Tropical Weight Loss
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What is the first stage of weight loss?

The first stage of weight loss is when you tend to lose the most weight and begin to notice changes in your appearance and how your clothes fit. It usually happens within the first 4–6 weeks ( 1 ). Most of the weight loss in this stage comes from carb stores, protein, and water — and to a lesser extent, body fat.

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This article reviews the stages of weight loss, the difference between weight loss and fat loss, and tips for preventing weight regain. At the same time, you may also want to know whether the weight you’re losing is coming from fat rather than muscle or water. If you’re like most people, you may be eager to know when you can expect to see results after embarking on your weight loss journey. Weight loss generally occurs in two stages — an early, rapid weight loss stage followed by a slower, longer period of weight loss ( 1 ).

Stage 1 — Rapid weight loss

The first stage of weight loss is when you tend to lose the most weight and begin to notice changes in your appearance and how your clothes fit. It usually happens within the first 4–6 weeks ( 1 ). Most of the weight loss in this stage comes from carb stores, protein, and water — and to a lesser extent, body fat. Weight loss tends to occur more rapidly in people who follow a low carb or keto diet than those who follow a low fat diet, as they deplete their body’s carb stores faster, along with water ( 2 ). However, in the long term, the research remains mixed as to whether a low carb or keto diet offers an advantage for overall weight loss over a low fat diet ( 3 , 4 , 5 ). Factors other than diet, including your age, sex, starting weight, and physical activity level, can also influence your rate of weight loss. For example, men are more likely to lose weight quicker than women, and older adults may lose weight quicker than their younger counterparts, although some of this weight loss may be muscle ( 6 , 7 ). At the same time, you’re likely to lose weight quicker if you have a higher starting weight and exercise more frequently.

Stage 2 — Slow weight loss

Weight loss in the second stage occurs at a much slower rate, but it primarily comes from body fat, generally after 6 weeks and beyond ( 1 ). At times, you may experience a weight loss plateau during which you experience little to no weight loss. Weight loss plateaus can occur due to metabolic adaptations that decrease your metabolism and the number of calories you burn while exercising ( 8 ). However, weight loss plateaus more commonly occur because many diets are overly restrictive and hard to follow, causing people to deviate from them ( 9 ). As such, it’s important to follow a dietary pattern that fits your lifestyle and preferences so that you can stick with it long term. In either case, you’ll likely need to make adjustments to your diet and lifestyle over time to reach your goal.

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How can I shrink my hunger?

Bulk up your meals. There's a lot of evidence that bulk -- that is, fiber -- reduces appetite. So turn up the volume with higher-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. These foods also tend to have a high water content, which helps you feel full.

1. Bulk up your meals. There's a lot of evidence that bulk -- that is, fiber -- reduces appetite. So turn up the volume with higher-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. These foods also tend to have a high water content, which helps you feel full. 2. Cool off your appetite with soup. Have a bowl of broth or vegetable-based soup (hot or cold) for a first course, and you'll probably end up eating fewer total calories at that meal. Creamy or high-fat soups need not apply for this job -- stick to the low-cal, high-fiber choices like minestrone or vegetable-bean type soups. 3. Crunch your appetite away with a big salad. One study found that when people had a large (3 cups), low-calorie (100 calories) salad before lunch, they ate 12% fewer calories during the meal. When they had a smaller salad (1 1/2 cups and 50 calories), they ate 7% fewer calories overall. You can make the same salads used in the study: Toss romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, celery, and cucumbers together, and top with fat-free or low-fat dressing. But beware the fatty salad! Eating a high-calorie salad, even a small one, can encourage us to eat more calories at the meal than if we ate no salad at all.

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