When you’re working hard to lose weight, any drop on the scale can feel like a win. But while weight loss can be good for you, dropping pounds doesn’t always correspond to feeling better or getting healthier—and it can be easy to miss signs of losing weight too fast.
When you’re so focused on losing weight, any reduction can seem like a big win. But while weight loss in Fall River, MA can be great for you, dropping pounds doesn’t always mean you’re healthier, and it can be extremely easy to miss warning signs that you’ve lost too much. The weight loss experts at Spa Noor want you to lose those pounds in a safe and healthy way, so we are here to help you every step along your journey. This includes knowing the basic signs that you may be losing weight too fast.
It is often said that excess of anything is bad for the health, no matter how good that thing is. Same is the case of weight loss, too much of it can be a disaster. Nowadays everyone wants to lose the weight fast, therefore, many times people use unhealthy ways and methods to lose weight. As a result, you lose weight but more than required. Excessive weight loss is really harmful to the body as it deprives you of energy and strength. There are few signs that can help you to know if you have lost too much weight
But before we get to that, let us first talk about what happens to your body when you lose too much weight.
Is It Bad to Lose Weight Quickly?
Becky Hand, a registered dietitian nutritionist, notes that one to two pounds lost weekly (or roughly one percent of one’s weight) is the accepted guideline for traditional weight-loss programs. For someone who weighs 300 pounds, for example, one percent would equal three pounds lost weekly.
Hand notes that weight loss may be slightly quicker than this guideline during the first four to six weeks, but will then usually slow down. When nutritional needs are being met, Hand is not overly concerned when her clients lose at a slightly faster rate, but when the eating plan is poor, it could have dangerous results.
While some people do naturally lose faster than others, weight-loss therapist Dr. Candice Seti warns about the drawbacks (and, potentially, the dangers) of using “quickie” weight-loss plans of poor nutritional quality. “Rapid weight loss schemes are almost always unhealthy and not maintainable,” she says.
“Ironically, one of the more common side effects of quick weight-loss plans is weight regain. This is because most of the [initial] weight loss from these types of diets is typically due to simple water loss.”
As Dr. Seti explains, once you begin to eat normally again, the pounds tend to pile back on, often in amounts greater than your original weight. Additionally, she says, the extreme nature of these programs can cause your metabolism to slow down, as well as lead to a loss of muscle mass.
However, Hand points out that “quickie weight-loss plans” are different from medically managed, low-calorie weight loss programs, which use specially designed foods to assure that nutrient needs are being met and program participants are continually monitored for safety.
Negative Signs of Losing Weight Too Fast
You’re Always Exhausted
It’s not normal to always yawn in the middle of meetings and having a cup of cold brew to sail through the afternoon. It means you’re always tired, and your diet plan could be the culprit.
For example, it could mean you’re not getting enough calories and nutrients to sustain you throughout the day. That’s why you’re weak and fatigued. Most times, you tire so quickly that you can’t tolerate usual activities like taking the stairs.
You’re Always Tired
If you find yourself yawning in the middle of meetings and reaching for an extra cup of cold brew to get you through the afternoon, your diet may be to blame. “Not enough calories and nutrients can lead to weakness [and] fatigue,” says Ilyse Schapiro, R.D., C.D.N., and co-author of Should I Scoop Out My Bagel? “You might find that you tire quickly,” adds Darla Klokeid, M.D., a One Medical physician in Seattle. “You might not have the tolerance for usual activities like going up stairs.”
You Feel Like You Couldn’t Sustain Your Current Caloric Intake Or Exercise Regime For A Long Period Of Time
If you’re carefully counting every calorie to ensure that you stay below a certain limit, or if your extended gym sessions are keeping you from the activities and people you love, it may be time to give yourself a bit of a break.
During weight loss, Hand states that “general fitness guidelines encourage a person to build up to about 30 to 60 minutes of planned physical activity of at least moderate intensity, five to six days a week.”
