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How Fast Can a Person Lose Weight Healthily?

Quick weight loss is the goal of almost every overweight person. You want to lose the weight, and you want to do it now. But this may be the worst thing you can do. For permanent weight loss, losing at a slow, steady pace is the best way to go.

  1. The Facts

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, the best and safest goal of weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs. a week. You are more likely to lose when you don't extend your goal into anything unrealistic, and more apt to keep the weight off if you lose it slowly and steadily.

    Effects

    • Steady weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs. a week are most likely to be losses that stick. You are less likely to bounce back and put the weight back on, and your body will have more time to adjust to your new size. Skin has more time to shrink and is more likely to be tight, not wrinkled. You also have more time for your new eating style to become a habit, instead of just something you do to lose the weight.

    Misconceptions

    • Some people think that the less you eat, the more you will lose. This is far from true. If you don't eat the minimum required for your body to function, you could go into what's called "starvation mode." This is where your body thinks it isn't getting enough food so it tries to hang onto every calorie it has. Eating more, to an extent, can cause you to lose more. Determine a healthy calorie intake for weight loss, and make sure to eat it every day.

    Warning

    • Crash diets or starvation diets can not only slow your weight loss, they can be dangerous to your health. Your body needs a certain amount of food to function each day. Check with your doctor before attempting any weight-loss plan, and lay out your diet plan for his approval.

    Expert Insight

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control, a healthy loss of 1 to 2 lbs. a week is about a change in lifestyle and eating habits, and is more likely to result in permanent weight loss without gaining the pounds back. Reducing your calorie intake or increasing your calorie burn by 500 to 1,000 calories per day is the best and safest way to achieve this goal.

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