With obesity on the rise, people are obsessed with finding the quickest way to lose weight. The market is teeming with weight loss pills and diet products, promising to get rid of pounds of fat, and fast. Most quick diets are effective because they result in the loss of water weight, instead of actual fat.

The body stores water in case of dehydration, and at times can carry as much as ten pounds. Many diets involve an increase in water consumption, whether by incorporating the 8 glasses a day rule, or through homemade liquid concoctions and soups. When the body starts receiving more water, it no longer needs to store as much, and excess water is flushed, resulting in fast weight loss. While this weight is easily gained and lost, it serves as a good way to jump start a long term diet.

The reason most dieters give up is because they expect faster results, and when the scale only shows a loss of a pound or two per week, they become discouraged and quit. Quick weight loss in the beginning motivates dieters to stay on track and keep from gaining back what they have already lost, which encourages fat loss.

The quickest way to lose weight is by cleanse diets. Between water and waste, the body stores countless pounds of unneeded material. Flushing this material can drop 10 pounds in a week or two. There are many popular cleanse diets that work, one of the biggest being the Master Cleanse Diet. If a dieter can handle going without solid food, this is a sure way to lose weight fast.

Also called the lemonade diet, this cleansing diet consists of drinking a homemade lemonade cocktail, made from lemon juice with maple syrup and some cayenne pepper. Along with dropping pounds, this diet also cleanses the body of toxins, restoring natural energy.

Another common trick is the cabbage soup diet. While many would not automatically see it as cleansing, the soup is mostly water, and it also requires drinking an additional 4 cups of water per day, resulting in a fast loss of water weight. Designed as a seven day regimen, the soup is to be accompanied by a certain food or food group each day, of which the dieter can eat as much as they would like. The soup recipe can be found many places online.

While getting rid of water weight is not a permanent weight loss solution, it is ideal for motivating healthy dieting, as well as a quick fix before reunions, vacations and other important events.

While pursuing the quickest way to lose weight can be a smart first move, it is not the only move when fighting the battle of the bulge. Once the waste weight is gone, it is important to make appropriate changes to keep it off and start losing fat. Weight loss is governed by a simple equation; the number of calories gained must be less than the number of calories burned.

Diet and exercise, while not easy, is the most effective way of losing fat. There are numerous programs that dictate what a dieter can eat at each meal, as well as programs that allow a certain number of calories or carbs per day. If the idea of being told exactly what to eat and how much seems too restricting, it is best not to try that kind of program. If a diet makes a person miserable, they are much less likely to stick with it.

Many people find it easier to stick to their normal diet, but cut every portion in half. Adding foods that burn more calories during the digestive process than they contain in the first place helps curb hunger as well as burn fat. These are called negative calorie foods, and include many vegetables and fruits.

Joining a weight loss group, such as Weight Watchers, an online support group, or an office weight loss competition has been shown to increase results. Being held accountable makes a dieter less likely to cheat or quit, and utilizes the motivation of others. Combined with an increase in activity, these steps lead to a healthy, long term weight loss.