If you find yourself asking what is the quickest way to lose weight, then you are probably in the same boat as most of the population.
There are many different ways to lose weight quickly, but if you choose to undertake such a method, you must be aware of two factors:
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1. Weight is an umbrella term. In reality, weight is comprised of two different types: fat and muscle. If you lose weight quickly (e.g. fasting for a few days), then the weight lost will be a combination of fat and muscle.
"Muscle" is a term that scares many people. People, particularly women, are scared of looking like bodybuilders. Be aware that it is actually incredibly difficult to put on muscle, especially in women, who lack the testosterone to do so.
To put it in a better context, muscle represents the shaping of our bodies. If you maintain more muscle than you do fat, then you will look wonderfully trim. If you lose weight, I.e. a combination of fat and muscle, then you will effectively go from being a fat pear-shaped person into a smaller pear-shaped person. If you want to see all the curves in all the right places, have the killer butt or lose the love handles, then you need to maintain as much muscle as you can while losing fat.
2. If you choose to lose weight quickly, always remember that it will never last. It is a sobering thought, I know, and not one many people want to hear. But it is the truth. Ultimately, if you need to lose 20 lbs, then you could do it quicker by sticking to a solid, progressive regime than you could by attempting diet after diet.
There is a third form of weight, and that is water. Our bodies retain an awful lot of water when we live in a state of dehydration and, surprisingly, most of us are dehydrated most of the time.
If you want to know what is the quickest way to lose weight, then you won't go far wrong with super hydration. Your body can store several pounds of water (some suggest as much as 10 lbs) while you are dehydrated. This is excess water you do not need. In order to get rid of it, you can drink copious amounts of water to flush it out. In effect, you are telling your body that you are now hydrated and don't need the spare reserves, so the body ditches them.
If you drink 8 tall glasses of water a day, then you should see significant weight loss within a week or two. Those of you familiar with the Atkins diet will know that the two week "Induction" process involves drinking lots of water as well as reducing carbohydrate intake. A lot of people report big weight loss in this period, and attribute it to the strict conservation of carbohydrates. However, many would contend that it is actually the water expulsion that has done the trick.
However, with that said, Atkins does provide a fast way to lose weight. Some would argue that it is down to the effect of ketosis. I would argue that it is because of calorie restriction. Atkins is high in protein, which leads to appetite suppression, and studies have shown that those on Atkins actually consumed less than they did before they started the diet. Either way, the sheer black-and-white lack of ambiguity of the diet makes it a great way to discipline your eating - and shed some pounds - in a short period of time.
Ultimately I would recommend simply sitting down, slapping your belly, and accepting that if you want to be in the best shape of your life, then you will need to do it properly. It is nothing to be scared about.
If you have 60 lbs to lose, fine! Nail off each of those suckers, day by day. From 60 lbs to 59 lbs to 58 lbs to 57 lbs etc. Stick a tally chart next to your bed and check off each pound you burn. Don't make it a chore - make it fun. This is you getting into the best shape of your life.
So don't ask what is the quickest way to lose weight. Instead commit yourself to drinking plenty of water, eating good food, and doing resistance exercise to maintain your healthy muscle while the fat is blowtorched off.