When you need to lose weight, you might turn to extreme dieting in order to get fast results. Before you take this route, however, there are certain lessons that you should know. Keep reading to discover what those lessons are so that you can make wiser choices when it comes to shedding excess weight and getting shape.

You Likely Won’t Keep the Weight Off

Extreme dieting might help you lose weight rather quickly, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be able to keep that weight off for the long run. So, if your goal is to slim down and stay that way, fad diets are not the way to go.

Also, always keep in mind that the safest way to lose weight is by shedding around just 1 or 2 pounds each week. If you come across a diet that claims it can help you lose more weight than that in the same amount of time, beware.

You’ll Feel Tired All the Time

When you try extreme dieting, one of the side effects is that you end up feeling tired both day and night, according to WTOP. Drastically reducing your intake of calories and carbohydrates can leave you feeling drained and exhausted.

Your Mood Suffers

Everyone has been “hangry” at some point or another. This is basically when you get so hungry that you get moody and you start snapping at people. So, in addition to feeling tired, restricting what you eat dramatically can also make you feel cranky and miserable. You won’t have a lot of energy, you’ll be tired, and you won’t want to deal with anyone. Who would want that?!

Extreme Dieting Puts Your Health at Risk

Beyond making you feel miserable, extreme dieting can also put your overall health at risk. If you are thinking about following a highly restrictive eating plan, such as the ketogenic diet, you might want to think again. Extreme diets can actually change your metabolism, and that can result in harmful drops in blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as heart arrhythmias. In severe cases, loss of consciousness can also occur. Scary!

The bottom line is this: when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off, while also boosting your health, avoid extreme diets that promise results that sound too good to be true. Eating a nutritious, balanced diet while leading an active lifestyle that includes cardio and strength training exercises is a smarter way to slim down. After all, who wants to feel moody, tired, and hungry while they’re trying to get in shape?