subject: Crash Diets 'may Reduce Lifespan' [print this page] Yes its that time of year again when many people are considering going on a crash diet to help them to lose all the excess pounds they have put on over Christmas and the New Year. If you are one of these people, I recommend that you read this article right to the end before you make your decision. Crash dieting is not just ineffective but it can really harm your health as well.
So why is crash dieting ineffective? Simple really! Crash diets, like all diets are temporary measure you take in an attempt to lose weight. You cannot remain on a diet for the rest of your life and nor would you want to. Now when you begin to crash diet it is true that you may lose some weight but the problem is that as soon as you stop the diet and return to your old lifestyle you will simply put the weight back on as you body re-adjusts itself. This is the reason that so many people get trapped in the yo-yo dieting cycle.
So how can crash diets harm your health? Well researchers from Glasgow University have recently observed that fish given a "binge then diet" food regime had a reduced lifespan of up to 25%. The research found that the difference in lifespan was not a consequence of more rapid ageing but an increase in the risk of sudden death and they believe the findings could have similar implications for people who follow extreme patterns of dieting.
Now I know we dont always believe everything that the experts tell us but Im sure youd agree that if you want to lose weight it would make sense to follow a plan that is more likely to be successful, is not damaging to your health and is easy to stick to. Lets face it, crash dieting is by no means easy. It means starving yourself of all the things you crave for weeks on end. Hardly a barrel of laughs is it? Wouldnt it make more sense to follow a plan that is much easier to stick to?
So how about making some small lifestyle changes instead that will help you to lose weight and keep it off. If you adopt a healthy eating plan (not a diet) and do a little exercise you will be amazed at the results. Most people go on a diet because they want to lose weight quickly but that is the very thing that defeats them in the long run. You should aim to lose weight slowly because then you have much more chance of keeping the weight off.
Aim to lose between one and two pounds per week over a longer period. This may not sound like much but consider this, if you lose two pounds each and every week over the next year, after 12 months you will have lost 108 Lbs (or seven and a half stones). Also, by having such a small goal to achieve each week, you are far more likely to succeed because you dont have to go mad in order to achieve it. Anyone can lose between one and two pounds a week by having a healthy eating plan and doing a little exercise.
