This week I’m going to share the TRUTH about rapid fat loss.
One of the more common questions I get is:
How FAST can I lose weight? I see these stories about people losing like 56 pounds in 6 weeks, and I don’t know if I should believe that…if that should be my GOAL…or if that’s even TRUE! I mean is that just a complete LIE made up by some unethical advertiser trying to get me to buy their weight loss pill?
Don’t feel bad. It IS confusing. It’s confusing because you have been bombarded by contradictory messages for years. Some of them TRUE, some of them LIES, some of them are TRUE stories but they’re not necessarily realistic for most people, and some of them are lies that SOUNDS realistic.
So let’s get down to brass tacks:
What IS the TRUTH about rapid fat loss?
Why The Truth About Rapid Fat Loss Actually Matters
First of all let’s just clarify WHY this is important.
It’s important because weight loss is a journey. And just like any journey that you may set out on…
You want to have an idea of where you’re going and how long it’s going to take for you to get there.
The better you know where you’re going and how long it’s going to take to get there…the more likely you are to succeed in reaching your destination.
And if you have realistic expectations of how much weight you can lose, and how quickly you can lose it, then you’re less likely to get discouraged.
What Is Realistic Weight Loss?
First of all, I want to emphasize that some people DO experience dramatic weight loss transformations. It’s real. It really happens…sometimes…to certain people. Somewhere out there, there is a guy or girl who DID manage to lose 56 pounds in 6 weeks on some diet or other.
But just because THEY did it…does NOT mean that YOU will.
And I don’t say that to be discouraging. I say it to be honest.
And keep in mind, you don’t know the real story behind that “miraculous weight loss.” That guy could have been 600 pounds, in which case…losing 56 pounds would not really be all that hard. Relatively speaking.
Or, it could have been a fitness model who was paid to intentionally GAIN 56 pounds, and then LOSE it again…just so they could provide a testimonial and a before & after picture for a product.
(Unscrupulous companies do that sort of thing.)
Or, it could have been a hundred other things.
The point is, those crazy-sounding stories DO happen…but they are NOT typical, and you should NOT expect that to happen to you.
How Fast Should You Expect To Lose Weight?
As far as a realistic rate of weight loss, the most common figure that people give is 1-2 pounds per week.
And personally, I have found that to be a pretty good long-term goal to shoot for. If you are trying to lose weight over a long period of time, 1-2 pounds per week is a good goal.
In the SHORT term, however, I have found that you can do better than 1-2 pounds per week. In the first month or so of weight loss, you can probably drop 4-5 pounds per week or more. Now that’s probably not all coming from bodyfat, and it’s not sustainable for a long period of time.
So keep that in mind. If you start a diet and you lose 5 pounds the first week, then 4 pounds the second week, then you only lose 1 pounds the third week…don’t get discouraged. Those first 2 weeks were abnormally good. And losing 1 pound a week is still progress.
Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss
Also, keep in mind that “weight loss” is different than “fat loss.” “Weight loss” includes things like water weight, which is much easier to manipulate than bodyfat.
Professional wrestlers, boxers, MMA fighters, and people like that who compete in different weight classes are experts at losing massive amounts of water weight prior to an event so that they can compete at a certain weight level.
Bodyfat is much slower to come off your body. It’s something that takes time to burn off. It doesn’t happen all at once. It’s gradual.
What Can You Take Away From This?
Some people think that losing 1-2 pounds per week is too slow. It seems like it will take forever.
But if you can lose MORE than that for the first couple weeks…that can be a great way to build up some momentum.
Momentum is really important in weight loss. Because very often, people will start on a diet…and then give up if they don’t see any progress after a week or two.
BUT… if you start a diet and immediately lose 8 pounds the first week, all of a sudden you’re much more motivated. Because you experienced a “Quick Win.” And that motivation can help carry you through the periods of slower, more consistent weight loss that lie ahead.
The Most Important Thing To Remember
Remember: The most important thing of all is KEEP TRYING.
There’s only one way to fail at weight loss…and that is to give up.
But as long as you persist, you WILL reach your goal. You CAN have your dream body. You can be as strong, as lean, as healthy, as sexy, as confident as you want.