Drug Free Weight Loss

Weight Loss Drugs Aren't Necessarily the Best Way

When choosing a plan for weight loss, you must decide if weight loss drugs of any kind fit into that plan for long-term success. For some, incorporating a weight loss drug can speed their return to a healthier weight, allowing them to shed high risks to their health along with the pounds they're losing. If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or if your BMI is 27 or above and you're already suffering from one or more conditions associated with obesity (high blood pressure, type II diabetes, etc.) you may fit into this category.

Drug free weight loss, on the other hand, offers benefits ranging from affordability to sustainability. Whatever plan you choose, ultimately you must burn more calories than you consume each day in order to lose weight. Choosing drug free weight loss means that you'll be making positive lifestyle changes in order to meet your goal. Psychologically and physically, succeeding in making those changes without weight loss drugs can help you to maintain your weight loss results long term. Weight loss drugs have an array of side effects, the effectiveness of most tends to plateau or cease after about six months of use, and to maintain the weight loss, often, the person choosing a weight loss drug must continue to take it for several years or even the rest of his or her life. Weight loss drugs are not cheap, they can interact with other regular and prescription medications and no studies have yet been conducted on the effects of long-term use. For these and other reasons, this is a decision best made with the counsel of your physician.

In order to succeed with drug free weight loss, you must burn more calories each day than you consume. Depending on your level of activity, this can mean consuming anywhere from 10 - 18 calories per day for each pound of desirable body weight. So, if you would like to weigh 150 pounds, your level of activity will determine how many calories you can consume. If you're living a primarily sedentary lifestyle, 1500 calories per day will allow you to maintain 150 pounds. If you exercise sporadically through the week or just on weekends, 1950 (13 calories per pound) will sustain you. If you take part in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise such as walking, jogging or swimming at least three times a week, you'll need 15 calories per desirable pound (2250 for 150 pounds). And finally, if you work out for more than 60 minutes at least four days a week you can consume as many as 2700 calories (18 per pound) to maintain your weight at 150 pounds.

With once-popular weight loss products such as Phen/Fen and Ephedra being pulled from the US market, due to serious heart complications and even deaths associated with their use, drug free weight loss offers you the peace of mind that all you're putting into your body is a healthy balanced diet. If you're healthy and patient enough to succeed with drug free weight loss, your body is sure to thank you.