Weight Loss the Dangerous Way

I came across this picture the other day while browsing the web and I thought it served as a great representation of how people view fitness and how they apply it to their lives. In my opinion, the majority of people have the mindset of the runner on the left. “Thinner is better”, no matter what the cost. Most people, when they come into the gym, tell me they want to “lose weight” but always exclude “while keeping lean muscle.” In the end they look sick and frail instead of strong and healthy. A lot of this has to do with how they exercise however, often times it comes down to poor nutrition.

Additionally, a lot of my friends use a similar approach to losing weight. Their theory is simple. Restrict caloric intake and run long distances and you will shed pounds. This is not an uncommon approach either. However, there is a problem with the science. Restricting the amount of food you put in your body also restricts the amount of calories (energy) your body will be able to use, while in use or when recovering. As a result, the body must find an alternative source of energy to rebuild and repair itself. This usually means the body cannibalizing muscle tissue. There are two main problems with this. One, the elevated levels of ammonia/ketone bodies, which, if left untreated is potentially fatal. Two, the person sees a drop in weight because of the loss of muscles mass and assumes it is working!!



It’s important to remember when losing weight that you want to pull from fat stores. This means doing low level, long duration activities. However, make sure your body has enough energy to get you through the workout and through the day.