When it comes to any health and fitness topic, consistency is the most critical aspect, as an extensive routine that is excessively difficult to stick to is much worse than one that can be done each and every day.
This is especially true when it comes to weight loss, and a meal prep plan must factor in long-term fitness goals and avoid the risk of yo-yo-ing.
In what can be seen as counter-productive by some, this can mean avoiding substantial weight loss goals and instead focusing on consistently losing weight each week.
The NHS recommends losing 1-2lbs (0.5-1kg) per week as a healthy goal, although this can vary between different people, different metabolisms and different needs.
It is possible to lose a lot more than this. If your starting weight is heavier, for example, set point theory suggests that you will find it easier to lose weight until you reach your body’s set point, when the opposite will be the case. This is often the point when people plateau.
Losing lots of weight very quickly can be problematic because the most common ways to achieve this are not sustainable in the medium term.
Often it involves drastic calorie reduction, restrictive diets and intense exercise regimens whilst also in a calorie deficit, which can start to slow your metabolism down over time, meaning that once the regimen stops, it is much easier to regain that weight.
It is a vicious cycle, but one that can be avoided with sustainable planning and a focus on health and nutrition away from weight and calorie counting.
It is also important to note that if you have gone from a relatively sedentary lifestyle to a more active one with a healthier diet alongside it, you may see drastic results quickly regardless, but be aware that this rapid weight loss will slow down.This is also the case for people who have had bariatric surgery such as a gastric bypass or gastric band operation, whereas an inherent result of the operation and post-operative care, someone will lose a lot of weight quickly.