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How Long Will it Take to Lose Weight?

Weight loss is no easy feat, and for many people half the challenge is finding the patience to reach their weight goals. Whether dieting, exercising, cutting calories or taking medication, weight loss takes determination and effort. It is also important to remember that people lose weight at different rates, though there are certain general truths when it comes to the amount of time it takes to lose weight.

  1. Healthy Weight Loss

    • On average, individuals who increase exercise and reduce calories should expect to lose a half a pound to two and a half pounds per week, which is considered a healthy rate of weight loss, according to examiner.com. Therefore, a person trying to lose 10 pounds should allow anywhere from four to 20 weeks. This number depends largely on the number of calories you cut out of your daily diet and how much you increase athletic activity.

    Calorie Reduction

    • Many people choose to lose weight by reducing the amount of calories they consume. One pound of body fat is equivalent to approximately 3,500 calories, so eliminating this number of calories from a weekly diet should result in one pound of weight loss.

    Exercise

    • Another way to lose weight is through exercise. Not surprisingly, for every 3,500 calories burned an individual will lose one pound of fat. In general, people who exercise and burn 1,000 calories every day without increasing caloric intake should lose two pounds per week.

    Exercise and Calorie Reduction

    • The best way to decrease the amount of time it takes to lose weight is to combine increased athletic activity and calorie reduction, though the same equation (3,500 calories for one pound of body fat) still holds true.

    Water Weight

    • People often lose greater amounts of weight at the beginning of a diet or fitness regimen because they reduce water weight. Decreasing the amount of sodium in the diet is one way to lose water weight because sodium increases the body's fluid retention. Additionally, more fluid is stored in the body when a diet heavy in carbohydrates is consumed, so reducing carbs will decrease water retention.
      Water weight loss generally occurs within the first two weeks of a diet and may account for between one and 10 pounds, depending on the initial weight of the person and the amount of water that they normally retain.

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