All of us want to rock our beach bodies in the summer, but not all of us will. Every year, nearly half of Americans try to lose weight at some point, but not all of them will adhere to their goals.
One of the most limiting factors for people trying to lose weight is wondering when they'll see results. Sometimes, it can feel like forever, but we promise, it will come with time!
So, how long does it take to lose weight on average? Let's talk about that.
Important Weight Loss Tips
Before we discuss the timeline of losing weight, let's quickly discuss some important tips on how to lose weight. There are plenty of misconceptions about weight loss, so hopefully, we can clear them up for you!
Make Health a Habit
Do you have an "end goal" in mind? A beach body, a mile time, or to fit into your high school pants? If so, stop thinking of it that way.
There's no such thing as an "end goal" in health and wellness, as these are lifestyles, not races. Once you get that body, you can't just stop exercising and eating healthily and expect to stay that way forever.
For that reason, we suggest finding a diet, exercise, and supplementation plan that you can maintain for the long run. If you don't enjoy it, you won't adhere to it for very long. Find what you enjoy and start thinking of your health journey as a lifestyle, not a race to the finish line.
Know Your Calorie Needs
You don't have to diligently track calories in a notebook or an app to lose weight or live a healthy lifestyle. Instead, you just need to have an idea of your daily calorie needs and try to stay a little lower each day.
If you want to be more precise but you don't want to drive yourself crazy, try counting calories for one week so that you have a better idea of your calorie count in the future. You'll be surprised how quickly you can develop an eye for calorie counting!
Make Foods You Enjoy
If you love pizza more than anything in this world and you can't give it up, try making a whole grain veggie pizza with a homemade sauce and light cheese! Love snack foods? Make popcorn with a little bit of coconut oil and your favorite seasoning.
You already know what foods you enjoy and which are going to be the hardest to give up on your weight loss journey, so why not make healthier versions of your favorites? This is one of the best ways to lose weight, as you'll barely notice the difference in your diet, especially once you've developed the habit!
Keep Moving
While exercise is not as important as diet in weight loss, it is still a great help. It can be discouraging to walk or run on a boring treadmill and slowly watch the estimated calorie count increase.
If you're doing this every day and trying to burn enough calories, you're going to be disappointed. One half-hour workout is not enough. However, if you keep your body moving steadily throughout the day, you'll notice a much greater difference!
How Long Does It Take to Lose Weight?
The honest answer is that it depends on your diet, exercise routine, and consistency. However, you can certainly target your weight loss timeline with greater precision, especially if you have the right tools. No matter what, remember that the only way to lose weight is by maintaining a calorie deficit every week.
Ideally, we'd suggest aiming to lose between 1 and 2 pounds a week, which would put you at an average deficit of 500 to 1000 calories per day (3,500 to 7,000 per week). This is the best way to ensure that you're eating enough to get the nutrients your body needs to function properly.
If you aim toward the higher side, then it's even more important to eat a wide variety of foods for your safety. If you find there are any nutrients you're missing, you can always try health supplements, but continue eating whole foods as a primary calorie and nutrition source.
You may notice a greater drop in the first couple of weeks, even if you're following the plan correctly. This is perfectly normal, as it may be stored water weight. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid heavily-salted foods, and you should see this decline fairly quickly.
Weight Loss Timeline
For an average person, we'd suggest aiming for 1 pound per week. If you're looking to build a beach body for the summer, then planning ahead for 10 weeks will have you slimmed down by ten quality pounds without losing any lean body mass.
Ten pounds in over two months may seem daunting to some people, but you have to consider the context. Ten pounds can make an enormous difference in our health and self-confidence, and what is two months out of the course of 80 years of life?
If you're trying to lose a lot more weight, then it's okay to aim a little higher each week, but don't go too far below. Some of the "crash diets" that involve only 500 to 800 calories per day are very unsafe. We would never suggest attempting to lose more than 2 pounds per week, so plan for the long haul!
Regardless of your personal timeline, write out your goals and keep them handy! We are 42% more likely to achieve the goals we write down, so start your plan as soon as possible!
Get Started Today
Now that we've answered the question "how long does it take to lose weight?", you can start your journey toward a slimmer you today!
Stay motivated by keeping up with our latest tips, and if you want to speed up the weight loss process, feel free to try our weight loss supplements today!