Rapid Network

We all know that when we start dieting the weight loss during the first week is more than the coming weeks. The strict diet is the greater loss. What happens at the first week?

During the first stage of weight reduction the body use as fuel glycogen and not the fat. Glycogen is stored mainly in muscle and liver, combined with water (3-4 gr. Water per gr. Glycogen) and potassium (K+) (0,45 mmol K + per gr. Glycogen). Changes in the total K+ body in the first stage of a very low calorie diet (VLCDs) reflects the changes in lean body mass.

The change in total body K+ was measured in 11 persons after 4 days by implementing a diet of 405 calories. From the survey results it appears that the loss of K+ was 180 mmol, corresponding to a loss of about 400 grams of glycogen. This amount of glycogen is accompanied by three or four times the water loss. The researched persons lost an average of (4 +/- 1.8) kg but it was not fat.

Other researchers have demonstrated that muscle glycogen can be reduced to 1/3 of normal levels with a low carbohydrate diet for 4 days. But then, from a diet high in carbohydrates glycogen storage increases by 6 times thus doubling the stocks. Increased glycogen storage in combination with increased water retention, leading to large and rapid recovery of weight, which was not fat.

Another study examined the effects of a very low calorie diet in 10 obese women for 6 weeks. The results showed that the average weight loss was 11,5 kg. of which 63% was attributed to loss of fat and 37% loss of lean body mass (FFM). To last case was associated with loss of water and glycogen and took place during the first 2 weeks.

CONCLUSION: In the first stage of implementing a very strict diet, weight loss is apparent and does not lead to a reduction of fat. So you do not need to applaud your body with such diets. The secret for success: proper and balanced diet combined with regular exercise, which will be implemented for a long time to become habits of life. Just follow a healthy diet plan.