“If it’s unrealistic for you to do for the rest of your life, odds are that you’ve gone a little overboard and need to reel it in if you want to continue to see results over time and not burn yourself out,” Velez explains.
Constant Fatigue
When you lose weight in a dangerous way, it leads to lack of nourishment and calories. It impacts your potential to do everyday things. You always feel tired and exhausted. Make sure you take care of your diet and health when you are on a weight loss mission.
Weak Face
When you lose weight quickly then you lose the water weight as well. The water loss is experienced by the whole body. This reflects on your face too, as your face appears weak and tired. (Also read: How to get a flat stomach in just one week)
You Could Shed More Hair Than Normal.
Although we shed about 50 to 100 strands of hair a day, more severe hair shedding could happen if you lose weight fast, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Note, however, that there is a difference between hair loss and hair shedding — hair loss is actually when something stops the hair from growing.
So if your diet includes restricting certain foods and thus nutrients — like iron, zinc, and protein — hair shedding could occur, the Obesity Action Coalition reported. Super low-calorie diets in general often result in hair shedding because your body is running on “the minimum” and therefore must distribute energy and nutrients accordingly, CNN reports — your hair just doesn’t make the cut.
You Lose Muscle Mass
Some studies suggest that maintaining a low-calorie diet can actually make you lose muscle mass, even if you engage in exercise. This means that instead of making your body healthier, you may actually be making it weaker.
The goal would be to reduce the amount of fat in your body while increasing muscle mass. So you should try to avoid diets that cut out a lot of calories or protein and avoid starving yourself when dieting.
You Are Craving Salty Foods
If you find yourself with a constant craving for salty foods while losing weight out of the blue, you could have Addison’s disease.
Addison’s disease is a rare condition where the body can’t produce enough of two critical hormones, cortisol and aldosterone, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms also include irritability, dizziness, muscle weakness, and nausea, among other things. It can be treated with oral corticosteroids to replace the hormones not being produced by the adrenal glands.
Your Period is Irregular
If you’re a woman, disruptions in your menstrual cycle can be another indication that you’re losing weight too fast. This can be due to insufficient calories or nutrients. Several studies show that skipping meals and dieting can cause an irregular cycle. For instance, vitamin deficiencies often induce PMS symptoms.
You’re Flabby
Losing excess pounds doesn’t always imply you’re getting that lean, toned body. In fact, quick weight loss in Fall River, MA can be responsible for your flabbiness. This is because when you lose weight too fast, it leads to quick muscle loss. This affects both thin and overweight people.
If you don’t manage your rate of losing weight, you tend to lose water, and your body devours muscle. This can make you flabby and also leaves you with a gaunt face.
You Don’t Have Energy For Your Normal Tasks
Another sign that you need to slow down? “Tiring quickly with routine activities you’ve been doing like household tasks or workouts that are your baseline,” Klokeid says. And this applies regardless of your weight. “You might be a ‘normal weight’ but if you’re losing more than two pounds a week you can experience things like . . . feeling fatigued. If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, and weak all the time you know that you’re not getting enough calories,” she adds.
You Feel Hungry, Light-Headed, Dizzy, Irritable Or Lethargic Throughout The Day
If you find yourself growing groggy or trying in vain to ignore a grumbling belly between meals, Velez says these are likely signs that you’re not fueling your body with enough energy (in the form of calories) and need to increase your daily intake. Hand further explains that the general guidelines state that women should not go below 1,200 calories daily, while males should not go below 1,500. “Be sure to make those calories count with nutrient-packed foods to meet your body’s needs,” she adds.
Erica Larson, certified holistic health coach, agrees: “Weight loss should be maintainable, so if you are severely fatigued and cannot get through normal daily functions or need more than the maximum amount of recommended eight to nine hours of sleep, your body might be malnourished.”
Saggy Or Loose Skin
When you quickly lose weight or lose too much of it then your muscles become loose and your skin loses its firmness. So, when you are considering weight loss, then opt for a healthy workout and healthy diet.
