It’s great that you have made the decision to start losing weight, and you’re investigating different fast weight loss tips and methods.  But, you may have that nagging thought in your mind about whether or not losing weight quickly will have negative health effects on your body.  This is a legitimate concern, and I hope address your fears and offer some answers.

The first thing you should do before any exercise and diet plan is to consult your doctor.  More than likely, they know that you should lose some weight to help your health problems.  They just want to make sure what you’re doing isn’t too extreme and will hurt you.  They’ll more than likely give you the green light to start changing your life and losing the weight.

If you’re doing a fad diet, then you will more than likely just lose water weight, which will be gained back quickly.  In addition to not keeping the fat off long term, the extreme fluctuation both ways could be dangerous.

A lower-calorie diet coupled with both cardio exercise (such as on rowing machines and treadmills) and strength training is great for fast weight loss and is also the least dangerous to your body.  The reason I included strength training with cardio exercise is because building muscle helps you to burn fat quicker.  Don’t be afraid of muscle weighing more than fat.  Until you’re around 10-15% body fat percentage will the muscle weighing more than fat even be a factor.

If you don’t include strength training in your exercise plan, then you will probably lose lean muscle.  Yes, this will make you weigh less, but it will also not be healthy.  You do not have to look like a bodybuilder.  More reps of lower weights will allow you to build muscle without becoming bulky.

Eating less calories is important in rapid weight loss, but if you are exercising, then you’ll still need calories to burn, for the energy to continue your workouts.  It is dangerous to consume too little calories just as it is dangerous to consume too many calories.  Consult a fitness professional about how many calories you should be eating.  Eating too little, although tempting when wanting to lose a lot of weight, will actually stop you from losing weight because your body will hold onto the food that you do end up consuming.

As long as your dieting includes just a lower-calorie diet coupled with strength training and cardio exercise, quick weight loss will not be dangerous.  It should be noted that any type of athletic activity does have the potential for muscle tears, joint pains, and broken bones.  Ensure you use all athletic equipment properly to minimize your risk.