Weight loss - fast v slow

[Mojooo]

Doesn't seem to be any definitive answer to this as far as I can see so interested in thoughts

Is it better to 'organically' slowly lose wight over time with a considered diet and workout plan or does it make no difference if you do a more extreme diet, if you end up at the same poitn down the line anyway.

[find me a name]

If you lose it quickly, much more chance of regaining when returning to normal eating habits.

Jx

[leemarkadams]

Simple really, do not call it a diet just change to healthy eating. A simple formula is move more and eat less = weight loss! Keeping that level is easy of you eat healthy, ie no desserts etc

[EB89]

I think ultimately losing weight slowing will be the best for most. But losing over a short period could work for some, I would say that depends on personality.

I previously always struggled to lose weight, probably no more than 6lbs at a time in the last 4 years and of course it all just goes back on. but one day 11 months ago something clicked in my head and I decided to do it properly and methodically over time. Better foods, exercise and less binges. I'm almost there now, starting at 12st, 23% body fat and a BMI of 27. Currently 9st 8, 13% BF and BMI 21.5
This feels like it will really last because I've done it slowly.

The most important thing is how much you want it, if you want it enough you'll chnage.

I always like to bear in mind that 1lb of fat equals 3500 calories. So if you ate 500 calories less than your BMR you'd lose 1lb a week, 4lbs a month, 48lbs a year!

[Victor McDade]

From what I've read, the problem with losing it too fast (more than 2-3 lbs/week) is that you risk losing lean tissue as well as fat. So if you return to your previous eating habits you will actually gain more weight than you lost (because less muscle = slower metabolism).

I battled with this for years - would essentially starve myself and do lots of cardio at the gym. It worked great in the short term but I couldn't sustain it and ended up heavier than I started each time because I returned to my old eating habits.

Ironically though, I lost a LOT of weight very quickly last year due to a prolonged stay in hospital (dropped from 15.5 stone to 11.5 in 6 months. 10 months later and I've only put 1 stone back on so it can work in some cases

[Hoofy]

Pretty much what they've said. Also a big deficit is more likely to ruin your metabolism which makes it progressively harder to lose. (Your metabolism won't "grind to a halt" as some people say - if it did, that means you'd be able to live without eating. )

[Hoofy]

Also, the bigger the deficit, the bigger the following effects:


You'll notice some are good, some are bad. The body has a cunning way of trying to stop you killing it. Eg calories down = cortisol goes up; increased cortisol leads to fat storage.

[V8covin]

Cut out the crap and you'll lose weight.You don't need special diets,diets don't work long term because after you've reached your goal you'll return to eating the crap you did before and put it all back on and then some.

I've suffered with a beer belly for years.....and yet I'm slim and hardly drink.
The solution has been to cut out bread and biscuits.Replaced the bread with crackers.Lost 2 inches off my waist line in 6 weeks.
Other than that I'm pretty much eating what I did before,in the same quantities and have lost weight.

[Hoofy]

V8covin said:

Eat less.

EFA.

[V8covin]

Hoofy said:

EFA.

That's not what I said at all although that might well work in many cases.
I substituted one food for another.
I eat the same amount of food as before.

[Hoofy]

V8covin said:

That's not what I said at all although that might well work in many cases.
I substituted one food for another.
I eat the same amount of food as before.

You're taking in fewer calories even if the quantity seems the same.