When Diets Go Too Far: The Dangers of Water-Only
Have you ever walked by the water cooler and heard coworkers gossiping about the latest extreme diet craze?
This time it’s “water-only” — where people consume nothing but water for days on end, in a desperate bid to shed pounds fast.
On the surface, it seems innocuous enough.
After all, H2O is harmless, right? But don’t be fooled — this fad takes the idea of “crash dieting” to a whole new level of danger.
Let’s take a closer look at what really happens to your body on a water-only plan.
Short-Term Effects
In the short term, going without food means your body will rapidly start burning through its glycogen stores for energy.
This results in initially rapid weight loss as glycogen holds on to water.
But once those stores are depleted after just a day or two, your metabolism will slow to conserve what few resources remain.
Without adequate nutrients, the body switches into starvation mode, making future weight loss and regaining muscle mass far more difficult.
More concerning is the effect on electrolyte levels as there is no sodium, potassium or other minerals coming in.
This imbalance can cause headaches, cramps, fatigue and in severe cases, irregular heart rhythms.
Even scarier is the risk of gallstones as well as damage to the kidneys and liver as they try to process waste without food intake.
The lack of protein is also a recipe for muscle wasting.
Long-Term Effects
Long-term, going without sustenance means essential vitamins, minerals and macronutrients are missing from the diet.
This endangers everything from energy levels to organ function to bone health.
Crash dieting may lead to quick weight loss on the scale, but most of it is water or muscle — not fat. And the weight usually returns with a vengeance.
Short-term fixes do not equal permanent wellness.
Do This Instead
Writing down everything you eat helps you make conscious choices and develop new habits for balanced meals and portion control over time. Rather than extreme diets, focus on lifestyle tweaks you can stick with long-term.
Our health is worth investing in through small daily acts of self-care.
Rather than extreme deprivation, a balanced calorie-controlled diet with adequate nutrients supports stable and maintainable weight loss by changing lifestyle habits for the better. Health and happiness should never be sacrificed in the name of numbers on a scale.
Our bodies were designed for nourishment — not to operate on water alone.
Be kind to yourself!
Thanks for reading!
Accelerate Your Fitness Progress
Supplements get you to the next level of your fitness journey by providing you with the extra edge you need to optimize your performance and results.
Essentials Bundle: If you’re thinking about starting/restarting your fitness journey, start with this! Enter buffbao in checkout to get 20% discount off your order
Protein Powder, Shakes, Bars: Vital for muscle building. Great to have on days when it’s hard to hit your macros. Enter buffbao in checkout to get 20% discount off your order
Pre-workout & Creatine: Great for muscle recovery and performance. Enter buffbao in checkout to get 20% discount off your order
Fat Burners: Helps you burn fat by increasing your metabolism. Enter buffbao in checkout to get 20% discount off your order
Workout Apparel: Workout comfortably while looking fashionable at the same time! Enter buffbao in checkout to get 20% discount off your order
As a Redcon1 tier operator, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that when you buy something through my links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you and you save money with a discount off your order. Thank you for your support and trust!
Need a workout & meal plan?
I got you covered!
Every week, I send you personalized workout & meal plans that match your needs, goals, and preferences. No need to spend hours researching and trying out fitness plans that were made for someone else.
In addition, I answer questions that you may have while working out. Subscribe below!
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
