Side Effects of Losing Weight Too Fast

If you're in a rush to lose weight for that special occasion or because you are simply impatient, think twice. An overly aggressive approach to weight loss may backfire on you and, in the end, actually cause you to gain weight.

Things to Think About

Most of the weight you lose initially is water and not actual fat, and losing water may make you dehydrated and cause you to rapidly regain the weight. In addition, when you restrict your caloric intake you are also restricting vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. In fact, you can risk malnutrition if you are too aggressive in your approach to rapid weight loss.
Losing weight too quickly can also leave you fatigued, and your potassium and sodium levels may drop to such an extent that you could experience cramping and feel sick. It can also wreak havoc on your skin and your hair.

Post-Baby

If you have just had a baby and are desperate to lose the weight, don't be in such a rush, according to thaindian.com. Losing weight too fast after giving birth can impact your ability to breastfeed successfully, according to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care in Germany. On average, it takes a woman three to six months to get back to her pre-pregnancy weight.

Be Smart and Take Your Time

"Good Morning America" medical correspondent Dr. David Katz concurs that post-pregnancy weight loss should not be rushed, saying that women should aim for losing about one pound a week. Breastfeeding burns 500 calories a day and will assist in your quest to lose weight, but losing too much too quickly can compromise the nutrients in breast milk---and even dry it up.

Don't Confuse Your Body

Losing weight too rapidly confuses your body, according to pinkfridge.com. If you are losing more than a couple of pounds each week your body will start burning its own muscle for energy, and you need muscle to be healthy. If you don't have any muscle, your metabolism isn't going to work as hard, which means that you probably won't be able to keep off the weight that you lost anyway. Muscle makes your resting metabolism work harder. In other words, if you have muscles and are sitting still you are still burning calories, whereas a muscle-free body won't burn any calories.

The Body Fights Back

Your body will do whatever it can to protect itself. If it perceives that starvation is occurring, your metabolism will automatically slow down and burn fewer calories, which makes weight loss even more difficult. Rapid weight loss can even damage your metabolism.