Quick weight loss diets have been around since the world's first dieter looked at their abdomen and thought, "I need to lose a few pounds - NOW." Even though experience has shown that fast "fad" diets generally result in temporary weight loss, dieters are still searching for the Holy Grail: A diet that lets them lose weight fast and keep it off.

Even though nothing can make you lose weight instantly and miraculously, you can follow a number of steps to quicken weight loss without employing a rapid weight loss diet. Here's how:

Rev Your Metabolism with the Right Foods.

Do you eat lots of calories? The problem might be that you're eating too few. Years of yo-yo dieting can slow down your metabolism by 30%. In order to speed up your basal metabolic rate (BMR), you have to consume adequate calories.

You can find comprehensive BMR calculators online. They will instruct you how many calories you need to get through a day. If you exercise or have a physically demanding career, you will need more. Try to get most of your calories from lean protein, whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Do not be frightened by an initial weight gain; your body demands time to repair itself. Once you've spent a few weeks or months eating a proper number of calories, your metabolism will speed up and the pounds will fall away.

You can simply lose a pound a week by sticking to a balanced diet or two pounds a week if you add workout.

Don't forget the workout

Most immediate weight loss diets don't inc
lude any form of physical workout. They encourage you to lose weight rapidly by eating very little. While that can lead to a rapid initial weight loss, the weight will come back when you start to eat normally again. Plus, rapid weight loss diets don't give the same health benefits as a balanced diet and workout.

Cardio and strength training are considered by experts as the best exercise routines. If you experience various stress in life, consider doing yoga for stretching and relaxation. Three to five hours of cardio exercise plus one or two hours of strength training are sufficient to make significant changes in your body shape and fitness level.

Exercise provides all kinds of health advantages. It will ameliorate your mood, help you sleep soundly, make you stronger and leaner, and improve your balance. It also cares for your heart and wards off metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes. These are extras that fast weight loss diets cannot offer.

Forget Starvation Diets.

We've all heard the tales of celebrities who drank nothing but lemonade with maple syrup and cayenne pepper to quickly slim down for a role. What we don't hear about is the aftermath: Those same celebrities regained all the weight as soon as they ended their rapid weight loss diets.

Don't put your body through the stress of rapid weight loss diets. At best, you'll end up tired, hungry, grouchy, dehydrated, and heavier than before. At worst, you could severely impair your metabolism, making it impossible to lose weight even when you eat very few calories.

To sustain a healthy weight, your body needs to be fit. Feed it right, move it often, and give it the hydration it requires to perform at its peak.