Under these conditions, unsure about availability of nutrients in the future, your body attempts to conserve energy sources. It safeguards every bit of fat stored in your body, preferring to sacrifice protein for energy production instead. This interferes with your plans of how to lose weight in a week. This is also the reason why carbohydrate depletion has limited effect in sustaining weight loss. In the long-term, protective defense mechanisms will conspire to conserve fat in the face of prolonged calorie restriction, preventing weight loss. Crash diets are not very successful for this reason. Deprived of vital nutrients like minerals and vitamins along with calories, the body’s metabolism locks down in a concerted effort to preserve energy resources in the form of fat.
