Why Starving Yourself Isn't the Weight-Loss Magic Trick You're Hoping For
The whole "starve yourself skinny" idea might sound valid, but trust me, it's not the healthiest and most effective method for weight loss. Achieving weight loss may require a calorie deficit but a calorie strike isn't the superhero. In fact, it's more like the villain in this story. Starving yourself may cause your body to adapt to significant calorie deficits, hindering the ability to lose weight and keep it off.
Metabolic Slowdown
When you cut calories to the extreme, your metabolism hits the brakes. It starts conserving energy and dipping into your fat reserves, but not in the cool, "I'm shedding pounds" way. It's more like your body clinging to every calorie for dear life.
Body Strike
Your hair, nails, immune system and digestion may not function at optimal levels. It's like telling your body “Hey, we can’t keep working under these conditions," and nobody wants that. In addition, your hunger regulation, reproductive health, skin health, and bone health may be affected.
Mental health
Starving isn't just tough on your body; it may mess with your mind too. Suddenly, you're caught up in a whirlwind of food fears, obsessing over every bite, tracking every last calorie and turning exercise into a full-time job. Trying to burn 1000 calories every workout. It's a wild ride you do want to take.
So, instead of going to war with your fridge, remember the following:
Hydrate with H2O: Water is your BFF. Drink up!
Slow and Steady Wins: Rapid weight loss is so last season. Take it slow and enjoy the journey.
Love the Lifestyle: Make healthy habits your jam. Find what makes you feel awesome and stick with it.
If you struggle with healthy eating or notice problems with how you're eating, it may be a good idea to get help from a health professional.
Emmanuel Ofori - eMotivates
Your friendly neighbourhood fitness professional