Losing weight quickly is on the minds of tens of thousands of people all around the world at any given time, at least if search engine keyword search volume is indicative of the overall demand for fast weight loss tips and tricks. Many people believe, or hope anyway, that there are true, permanent fast weight loss solutions -- many of those whom are willing to try anything to take off the weight. One topic that always seems to find its way into peoples' line of thinking is that fasting may be a viable option for individuals who want to take weight off quickly.

So -- is fasting an effective, and safe, way to lose weight quickly? The short answer is no.

The tenets of fasting

While there may be many reasons for taking part of a fast; fasting, by and large, revolves around deprivation of foods, liquids, or both. In many cases, people abstain from foods totally, which many believe may help them with their goals of fast weight loss. Total abstention of food during a fast is not recommended, and according to some medical experts, fasting should not be used as a means to lose weight in any capacity.

While it is one-hundred percent true that fasting may help you to lose weight quickly -- the majority of your weight loss, at least initially, will be loss of fluids, not the loss of fat. Here are a few reasons that fasting for fast weight loss should not be a consideration:

• Fasting slows down your metabolism - If you are looking for long-term weight loss, fasting is counterproductive and may actually lead to weight-gain in the long run.

• Fasting is not safe for the unhealthy - if you have existing health problems, or even if you are taking certain medications, fasting may exacerbate your current conditions or weaken your immune system.

• So-called "starvation diets" are ill-conceived, temporary solutions - Fast weight loss may come about during a fast, but just as you may shed a few pounds quickly, if you resume the lifestyle that led to your excess weight in the first place -- you can expect the weight to come back on, sometimes with a vengeance.

The safe approach to fast weight loss

You can lose weight quickly without fasting, and fast weight loss can be achieved by maintaining a lifestyle that works toward your goal of losing weight. Permanent weight loss does not always produce instant results, but the benefits of a successful, long-term weight loss program certainly outweigh the potential, and very real, downfalls to fast weight loss through fasting.

Bottom line: you can lose weight quickly, but fasting is not the recommended way to achieve your weight loss goals.