4 Tips to Lose Weight Fast

Copyright (c) 2008 Ed Scow

"I need to lose weight...fast." I get that statement all the time from training clients, or just random people who find out what I do for a living.

Everybody wants to know how to lose weight fast, and there is no shortage of crooks out there who will tell you how to do it.

The only problem is they're probably lying to you. Selling you some magic pill or fad diet that won't do anything but make you go to the bathroom (which is I'm sure what you really want) or make your wallet lighter.

But is there a way to lose weight fast?

Is it possible to lose weight fast and keep it off?

There are ways, but you have to be consistent and understand that you have to work to keep the weight off and understand that there's no such thing as a magical cure all. There's no pill, powder or potion you can take that will make you lose lots of weight instantly without changing the way you live.

It just isn't possible.

However, there are small changes you can make that will help you lose fat fast and well on your way to you goal.

1. Cardio

That's the obvious one. But don't do what you're thinking I'm going to tell you. Do not head to the treadmill and decide you're going to do nothing but cardio for the next 90 minutes and do it every day of the week. That's just ridiculous. There's no need for it. Yes, cardio is very important if you want to lose fat fast, but it's not going to help if you do nothing but live on the treadmill for the next couple of months.

You don't need to spend that much time doing your cardio, and some people I tell not to even consider doing it. There are exceptions, but the majority of people I train I instruct them to do interval training for their cardio. It gets them done with their cardio in as little as 15 minutes, it's not as hard on the joints and it sure as heck isn't as boring.

When it comes down to it, interval training just means that you mix bouts of higher intensity exercise with bouts of lower intensity exercise. Take the stationary bike for example. After you warm-up, mix bouts of harder riding for 30 seconds for bouts of easy riding for 60 seconds and repeat for about 10 minutes, then cool down and it's done.

2. Stop drinking calories.

No coffee drinks, no sodas (regular or diet), no sweetened teas, no alcohol, no liquid calories at all. Anytime you have a drink with your meal, it should be something that has zero calories, and I'm sorry but I diet soda cannot fit in this category even though it has zero calories. Diet soda can actually hinder your fat loss goals and may make you gain weight.

I've had clients lose upwards of 5 pounds in a week just by getting rid of their liquid calories.

You can too.

3. Resistance Training

You have to work your muscles if you want to lose fat fast. It's just that simple. However, that doesn't mean you can spend the entire time working your "beach muscles" or by doing thousands upon thousands of crunches.

You have to spend your time doing full body workouts and full body exercises. Also, given that you want your workouts to be done quickly, you should do more supersets or mini-circuits rather than just doing one exercise at a time.

Pair exercises like push-ups or chest presses with a lower body exercise like a squat or lunge. That superset alone works virtually every muscle in your entire body, including your abs, and will have you burning fat like crazy.

You'll get more done in less time and you'll lose a lot more fat.

4. Meal timing

Don't save all your calories for one meal. Eating too many calories in one sitting will make you gain fat, not lose it. You've got to spread your calories out over the day and keep your body fed, while not over consuming. That's how you lose weight fast.

Also, make sure you eat a good breakfast that's high in protein and limit the amount of food you eat after your last meal of the day. This is prime snacking time and it's when most people, who eat perfectly all day long, totally ruin their fat loss goals. They eat perfectly all day, then night time rolls around, they're watching television, they're bored and they head for the refrigerator or cupboard and grab some snacks. Say good bye to your fat loss and hello to more fat!

There you have it. Follow those 4 tips and you will lose weight fast. Give them a try starting right now. Not tomorrow, right now. Do it and you will be well on your way to accomplishing your fat loss goals.