How to Lose Five Pounds in 25 Days

Losing 5 lbs. in 25 days is achievable and it's within the rate of weight loss that experts from the Mayo Clinic recommend -- which is 1 to 2 lbs. per week. Making moderate, sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle should be enough to help you achieve this goal.

Instructions

• 1

  Exercise every day. Include cardiovascular workouts such as aerobics or walking, and weight training a couple times per week. This will help you burn calories and build muscle, so you'll maintain fitness and muscle tone while you lose weight.

• 2

  Cut calories by substituting foods. If you normally have a mochachino in the morning, try a regular coffee with low fat milk and a sprinkle of cocoa. You'll reduce the calories but still have something to enjoy. Eat air-popped popcorn with a little salt and Parmesan cheese instead of chips. Instead of grabbing several cookies from a bag, buy prepackaged snack-size ones that limit you to 100 calories.

• 3

  Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These foods will fill you up without a lot of calories. If you're hungry between meals, have whole fruit and cut up veggies for snacks. At mealtimes, fill half of your plate with vegetables and choose small portions of protein such as lean meat or beans -- and starch such as potatoes or bread, for the remainder of your plate.

• 4

  Eat a small amount of protein with every meal and snack. Choose low fat options such as chicken and fish, and keep the portion the size of your palm. The protein will help you feel more full than vegetables or carbohydrates alone.

• 5

  Drink water. This will help you stay hydrated and, if you drink a couple of glasses before every meal, will help you eat less at your meals. If you normally drink a lot of soda or coffee with cream and sugar, replacing these drinks with water or tea will also cut calories from your diet.