If you could lose weight fast or lose it slowly, which one would you prefer? Most people would choose to lose it quickly, but there are those who believe slow weight loss is more sustainable. There may be some truth in that idea, but there’s no reason why you can’t do both using three day diets.

What that means is that you can get a good jump start on losing weight. That way you will see some results right away and that, in turn, can work as strong motivation to keep going. To put it another way, you can get off to a fast start and then use a more long-term approach. Of course you can always use three day diets to just lose as much weight as possible in a short amount of time; without any thought of a long-term plan. For example, if you need to fit into a dress in a few days, and can’t quite do it, then you need this kind of diet.

The experts say you shouldn’t lose more than one to two pounds per week, so three day diets should only be used once in a while, and not be used for more than three days. You should also consult your personal doctor before making any major changes to your diet.

There are several three day diets out there, and some work better than others. The real “secret” isn’t finding the “best” diet, but to rather find a three day diet that has food on it that you enjoy; or at the very least that you’re sure you can stick to. After all, you wouldn’t want to be two days into it and then decide to quit. You know yourself better than anybody else, so use your best judgment when selecting a diet (again, being sure to check with your doctor first).

How much weight can you lose in three days? Claims of losing one to two pounds per day are not uncommon for three day diets, but that’s much more than the recommended safe amount. However, if you are only going to do it once, and really have a good reason to lose weight, then you should be okay. Just don’t make these restrictive diets a regular part of your routine.

Some three day diets work by helping you get rid of water weight. The idea is that the body is made up mostly of water, so you can lose weight quickly by eliminating water from your system. Reducing calories is one part of it, and cutting out sodium is the other part; as sodium increases how much water your body retains. You can lose weight this way, but you obviously can’t make a habit of dehydrating yourself.

That is only one example out of many three day diets. Think of what your goals are, and also what types of foods you will eat. If you are allergic to shellfish, then the “3 Day Shrimp Diet” won’t do you any good. Which raises another point: If you do a three day diet, be sure to follow it very closely. Most of these diets were developed with a very specific combination of foods, and veering from the plan won’t guarantee that you will lose weight.