We all love speed. We use microwaves, drive fast cars, use High Speed Internet and send packages with Federal Express. This goes for weight loss also. We want to lose weight today, so we can look good and get healthy by tomorrow.

Speed is not always a good thing. While a fast Internet connection will increase your productivity, fast weight loss is counter productive. I would compare weight loss to roasting a turkey. You could quickly cook your Thanksgiving turkey in the microwave, but slow roasting in the oven tastes much better.

Let's Look at the Numbers

To lose four pounds in a week, you must create a weekly calorie deficit of 14,000 calories. That is 2,000 calories a day. The average person normally burns 2,000 calories a day. So, you could potentially not eat anything and lose four pounds a week.

However, if your daily caloric intake is less than 1,200 your body will go into starvation mode. This causes your metabolism to slow down and you will burn fewer calories.

Eat Less and Workout More

To reach a 2,000 calorie deficit and lose 4 pounds a week, you could eat 1,200 calories a day and burn 1,200 calories a way with exercise. You would eat four 300 calories meals and do 3 hours of cardio everyday. You would lose 4 pounds a week and 16 pounds a month. Are you willing to do that?

The F in Fast Stands for Failure

It is possible to lose weight quickly, but it is unlikely that you will keep it off for long. 98% of dieters regain the weight they lost within 5 years of losing it. This weight gain occurs because they lost the weight too quickly. They go on a strict diet. They lose weight. They stop the diet. They regain the weight. This sequence occurs because they have the wrong view about weight loss.

The Climb

People view weight loss as a climb up a steep mountain and they use strict diets and exercise as the rope. They then try to climb the mountain as fast as possible. They get to the top and break the rope (diet). Then they fall back to the ground.

Losing weight should be seen as an endless climb. The tactics you use to lose weight are the same ones you will have to use to maintain it. You can never cut the rope. The endless climb view makes a slow climb more understandable than a fast climb. You can spend the rest of your life on a fast strict diet and exercise plan or on a slow simple nutrition and activity plan. The choice is yours.

Fast weight loss is not permanent. Large lifestyle changes lead to fast temporary weight loss. Small lifestyle changes lead to slow permanent weight loss. The choice is yours.