Low calorie diets aren’t exactly the best way to go if you want to lose a few extra pounds or build muscle. Below are 6 main reasons why your low calorie diet isn’t working, and how it can actually stand in the way of you getting six pack abs:
1. Low Calorie Programs Could Lead to the Loss of Lean Muscle and the Decrease of Your Metabolism.
Sure, early in the program it would seem that you’re losing unwanted fat really fast. But, after a few weeks, you will soon discover that you’re losing muscle as well. When you want to get six pack abs, you do what you can to build muscle, not lose any.
Moreover, scientific studies show that low calorie diets contribute greatly in the reduction of your metabolism. If you think about it, losing lean muscle can only make you reduce your metabolic rate, making it even harder to get rid of excess fat.
2. Low Calorie Diets Won’t Get Your Body in Good Shape.
As your metabolic rate slows down during your low calorie diet, your body won’t start sculpting muscles. It would appear that you’re losing extra body fat, but you’re not going to get six pack abs that way, I promise you. You’re actually shrinking into a smaller version of you instead of becoming leaner. When you lose muscles, that doesn’t leave you with much to work with, does it. Is that really your idea of being in great shape?
3. Low Calorie Plans Will Only Increase Your Appetite.
I find this the most difficult part to deal with. Depriving yourself of ample calories will lead you to uncontrollable cravings. When you’re at your weakest point, you’ll start craving for delectably unhealthy food, and you destroy whatever you’ve worked hard for so far. History (and your own personal experiences, no doubt) will show that these tempting fatty, high-sugar delicacies could easily win the battle. The worst part is that no matter how hard you’ve worked to lose all that stubborn fat, they’re going to come back to haunt you some more.
4. Low Calorie Diets Can Even Set Off Fat Storage.
Bottom line is that your body is aware of what it needs. It may not know what specific diet you should be on, but it is completely aware of how it should run. This is where your body’s SURVIVAL INSTINCT comes to play. When your body isn’t getting enough calories it needs to function properly, it instinctively stores fat, rendering fat burning enzymes practically useless and making it hard for you to burn fat.
5. Low Calorie Diets Don’t Provide You With Sufficient Energy.
When you’re not getting enough calories, you’re not getting adequate nutrition, and that means your energy level is bound to decrease. That would explain why you feel more exhausted than usual. Think about how that will affect your workout performance – nothing short of futile, I’m sure.
If you don’t get enough energy, you won’t be able to carry out any of your daily routines successfully. You won’t be able to perform your workouts well nor will you be able to intensify them. Don’t think for a second that you can still get six pack abs without engaging in high-intensity exercises. Understand that dieting without physical exercise will never be enough to build muscle.
6. It Could Leave You Looking Far Worse Than When You Started.
Are you still convinced that a low calorie diet can be maintained for a long period of time? Even if you could, that would just be totally irresponsible. Your body can only take so much negligence. Eventually, your body is going to crash and you could find yourself right back where you started…or worse. You can’t possibly expect to get six pack abs that way, can you?
It’s clear that a low calorie diet is absolutely not the best way to get six pack abs. It’s bad for your overall health, it doesn’t do anything for muscle building, and it keeps your energy at a minimum. To get six pack abs, you need to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet. Add that to a regular fitness program and there’s really no stopping you.
