Crash diets and fasting can be dangerous. Learn how to lose weight safely so you can fulfill your New Year’s resolution without hurting yourself.
If you are carrying a few extra pounds, losing weight can boost your energy, improve your sleep, strengthen your immune system, and reduce aches and pains.
When you commit to shedding pounds, it can be tempting to choose a fad diet that will help you lose weight quickly. However, losing weight gradually—one to two pounds per week—leads to greater long-term success than losing a lot of weight all at once.
In fact, diet strategies, such as liquid fasting, and herbal remedies or supplements that promote dramatic weight loss can have dangerous side effects—think gout, abnormal heart rate, dehydration, gallstones, hair loss, and low blood sugar (which can make you hungry and derail your diet).
A balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein, whole grains, low- or nonfat dairy products, and foods rich in fiber.
Avoid extra calories and sugar by limiting your intake of alcoholic beverages, juices, and soda.
Foods high in sugar tend to be high in calories and low in nutrients.
Read food labels carefully. This can help you determine serving size and avoid accidental overeating.
Many diet scams use doctored photographs or pictures from other sources to convince you their plans work.
This can cause your blood sugar to drop, leaving you feeling irritable and fatigued—two emotions that can lead you to snack on unhealthy foods. Skipping meals may also slow your metabolism, making it harder for you to lose weight in the long term.
Successful dieters eat a variety of foods, while restrictive diets can be hard to maintain over the long term.
Safe weight loss is one to two pounds per week. That kind of lasting weight loss takes time and commitment.
Healthy weight loss requires little more than a grocery list of healthy ingredients and time to shop for and cook your own meals.
If you or a loved one experiences dehydration or other side effects from dieting, visit The Emergency Center’s convenient 24-hour location in San Antonio.
The Emergency Center
San Antonio
11320 Alamo Ranch Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78253
Phone: 210-485-3644
Conroe
4019 I-45 N,
Conroe, Texas 77304
Phone: 936-247-9457
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