Blindly fasting for weight loss is not recommended; prevention of anorexia nervosa and management of weight loss plateaus are crucial.

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Why is blindly fasting for weight loss discouraged?

In pursuit of a slim figure, many women resort to the desperate measure of blindly fasting to lose weight. Some eat only one meal a day, some go without food altogether, and some even subsist solely on a few vegetables, ultimately ruining their health, with some developing anorexia. Upon closer examination, such methods of dieting are truly frightening.

Actually, there's nothing wrong with dieting for weight loss. The problem is that dieting doesn't mean not eating. The principle of dieting is to eat slightly less than the daily energy requirement, but the body must still get the necessary protein, vitamins, and minerals; otherwise, problems will arise.

If nutrients are not adequately supplied, the body's immunity will decline, and fat cells will be consumed simultaneously. Studies have shown that fasting therapy results in the loss of only 35% of fat cells, while non-fat cells can account for as much as 65%.

Fasting can also cause hypoglycemia, leading to symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue. Long-term fasting can also cause anemia and malnutrition, eventually resulting in dry skin, brittle hair, increased facial wrinkles, cold extremities, weak pulse, decreased sexual function, and weakened immunity.

In severe cases, it can lead to ketosis, hyperuricemia, and anorexia nervosa.

Therefore, blindly fasting or dieting in order to lose weight is not advisable. If you must diet, it's best to do so under the guidance of a nutrition expert to avoid unforeseen consequences.

Why is it important to prevent anorexia when trying to lose weight?

Recently, there have been numerous media reports of teenage girls dying after developing anorexia due to dieting. After reading these reports, I not only feel deep regret for these girls, but also find their ignorance incomprehensible.

Anorexia nervosa is a psychogenic disorder closely related to psychological factors, hence it is also known as "anorexia nervosa". There are many causes of anorexia nervosa, including life misfortunes, family conflicts, deterioration of interpersonal relationships, varying degrees of depression, as well as social isolation, suspicion, emptiness, and willfulness.

Another major and prominent reason is a superficial aesthetic view and a blind pursuit of a slim figure, which forces people to fast or eat less, eventually leading to anorexia syndrome.

Anorexia nervosa is not a physiological lack of appetite; people with anorexia nervosa do experience hunger. However, driven by a desire to maintain a slim figure, they subjectively believe they shouldn't eat or can't eat. Under this pathological drive, they will refuse to eat using various excuses, such as saying they are already full or that they have a stomachache and don't want to eat.

If their loved ones insist on feeding them, they will hide the food or even induce vomiting to expel food they have already eaten. Because this psychogenic illness involves a strong sense of self-compulsion, it is very difficult to stop or induce them to eat.

Due to prolonged lack of nutritional support, people suffering from anorexia syndrome are usually extremely thin, looking as if they would collapse in the wind. Despite being in this state, they are proud of their slenderness.

It must be said that the consequences of anorexia nervosa are extremely serious. Initially, symptoms include dizziness, weakness, decreased immune function, sexual dysfunction, and eventually, inability to support oneself and becoming bedridden. Ultimately, it progresses to irreversible systemic damage, leading to exhaustion and death. Shouldn't such severe consequences raise people's awareness?

Why does my weight suddenly plateau during weight loss?

Almost everyone who has tried to lose weight shares a common experience: the first two weeks of dieting result in a rapid drop in weight, which is incredibly exciting. However, by the fourth or fifth week, a plateau is reached where the weight stops increasing. Some people feel confused, some lose confidence, and some even give up halfway through their weight loss plan.

Actually, the fourth and fifth weeks are indeed a hurdle in weight loss. Once you get through this stage, the prospects for weight loss will surprise you.

So why does weight loss plateau? It turns out that in the first two weeks of dieting, calorie intake is strictly controlled while calorie expenditure continues as usual, resulting in a calorie deficit. Therefore, the body has to use body fat to convert it into heat energy to meet the body's survival needs.

Therefore, during this stage, a person's weight actually decreases, and the water retained in the body of obese individuals is also excreted, resulting in a significant weight loss.

However, by the fourth or fifth week, not only does a person's calorie intake continue to decrease, but their metabolism also slows down, resulting in less calorie expenditure and a plateau in weight gain or loss.

It would be a real shame to give up on your weight loss journey halfway through at this hurdle. The best approach is to continue dieting while simultaneously incorporating exercise to boost your metabolism and burn fat. This will help you quickly overcome the weight loss plateau and regain your confidence in your weight loss journey.