How to Lose Weight

“How do I lose 20 pounds in two weeks?” That is the question that many people ask especially if there is a special event coming up. Unfortunately, most people resort to crash dieting or starvation diets or over-the-top exercise regimens. Not only are these detrimental to overall health, but once the diet and exercises are dropped, the pounds come back with a vengeance. Health experts are saying that losing this much pounds in this short a period of time can be achieved by simple rational thinking, a great eating plan and a series of exercises designed to burn calories without over exerting muscles and joints.

The best way of achieving a safe weight loss program of this magnitude is to consult with a dietician or nutritionist about drastic changes to the person’s diet for the next two weeks. Crash dieting or subscribing to fad diets can make weight loss possible. It can also permanently damage internal organs like the liver. And as stated earlier, it can also lead to the inevitable and excessive weight gain after the diet is dropped. If consulting with a dietician and nutritionist is not an option for the person as of the moment, the best recommended diet is to go on a natural-based diet that is low in salt and low in sugar.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are always best options, but portions should also be taken into consideration. Some fruits like avocadoes which are high in fat should be eliminated from regular diet for the two weeks in question. However, natural-based diet does not mean that the person has to eat everything in its raw form. It simply means that the person has to skip (or at least, skimp) on all forms of processed foods, from bottled drinks to prepackaged diet meals. Even proteins shakes, which can be high in sugar and additives, must be removed from the diet. As for carbohydrates, the best sources would be whole grain wheat breads, rye breads and sour dough breads. Portions should be minimized to keep the hunger pangs down; but nutritionists still recommend a steady and filling diet of 6 small meals per day.

Bulk up on vegetables. Steamed, grilled or baked vegetables are fine, just as long as the seasoning is toned down to the barest minimum. Fresh salad vegetables are always good but the usual store bought dressings are not. Alternative dressings could be freshly squeezed lemon juice with several drops of olive oil and a dash of pepper and sea salt.

Start an exercise regimen that is mostly cardiovascular in nature. Walking or going up a flight of stairs helps build up endurance; riding a stationary bike is also good – at least for the first 3 to 5 days. This is the approximate time when muscles feel the usual strain of the workout. If the workout is too rigorous, muscles will tense up, making further workout sessions close to impossible. The person can graduate to a more vigorous exercise regimen like aerobics or dancing or jogging after the 3 to 5 day period. Any form of weight lifting should be discouraged during the 2 week period since muscles would add more weight to the scale.