Is My Weight Loss Program Healthy for Me?

Weight loss programs today can be divided into two categories. Those who promise quick results through supplementation and calorie restriction and those that focus on improving overall health outcomes resulting in slower but more permanent .  

Now I understand that most weight loss programs to promote fast results with your advertising sexy and attractive with reports of people losing 20-30 pounds in a month , however , have never heard of this same person who finally left the program and eventually acquire all the weight back ? Ha! Why would a company want to do that ? Well, the fact of the matter is that most of these programs fail fast results for long-term results , but because of their appeal and the many options available , we find that jumping from one program to another .

Which brings me to my next question , what is healthy weight loss ? I would say the healthy weight loss as a "side effect " to make life choices that promote health . As someone becomes healthier , they will lose weight ! It may not be as fast , but is more likely to be permanent. In general , lose 1-3 lbs per week is considered healthy. In the first two weeks of this amount can be increased due to loss of excess water .

 Another simple way to determine if weight loss is healthy is to measure the lower waist - hip. Using a tape measure , take two steps , one around his waist and the other around his naval . Divide the next waist size ( naval ) and hip  ( waist line ) . This ratio should decrease as you begin to lose weight! When you see a decrease in this ratio indicates that you lose inches of belly fat, which is a better indicator of healthy weight weight loss alone.

The best way to determine if your weight loss is healthy is to use a body composition analysis . This analysis will consider measures such as fat mass , lean mass and body water . An effective weight loss and healthy should show a decrease skinny fat mass ( muscle mass) to increase or stay the same. I often talk to people who are in a different program who have lost a lot of weight , but when I show her body composition, muscle mass lost important. Not at all healthy .

 Muscle weighs more than fat and weight loss calorie restricted programs promote muscle loss. Since many studies have shown that one of the most reliable of longevity and quality of life is the preservation of muscle mass , this strategy is clearly unhealthy. 
How can you tell if your weight loss program promotes healthy weight loss ? I recommend looking at the following aspects . 
1. All dietary recommendations should not promote calorie restriction. Caloric restriction leads to starvation which causes the body to attack its muscle reserves . When this happens , your body will respond by giving you irresistible desire and in time you will gain the weight back. 

2 . Eat real food ! Many programs contain prefabricated meals , bars or supplements. Often contain preservatives , artificial ingredients or processed foods. In general, act as hormone disrupters in the body and can actually promote weight gain and other diseases, including cancer and diabetes. 

3 . If it sounds too good to be true , it probably is . The amount of propaganda programs for weight loss is absurd. The truth is the lifestyle factor is a number that determines your health and your ability to lose weight .
 4 . Find a program that takes the above into consideration and is supervised by a physician, chiropractor or nutritionist. Another problem I see with weight loss programs is that many programs certify " coach" through a variety of training courses of short duration. I went to school for over 7 years. Decide that you really want to help you be healthier . 

If you are on a weight loss program or considering in the near future , I encourage you to take this advice into consideration . Choosing the right program can be stressful, but can also be very nice when you know you make a change to become a healthier person .