Weight Loss Desperation: Using Unhealthy Weight Loss Methods

There are two things in the world that are hard for most people: giving up an addiction, such as smoking or alcohol, and losing weight. There are many things that are hard, but these two tend to be real problems for those that under take them. Losing weight is something that some fight with for most of their lives and they can fail over and over again. When this happens, some people will resort to weight loss methods that are drastic and exceptionally unhealthy. This is never a good thing or a long term fix for weight problems.

Weight loss desperation and the use of unhealthy weight loss methods can result in permanent injury and even death. Losing weight should never be that important.

Some can go on diet after diet only to fail time and time again. This can be very frustrating, as most of us know. While many of us will keep trying diets until we find one that suits us and our lifestyles, some people’s frustration leads them to take drastic and unhealthy steps to shed pounds. Of all the unhealthy weight loss methods that weight loss desperation can cause, starvation diets, anorexia, and bulimia are three of the most severe. In my own lifetime I have known too many women who have gone down one of these dark paths to lose weight. There are some very serious psychological issues that must be addressed for anyone who suffers from an eating disorder (this includes those who suffer from emotional eating and food addiction as well). Please read Weight Loss Center’s article “Eating Disorders” for information about these conditions and resources for getting help and support.

It is rather common practice for people to desire some sort of rapid weight loss before a big event. Three of the most common events people desperately try to lose weight for are weddings, going back to school and high school reunions. It’s funny how we can know these events are coming for months, or even a year or more, but it is only a month before that most of us decide to try to lose weight. In pre-event desperation, some people resort to unhealthy weight loss methods to fit into their dress or lose the double (or triple) chin. One of the most commonly used methods, other than starvation diets, is the use of diet pills that contain diuretics. What these pills do is force your body to rid itself of water, causing it to become dehydrated. Although it may help someone shed a few pounds before the big day, use of these pills for longer than a week can have some terrible side effects including severe constipation, kidney damage and reduced metabolism. Of course, this type of weight loss is not sustainable by any means. As soon as you stop taking the pills and drink a few glasses of water, your weight will be the same, or higher, than it was before.

Another life-altering event that may sometimes result in weight loss desperation is becoming newly single or dating. This period of getting out there and looking for that perfect someone can wreak havoc with our self-esteem and self-confidence. Despite the fact that choosing a partner on looks alone will very rarely work out, your appearance is part of the first impression that you make. The stress of dating can have some men and women using unhealthy weight loss methods to try to attract a mate.

Whatever the event in your life that has you wanting to lose weight, it is of utmost importance that you follow a safe weight loss method. Although you may be desperate to lose weight in a short period of time, none of the methods that achieve this are sustainable or healthy. There are only two outcomes that will result from unhealthy weight loss methods, such as taking diuretics or starvation diets: you will harm your body and you will gain all the weight you lost back.

The best thing you can do to avoid falling into one of these weight loss desperation pitfalls is to PLAN AHEAD. If you know that you have a special event coming up in the next few months or year and want to be thinner for it then start losing weight as soon as possible (of course, given you have extra weight to lose). Eat healthy, lower-calorie meals, get regular exercise and drink plenty of water and you will be on the road to better health and a slimmer you in no time.

Other Related Posts You May Find Interesting: “Health Dangers of Being Underweight“, “Brain Surgery for Weight Loss“, and “Weight Loss Obsession“.