18 Unhealthy Ways To Lose Weight

1. Juice cleanse

Going on a juice only diet will not help in weight loss because people generally do not lose fat but only water weight and muscle mass. Juice cleanses generally do not contain any protein, but only some nutrients depending on what fruits and vegetable juice you are drinking. While juice only diets may help with fast weight loss in the short-term, but in the long-term the body will be devoid of many important micronutrients and macronutrients.

2. Low-fat diet

Going on a low-fat diet for weight loss can also be a bad idea. Consuming healthy fats will keep you satiated, which means you feel full for a longer period of time and that prevents you from overeating. Fat is also an essential nutrient for many functions in the body such as cell growth, brain function, and hormone production. Hence, very low-fat diets lead to hormonal imbalance, higher risk of diabetes, poor heart health and brain function[1].

3. Low-carb diet

Low-carb diet is a diet that mainly focuses on proteins and fats consisting of fish, eggs, poultry and non-starchy vegetables. It also excludes legumes, fruits, bread, sweets and whole grains. Carbs provide the body with energy and when you suddenly cut it down from your diet, it may lead to health problems like bad breath, weakness, headache, fatigue, and skin rash, gut imbalance and ultimately may not provide sustained weight loss in the long run as many people find it difficult to stick to it[1].

4. Skipping meals

Skipping your breakfast, lunch or dinner is surely an easy way to cut down your calorie intake, but this practice may lead to binge eating. Skipping a meal can make one more hungry and you eat more than usual in the following meal. As per a study, skipping breakfast does not reduce overeating and prevent weight gain[2].

5.Cutting down food groups

Cutting down an entire food group is a diet mistake that most people make. Eliminating food groups from your diet will increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies due to the lack of essential vitamins and minerals from your diet and eventually you will crave for foods that you like eating.

6. Crash diets

Crash diet is a quick weight loss dieting strategy to lose weight in less time. Some examples of crash diets are chicken soup diet, cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, juice cleanse diet and so on. Following a crash diet can lead to rapid weight loss in the short-term, but in the long-term it generally leads to weight gain, weakens your immune system and increases the risk of dehydration.

7. Drinking diet soda

Diet sodas are popular among weight-conscious people who want to lower their sugar or calorie intake. But, these diet sodas are filled with artificial sweeteners that can increase sugar cravings, and drinking high amounts of them will increase the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome[3].

8. Eating excess protein

Going on an all-protein diet may not be a good way to lose weight because your body needs other vitamins and minerals to survive and also it elevates the risk of heart disease. High-protein diets include foods such as full-fat dairy products, red meat, nuts and fish[4].

9. Starving

If you think that starving yourself is the best way to lose weight then it's wrong, because you may lose weight, but you will lose muscle mass and slow down metabolism. Your body will be devoid of enough nutrients that are needed to satisfy your hunger and fuel your body with energy.

10. Exercising for long hours

Exercising surely helps in weight loss, but over-exercising without proper recovery can increase hunger and the tendency to overeat. This can both prevent weight loss and also fatigue. Over-exercising can also lead to heart and mental health issues.

11. Consuming flavoured yogurt

Yogurt is brimming with probiotics which help keep your gut healthy. But choosing the wrong type of yogurt such as flavoured yogurt can be a bad choice for losing weight. Flavoured yogurt contains added sugar unlike plain yogurt.

12. Having supplements

Weight loss pills promise a quick and easy way to lose weight. These pills may temporarily suppress appetite and speed up metabolism which can eventually lead to high blood pressure and heart problems.

13. Raw food diet

Going on a raw food diet may not be the best way to lose weight. Some raw foods when cooked releases essential nutrients which can help in long-term weight loss. These foods include tomatoes, spinach, beans and carrots.

14. Focusing only on diet

If you are planning to lose weight, both eating a well-balanced diet and exercising goes hand in hand. Exercising is an important component when it comes to weight loss[5].Successful weight loss strategies generally are 75% diet and 25% exercise.

15. Salads

Salads which consist of ingredients like lettuce, celery, radish, and cucumber topped with creamy chicken and shredded cheese can be a great meal choice provided the right dressings are chosen. Choose dressings such as lemon juice, olive oil, balsamic vinegar as part of a weight loss diet.

16. Overeating after workout

Overeating after your workout is not a good way to lose weight because of the calorie pile up after you have burnt some body fat at the gym. Instead, eat lean protein and healthy high-fiber carbs in moderate amounts.

To Conclude...

All these quick weight loss ways may help lose weight only for a short-term. When one returns to old habits, he/she will gain back more fat and less muscle mass. So, think before making a drastic diet or lifestyle changes to make sure those changes are sustainable in the long run.