Many of the top weight loss programs being promoted these days focus on limiting calorie intake while increasing activity levels. Options include counting calories, following strict meal plans or eating pre-packaged food from a box. Mix in some high intensity to burn calories quickly and suddenly you are burning more calories than you are taking in. Does this approach work? It sure does. But when you restrict calories, your body begins to burn fat and even muscle until it adjusts and slows down your metabolism. As soon as you stray from the meal plan or reduce the amount of exercise you are doing the weight quickly reappears because your metabolism remains in slowed state. It becomes a never-ending battle against yourself.