You Could Feel Cold, Irritable, And Listless
All of these feelings are the body’s reaction to reduced energy intake. Registered nutritionist Malina Linkas Malkani, media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told INSIDER that losing body fat means losing part of the body’s layer of insulation and protection from the cold leading to feelings of coldness.
“Despite these negative effects, Very-Low-Calorie-Diets are considered reasonable weight loss options for people with obesity but, they must be medically supervised by a doctor or registered dietitian so that negative and dangerous potential effects can be monitored,” Malkani, creator of the Wholitarian Lifestyle, added.
As for irritability, Martin Binks Ph.D., an associate professor of Behavioral Medicine & Translation Research at Texas Tech University and the Director of Nutrition & Metabolic Health Initiative (NMHI), told INSIDER that some evidence links carb restriction to irritability
“This could be related to available energy,” he said. “But also just simply a psychological reaction based [sic] on having used foods for comfort and coping.”
Your Metabolism Slows Down
To lose weight, people usually cut back on the calories that they take in. This makes perfect sense, because if you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will start to lose weight.
However, some people tend to take it further, and try to cut back even more calories from their diet. This might seem like a good idea, but in reality, this just makes it even more difficult to lose weight.
This is because one problem with having too few calories in your diet is that your body may think that you are starving. If this happens, it would actively try to slow down your metabolism in order to prevent you from losing weight too quickly.
A good way to avoid losing too much weight and avoid these symptoms is to eat less, but not too little. Portion management is key when it comes to dieting, and you just need to eat the right amount of food each day for you to lose weight safely.
You Have A Burning Feeling In Your Stomach
If your weight loss is the result of not eating very much because you feel like your stomach is burning, that’s definitely a sign that something is not right.
A burning feeling in your stomach, bloating, heartburn, and nausea are all signs of ulcers, a condition where painful sores cover the inner lining of the stomach, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Luckily, in some cases, lifestyle changes can be enough to ease the symptoms.
You Always Feel Cold
As you lose weight, you also lose your natural insulation — fat. So if a throw blanket is now your best companion, you may have lost so much weight that your metabolism has reduced. This can often leave you feeling colder than usual.
Weight loss in Fall River, MA is great, but you must ensure you’re not overdoing it. Healthy weight loss involves not losing too much too fast. During a consultation at Spa Noor in Fall River, MA, you can learn about how our weight loss services can benefit you. Contact us today to book an appointment and get started.
Your Face Looks Gaunt
If your face looks gaunt or drawn, you may have lost too much weight, says Braverman. “When I work with patients for weight loss, I work with them to also add muscle. The majority of people when they lose weight too fast . . . they lose water, and meanwhile their body devours muscle,” he explains. “[That] can leave them with . . . gaunt face.”
You Find Yourself Thinking About Food—A Lot
Although you’re rigidly controlling your physical eating, you may find that your mind has other ideas. Catherine Silver, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, often sees this manifest in her clients as they rapidly lose weight.
“People who are losing weight too quickly might find themselves always thinking about—or even dreaming about—food,” says Silver. “This is because, from an evolutionary standpoint, our mind is trying to remind us that our body is hungry, even if we don’t feel physically hungry. It’s trying to say, ‘Hey, don’t forget to eat!’”
Bad Mood
To lose weight you often ignore the food items that are rich in serotonin. The serotonin is important to keep your mood cheerful. So, if you are dieting too much or losing weight too much, then you will face bad mood and irritation.
Blood Sugar Levels Go Down
Lower blood sugar levels is one of the rapid weight loss side effects. This happens when you suddenly do not have enough sugar in your diet, and you start feeling dizzy or nauseous as a result.
This usually happens because of crash diets and is a symptom of losing too much weight.
Your Joints Are Tender, Warm, Or Swollen
Another reason behind unexplained weight loss could be rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, according to Richards.
“Signs that this may be the cause of your unintentional weight loss include tender and swollen joints, fever, appetite loss, fatigue, and joint stiffness,” she says. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no known cure for the condition, but there are medications to alleviate some of the symptoms.
