healthier you today

I am strongly opposed to any form of extreme dieting. Yet I am aware that some people will do such diets irrespective of the potential harm. Thus, I will provide some pointers on how to minimize the risks with this article.

Now why are extreme diets so dangerous? The biggest down side by far is the massive weight regain that happens because of an altered metabolism. And if taken too far, there can be even worse consequences.

So without further ado, here are some guidelines for extreme dieting:

1. Learn how to stop. You cannot just stop cold turkey here. A slow phasing out of the diet is your best option. If you simply stop the diet and start eating the way you used to, you will gain a lot of weight very quickly.

2. Take a solid supplemental multivitamin. Purchase the best one you can afford. Any drastic diet is going to leave you with a deficiency in nutrients.

3. Figure out when you are most alert. Your biological clock will wake you up at two different times of the day. I identify when this happens and schedule your most demanding tasks accordingly.

4. Use distraction when the hunger strikes. Go to the mall, do some gardening, watch a movie, etc. Anything that gets your mind off of the hunger. Some top wrestlers usually play video games to get their minds off of the extreme pre-competition dieting.

5. Accept that there will be a rebound. No matter how well you transition off of your diet, there will be a certain degree of weight gain rebound. Expect this and do not get frustrated when it happens.

6. Short term use only. Sticking to a drastic diet long term is a metabolic death wish. You can seriously alter your metabolism in a very negative way. So make sure you use a drastic diet sparingly for short bursts ONLY.

Extreme dieting can seriously alter your metabolism if done for too long or if done incorrectly. If you decide to go on an extreme diet, however, make sure to follow my guidelines!

Katherine Crawford, a Harvard exercise expert and recent flabby arms victim, is an expert on exercise for women. Discover how to get sexy and toned arms right now by visiting her blog on arm exercise.