6 THINGS NEVER TO DO TO LOSE WEIGHT

People get so focused on weight loss they are willing to do unproven and potentially dangerous things that can backfire and cause serious health problems. Extreme dieting can significantly increase the risk of developing eating disorders..

Here, are six dangerous strategies you should NOT use to lose weight...

• Starvation, Fasting, or very low-calorie diet

 Severely slashing calories leads to weight loss, but the lost weight includes precious muscle mass and poses health risks and most people end up regaining the weight plus extra pounds. Don't cut calories below 1,200 per day. Otherwise, you will struggle to meet nutrient needs, fuel your activity and satisfy your hunger.

• Dubious supplements and over-the-counter diet pills that make grand promises

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Diet pills, potions and concoctions purchased over the counter or ordered on line are unlikely to be effective and are not necessarily safe or capable of delivering on the oft exaggerated promises. The fact a product claims it's natural doesn't mean it's safe or good for you.

• Cleanses or detox plans

Cleansing for a colonoscopy is necessary for examining your colon. But cleansing to remove toxins from your body is not necessary. At best, cleanses cause weight loss from water and stool weight. But they can be dangerous and carry risk of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and more. Instead of detoxifying, be more mindful of what you eat. If you want to cleanse or detoxify your body, drink plenty of water and eat lots of high-fiber foods.

• All forms of purging

Purging included making yourself vomit, chewing food and spitting it out and abusing laxatives. Acid in the stomach is extremely strong. Strong acid is necessary to prepare food for digestion and absorption. But stomach contents are meant to stay in the stomach, not to be regurgitated into the esophagus and mouth. Extremely acidic vomit can cause erosion in the esophagus and mouth and on tooth enamel. This can increase risk for certain cancers, tooth decay and even cardiac arrest.

• Obsessive behaviors such as extreme exercising

Extreme exercise may make for good reality television, but in the real world, it can cause grave problems. It's physically intense on the body, causes severe wear and tear, increases the risk for injury, dehydration and turns exercise into punishment for eating. Getting at least 30mins of cardio exercise five days a week or 20 mins of intense cardio exercise 3days a week and 8 to 10 mins of strength training exercise twice a week is recommended.

• Legal and illegal drugs

Using drugs other than prescription weight loss drugs intended for weight loss is a grim mistake and fraught with all kinds of consequences. The potential risk associated with abusing drugs such as cocaine, speed and meds prescribed for attention deficit disorder, thyriod disorder or diabetes to lose weight outweigh any health benefit you may get from weight loss.