People who lose weight quickly by "crash" dieting or other extreme measures usually gain it all back or gain even more of the pounds that they lost because they haven't permanently changed their eating habits. As a general rule though, most nutrition experts recommend never going below 1,000-1,200 calories a day if you're dieting on your own. This explains why it's crucial to diet sensibly with a suitable, rather than a very low calorie intake so that you lose fat rather than muscle.



Weight-loss

Weight loss and weight management should be enduring and geared for long-term benefits. Weight loss is plainly losing muscle, water and fat. Certain medications such as contraceptive pills, HRT, and steroids directly affect an individuals weight and is often regarded as a cause for weight gains.

Weight-loss dieting increases the risk of developing gallstones. Weight cycling, or losing and regaining weight repeatedly, may increase the risk of developing gallstones.

Weight reduction diets include:

*Medically supervised diets

*Self-administered diets

*Commercially administered diet centers

*Behavioral modification and weight loss programs and support

*Balanced diets, low calorie diets, hospital diets, diets supported by food supplements, fad diets, diets supplemented by drugs, packaged food.

Dieting

Dieters are not able to sustain the weight loss and keep it that way in the long run. This is due mainly to the fact that the body is not designed for repetitive cycles of weight loss and weight gain. This can lead to health issues, as the body's function of distributing the essential nutrients from the food is hampered due to restrictions in the in take. Then there is always the temptation for foods and old eating habits. Fiber in the food also contributes to the health although it is not absorbed in the body.

The chief purpose of diets is to lose weight. But some of the athletes diet to gain weight in the form of muscles. Diets can be used to maintain a stable body weight. Diets without adequate nutrition, or diets without adequate calories in it could be dangerous for the kids.

There are several kinds of diets. Weight-loss diets restrict the intake of specific foods, or food in general, to reduce body weight. Many professional athletes impose weight-gain diets on themselves. American football players may try to "bulk up" through weight-gain diets in order to gain an advantage on the field with a higher mass.

Weight gain diets are suitable for those people who are recovering from anorexia nervosa, starvation etc. These individuals focus on gaining their normal body fat, muscle and essential nutrients as opposed to the athletes.

Diet

Studies indicate that dieting may affect the dieter's psychology and ushers in a childhood state. Dieting causes weight gain in some dieters, and as a result this may prove to be a failure in sustaining the lost weight.

Following are some of the side effects of dieting:

* It may make you feel hungry and preoccupied with food (thinking about it all the time)

*Tired and unfocused

*Lack of motivation and sense of purpose

*Lacking warmth and feeling dizzy

*Cravings for the deprived food

Dieting is a stress on the body especially during pregnancy which causes hormone changes in the dieter. This can affect the child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Doctors however, recommend dieting before pregnancy to lose weight. During dieting, especially with strong hypo caloric diets, the body is deprived of essential nutrients, like minerals and vitamins, most noticably vitamin B.

Dieting is a never ending process, as it creates a vicious circle of overeating and dieting. This creates problems more than it solves. Dieters will never stop dieting and will be always a prey to the dieting indusrty and its products. These dieters are doubly in risk of acquiring diabetes type-2 than the overweights who are not on any diet.

Before embarking on a diet, focus on eating right, eating healthy, and eating nutritious foods. Balance your food intake with adequate nutrition from a variety of fruits and green vegetables. Supplement your food intake with nutritional supplements. Detoxify your colon and liver for fast and lasting effects of weight-loss. Consult your doctor for suitable weight-loss programs.

Good luck dieting and remember to eat smart.