Fat loss is associated with improved appearance and health. Long term fat loss is achievable for anyone, but fat loss is not easy and requires mental toughness. Long term fat loss requires the discipline to recognize faults in your life style and the courage to take the steps to change them. With this in mind, ask yourself, do I have the strength to make the changes necessary to achieve long term fat loss?

Long term fat loss is a process which takes place slowly, you might at the most lose 2lbs maximum in a week. There are some programs which offer fast fat loss in a very little time, but don’t be fooled, this type of fat loss is not long term . Fat loss is not about depriving yourself of the foods you enjoy; rather it is about eating in moderation and managing it sensibly. So try to limit cakes, pastries, chocolate, potato chips, soft drinks, and other high fat foods, just don’t deprive yourself of them.

permanent fat loss is not obtained over night, and once the body fat level is reduced the training and dieting will have to be maintained to ensure it stays that way. Starvation diets are not sustainable. I mean seriously, how long can you starve yourself? It is therefore easy to conclude the approach to weight loss must be sustainable. Fat loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on losing body fat gradually. Fat loss needs to be slow. Reiterating what I have mentioned earlier, fat loss is most effectively achieved through a long term sustainable plan

Starvation and deprivation are the keys to short term fat loss. Low/No fat/ carbs, etc., fad and starvation diets are an attack on the body’s survival causing fast fat loss that is unsustainable. Starvation diets cause the body to burn fat reserves and the metabolism to slow. Fat loss is reversed quickly when the fat loss “plateau” is reached. Within a short amount of time the fat loss has disappeared and your right back where you started from.

Starving the body will trigger a self preservation reaction. Fat loss is the first line of defense along with metabolic slowing. Once the fat loss has depleted the body’s reserves of fat, a switch is turned on, which compels you to replace the fat loss. Binge eating or unhealthy snacking can result, as your body attempts to replace the lost fat and you can end up right back where you started from or worse.

To sustain fat loss for the long term, small steps need to be taken. Use the mindset of a marathon runner. It would be impossible to run 26 miles at a 4 minute mile pace, about 15 miles per hour. But a pace of about 6-7 miles per hour, slow and steady, would allow you to finish the race. The same is true forsustained fat loss. Slow and steady wins the race.