As Americans, we've become accustomed to living a fast paced life.

Fast food to eat, speed lube for our cars, quick meals at home, High speed internet, turbocharged engines, speed dial on our phones, speed pass at the toll booth. I could fill a page with a list showing that we've become accustomed to having everything fast.

Well...what about quick effective weight loss?

If a company or a program promises quick and easy weight loss in a matter of weeks, then this is one of several red flags that should signal possible diet fraud. The hard reality is that losing excess body fat is neither quick or easy. The only way to have true and lasting weight loss is through healthful eating and regular physical activity.

How are we to understand quick and effective with regards weight loss?

You see, many people want to lose weight quick. However, quick, or fast weight loss is unhealthy and carries with it a number of possible health risks that should not be overlooked.

To lose weight in a healthy way, an individual should be losing no more than 2 to 4 pounds a week.

So how can we have quick weight loss?

Ok...pay attention!

Ask yourself this: How long did it take you to become overweight or obese? For most people, it happened over a number of years.

However with the right lifestyle change you can lose a significant amount of weight from 6 months to a year.

So your weight loss is quick in comparison to the long time it took you to become overweight or obese.

Got it?

The effective part is a little easier to understand...well, at least it should be.

To lose weight effectively, you must focus on a lifestyle change...not dieting!

Diets don't work...Always remember that.

An effective weight loss program encourages steady weight loss, no more than 3 to 4 pounds a week, over a period of 6 months to a year, maybe longer in some cases of severe obesity.

So there you have it...quick effective weight loss explained.