor first and have him supervise you during your fast.
Another variety is the ‘short fast’; it will last only 1 or 2 days. There are only a few diet programs that can use this short of a fast and still get satisfying results. From my experience, this type of fast is the best because it offer less difficulties and have minimum side effects.
Fasting weight loss has many variations, benefits and level of results. However, an expert dietitian can include fasting to achieve fast weight loss without making the user sacrificing his body fitness, thus the user can still do his daily activities. My top recommendation for fasting diet is a well designed and easily implemented ‘short fast’ type; check it at Eat Stop Eat review.