The number of weight watchers around the world is growing exponentially. With fast food and larger calorie laden meals replacing simpler dietary habits, gaining extra pounds is increasingly easy. Unfortunately, the metabolism rates for people tend to vary. There is always someone who eats like an elephant without putting on a single inch while some who have had the dreadful feeling that a single bite of a luscious cheesecake punishes them with an additional 1 pound weight gain.

The road to weight loss is much more difficult than the one to weight gain and quite a bit longer too. But like everything else, there are shortcuts you can take. Here are two types of shortcuts:

The surgical way

As science advances we create new possibilities. Surgical methods to drastically lose weight overnight are becoming increasingly popular. These procedures include gastric reductions, liposuction, and stomach stapling. Apart from liposuction, most of these surgeries bring dire side-effects and consequences as they alter the digestive system in one way or another. Stomach stapling is basically reducing the amount of food a person's stomach can hold to one-tenth of its original capacity. Gastric surgeries also involve the reduction of the small intestine, which is responsible for nutrient absorption. Therefore this reduction leads to less nutrients being absorbed. In both of the talked about procedures, the person undergoing them has to practice caution with his diet because of the reduced capabilities of his digestive systems. Liposuction is however a lower risk surgery, in which fat cells are localized, identified, and then extracted.

The natural way

The natural way to lose weight fast is through a crash diet coupled with extensive cardio workouts. Although effective, this is temporary and the weight loss tends to come back when the crash diet is stopped. Unfortunately, the body reads crash diets as a sign of famine. So as soon as the dieter starts eating regularly, it stores more fat than the last time in an attempt to prepare itself for the next famine. Cardio workouts on the other hand don't have any demerits to them. Rather, they not only help shed pounds but also keep a person fit and healthy.

To conclude, no one likes extra weight but it's definitely not horrible enough to destroy your body over a few extra kilos. If you are looking to get in shape and look sleeker, you should consult a physician and make intelligent and informed decisions. Remember that damaging your health will last a lifetime and losing weight correctly will always prevale in my eyes.