Laxatives: Weight Loss At A Cost

It seems that laxatives, pills designed to ease constipation, and weight loss are going to be forever linked. For a person determined to lose weight, the idea of being able to eat whatever they desire but not absorb much of the fat content is extremely tempting. Yet the use of laxatives is an extremely risky choice to make just to achieve weight loss, and an very odd choice considered the far more suitable methods of weight loss available.

Laxatives have traditionally been used by those with severe eating disorders – such as anorexia or bulimia – to ‘purge’ their system and achieve unhealthily quick levels of weight loss. However, they have become more mainstream as society pursues the quest for the body beautiful. Pressure is seemingly exerted from all sources, demanding perfection, and laxatives seem like a quick and easy method to achieve that.

Well, they might be quick, but is isn’t easy. The most important point to remember is that laxatives do indeed purge the system, but they take everything good away from the body as well. Laxatives cause the loss of essential nutrients and prolonged usage can even lead to nutrient deficiency; a problem that is not easily fixed. Laxatives can also be addictive for both mind and body, and some long term users discover they cannot actually go to the toilet without laxative help.

Laxatives are thus best left for those with a genuine need for them, generally for medical disorders. To lose weight safely, follow a lot fat diets and take plenty of exercise; laxatives are not, and never will be, the answer.

Post Natal Weight Loss

A huge amount of women begin to diet following pregnancy. As carrying a child is traditionally associated with weight gain – and is utterly necessary to ensure a healthy pregnancy and child – the problem arises when the child is born. Suddenly, that weight gain that had once been so crucial is suddenly restrictive. Many new mothers make their new goal post-pregnancy to be to lose weight and return to their pre-pregnancy weight.

Most often, doctors and dietary specialists advocate the following principle; nine months on, nine months off. Essentially, as it takes the standard nine month pregnancy term to gain the weight, losing it will take roughly the same amount of time. You will not snap back into your pre-pregnancy body as soon as your child is born; if only nature was so kind!

Losing weight after pregnancy is a little more challenging than losing weight at any other time in a woman’s life. This is mainly due to the time consumed by having a new child, and the associated exhaustion which leaves many women feeling unable to exercise due to a complete lack of energy.

Most post natal nurses advise a target of 2lbs per week, which may sound frighteningly little if you have bloomed during your pregnancy, but is actually a full stone of loss in less than two months. To do this, follow a low fat and high fibre diet, as the fibre will hopefully help keep energy levels high enough to exercise.

The other step is to enjoy the time as a new mom, and enjoy the weight loss possibilities associated with babies. Walking gently while pushing a stroller burns 150 calories an hour, and allows baby bonding time as well as weight loss. This combined with the aforementioned eating plan should have you back to your pre-pregnancy weight before your child’s first birthday.

The Dreaded Weight Loss Plateau

During any concerted effort of weight loss, most dieters find that they will reach a plateau at some stage. This is when, after a steady period of weight loss has been going well, you reach a weight in which you don’t seem to be able to lose anymore. Suddenly, despite continuing the exact same good habits established in the first few months, you don’t seem to be able to lose any more weight. At this stage, most commonly, people are a couple of stone from their target weight.

This stage of weight loss is known as a plateau and is a recognised medical part of weight loss. It happens because your body has now had time to adjust to less calories and the sudden change has stopped shocking your metabolism into action. So while frustrating, when you hit the plateau do try and remember it’s actually just your body adapting to the changes it’s been through, and is completely natural. It is also because the lighter you become, the less calories are burned by exercise.

This does not, however, mean it is unbeatable. It simply means you need to tweak your eating or exercise habits a little to combat the plateau. Try decreasing your calorie intake by around 150 calories per day, or do 20 minutes more exercise than you usually would. This should mean you begin to lose weight again, until you reach your goal. Be persistent and keep working at it; the plateau is irritating, but ultimately manageable. Don’t fall into the trap of giving up and wasting all that earlier work – see this as the final push before you reach your dream.