Laxatives are there to relieve constipation. There are a number of different types that work in different ways, but they all have one purpose and that is to move stools through the digestive system. One particular kind of laxative actually increases the mass of the stools which causes a natural reaction in the body which moves the stools out.

The mistake that most people make in thinking that this can cause weight loss lies in two very stupid assumptions. The first is in thinking that by purging your stomach and intestines you will get rid of fat. This is not the case. Excess fat does not come from what happens in your digestive system!

Secondly, by purging your body through a laxative you will lose a lot of water weight. In fact, dehydration is a serious health risk posed by laxatives. Obviously the loss of water will reflect on the scales but its just a false sense of security since this is not fat loss. By the time that a laxative can start working, the calories are almost completely absorbed by your body which means that the damage is already done.

What laxatives will leave you with is terrible stomach crams, and the potential for serious health problems. By artificially stimulating bowel movement you can interfere with your natural digestion process to the point where you can have trouble holding down food in the future. Its something that needs to be used in a very controlled manner.

There certainly is a place for it in a healthy diet though. Being constipated is not only uncomfortable but unhealthy. Its far better to promote healthy bowel movement through a healthy diet. Pure prune juice is known to be very effective and is a very mild but natural way to induce a similar result. Eating a diet that is rich in fiber with natural grains and fresh fruit and vegetables will give you so much more than a healthy colon.

Weight loss is about burning calories. Its not about purging waste from your body. A low calorie diet and exercise is an excellent start. Ironically, foods that are high in calories tend to make you constipated – hence the “logic” that purging with a laxative can make you lose weight.

Laxatives for weight loss is a myth. Do not believe the hype from gossip magazines with advice that has no scientific grounding. No doctor will promote or endorse the abuse of any laxative. The dangers are obvious and now that you know it simply cannot promote weight loss, start focusing on real weight loss solutions.

As a rule of thumb, any diet supplement that forces your body into a process that usually happens naturally is not good for you. I am all for quick fixes and taking the easy way but in the end its just not worth falling for all the crazy weight loss FADS.
.

Apart from using fasting for weight loss, the health benefits are immense. Not only will you feel 300% more energized but you will improve virtually every process in your body. From digestion to cardiovascular health and even your libido. Let me share with you what I believe to be the 3 things that will help you more than anything else when fasting for weight loss.

1. Preparation
There’s an old saying that if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. This is very true when it comes to fasting. Set a very definite date for when you will start your fast and plan exactly what you will need, how much you will need and most importantly, arrange your life around this. Intermittent fasting is short and anyone can do this – after all, its only a couple of days!

2. Your Program
Fasting for weight loss is not about blindly jumping into it and not eating for a couple of days. If you do that you will actually do more harm than good and probably slow down your fat loss efforts. This is a very scientific process and knowing exactly when to fast, how long to fast and when and how to stop is vitally important if you want to be successful. I would highly recommend the Eat, Stop Eat Program as it makes the entire process incredibly easy in a step-by-step process.

3. Support
There’s no doubt about the fact that you will face the inevitable challenges when you start. You will get to a point where you will feel like giving up. Don’t! I found that having some sort of support makes this much easier. Finding a friend to do it with can really make it a lot easier. If you can’t find a friend to do it with, join an online community where you can interact with other people who are going through the same experiences. Eat, Stop, Eat has a lively community and there are a lot of very experienced fasters that can answer your questions or provide moral support.

Buying yourself a good book can also be a great way to stay focused or recommitting yourself to your goal can also be a great way to stay focused and motivated when fasting for weight loss.
.

The process of juice fasting and detoxification is based on a very simple principle. By allowing your digestive system to recuperate, your body’s natural process of cleansing can once again happen optimally. With modern diets our digestion is incredibly poor. Processed foods and toxins (like preservatives and additives) place a massive strain on the digestive system – to the point where our food don’t get broken down properly. This is often also the reason why we feel so tired all the time. All our energy goes into digesting and breaking down food.

