The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) reports that more than 1.7 billion people worldwide are at risk for obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. It is true that the increase in type 2 diabetes over the past decade has indeed been accompanied by rising rates of obesity and body mass index. In fact, the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes is so strong that they are collectively referred to as “diabesity.”
Small lifestyle changes greatly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and even reversing type 2 diabetes.
So this gets you thinking about your weight:
How often you weigh yourself is a matter of personal preference. On the one hand, studies have shown that weighing yourself every day can motivate you to keep your weight under control. On the other hand, because your weight can be affected by things like fluid retention and other factors, your daily readings may not reflect how much body fat you’ve actually lost.
Most of the traditional fast weight loss methods involve losing water weight. However, you can’t get that water weight out of your system with a weight loss diuretic.
The liver stores glucose for emergencies when eating isn’t possible, and also to fuel your body overnight when you’re hopefully not eating. The liver stores this essential sugar by combining one molecule of glucose with four molecules of water to make one molecule of glycogen. Then when your body needs the glucose in glycogen, the process is reversed. The 3/4 pound (320 g) of glucose in your liver is combined with 3 or 4 pounds (1.4 to 1.8 kg) of water.
are you on a diet When you diet, your liver supplies you with stored energy. The sugar separates from the water and before you know it you lose 3 or 4 pounds of water weight. Although you’re only depriving yourself of about 1200 calories (5040 kj), you’ll quickly lose 3 or 4 pounds (1.4 or 1.8 kg).
However, once your glycogen stores are depleted, you won’t lose weight as quickly. That’s why it’s easy to lose 3 or 4 pounds and harder to lose more.
Of course, if you break your diet by overeating about 1200 calories (5040k) you will regain 3 or 4 pounds (1.4 or 1.8 kg) almost immediately. This is only natural when you break any type of low carb diet. And you can’t get rid of that weight by taking a diuretic. However, you can replicate the 3 or 4 pound weight loss you experienced by depriving yourself of about 1200 calories (5040 kJ).
Say no to diuretics: In general, diuretics are a bad way to lose weight. You’re not just losing water. You also lose sodium and potassium, and depending on the diuretic, magnesium and B vitamins. It’s not uncommon for people taking the diuretic Lasix (furosemide) to become so deficient in magnesium and B vitamins that they suffer from personality changes and double vision (which can be easily corrected with supplementation). Similar problems can arise for dieters.
Losing weight by eating less takes longer and requires more willpower, but the fat you lose from calorie restriction won’t come back once you break your weight loss diet.
Thanks to Beverleigh H Piepers