If you are someone that likes late night snacks or even just someone who like to eat big dinners at night, then chances are your digestion is really poor and that you probably have a huge build up of gunk. Juice fasting and detoxification is just what you need. If your system is burdened with eliminating toxins all the time, then the natural process of fat loss is severely impeded.

During a juice fast you won’t eat any solid foods – although you will drink plenty of juices. Depending on the program you follow, the juices will mostly be combinations of juices fruits and vegetables. What this does is to give you maximum nutrition without the strain of digesting food. This can significantly speed up the detoxification process and the juice of certain fruits and vegetables also speeds this along.

The first, and probably the most obvious benefit of juice fasting and detoxification is weight loss. Its estimated that the average person carries 10 to 12 pounds of pure gunk in their system. During your fast you can get rid of all of this. When you do, your body will actually be able to get rid of excess fat again and even when you do stop the fast you will still experience massive increases in energy and a significant improvement in your ability to lose fat.

Juice fasting and detoxification is by far the fastest way to lose weight. And its 100% healthy with no side effects and no strain on your wallet. Many “detox products” can cost as much as $150 – and all it really is a bunch of chemicals designed to make you get rid of it all – not too pleasant.
.

If you are normally a runner, you might consider switching to slower walks during your fasting program. You will still be giving your body the benefits of exercise, but the pace will be slower and you will not burn as much energy as you do when running. This keeps the blood pumping in your body, but it does not overtax your energy levels.

You are not likely to have as much energy on a fasting weight loss program. Calories are the energy that your body uses to perform every activity that you do during the day. Running and other aerobic activities burn a number of calories. However, when you are on a fasting program, you will not be consuming a great deal of calories that your body would need for strenuous exercise.

Once you begin eating again after the fasting weight loss program ends, you can resume your normal activities. In fact, this is a great way to ensure that you keep the weight off after the program has ended. Burn the additional calories that you will consume when you introduce solids back into your diet.

A fasting weight loss program demands all of your time and energy. You will feel fatigued and hungry in the early stages of the program, but eventually your body will adjust to the lower calorie intake. Weight will come off, but you must use care to ensure that it does not return when you start eating again. Bringing in a good exercise program is a great way to do that.

The fasting weight loss program that you are embarking on will help you to lose a great amount of weight in a short period of time. It is a good place to start on a healthier lifestyle. When the weight comes off, your body will be able to perform many of the exercises that you may not be comfortable doing now. Taking off some of your excess weight helps you to feel lighter and more energetic once the program has ended. Use the weight loss to your advantage and add exercise to your daily routine after you complete a fasting weight loss program. This will help keep the weight off and even help you lose even more.
.

The juice fasting weight loss programs do allow you some calories on the program that make them a little easier than a strict water only fasting program. A juice fast can last for a much longer period of time because you are providing your body with energy and calories from the juice. A juice fast may consist of a variety of juice types that you are allowed to consume on the diet. Apple juice and citrus juices are common on juice fasting weight loss programs. Even though you are consuming juice, you can expect the program to be a little uncomfortable.

The first difficulty that you will encounter on a juice fasting weight loss program is the transition from solid foods to juices only. This is by far the most difficult transition on the program. Some dieters have found that building up to the day of the fast by cutting back on solids is a good approach to transitioning your body slowly. It will not completely eliminate the hunger that you will feel in the first couple of days of the fast, but it can help. Just keep in mind that the first couple of days are the hardest and once you get through these days, you will not feel as much hunger.

The next difficulty that you will face on a fasting weight loss program is the end of the diet. It is common for some dieters to start considering all the foods that they want to eat. It is a normal response to spending so many days without food, but this approach can undo all the great work that was accomplished on the fast. A fasting weight loss program will teach you how to ease back into eating solid foods and provide you with some great tips for keeping the weight off and embarking on a healthier lifestyle. The fast will take the weight off quickly, but it is up to you to keep it off and continue eating healthy foods.

Be realistic about your fasting weight loss program and expect that it is not going to be easy, but it will be worth the effort. The program will get the weight off fast, but you must continue your efforts to keep it off and enjoy all the benefits that a fasting weight loss program will bring to you.
.