How much weight should you lose per week? That is the question! And the answer seems to change from person to person. But, there are some general guidelines that apply to everyone. Let’s have a look.
Target Weight
The first thing to consider is your target weight. Do you want to lose weight? If so, how much weight? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It’s all about what you want to achieve. Maybe you had a lot of weight to lose and you set your target at a lower weight than what you initially wanted to lose. Or, perhaps you set the goal at a weight that is beneficial for your body. It depends on your goals and what you want to achieve. It is a balancing act between what you want and what is appropriate for your body size. But, at some point, you will have to decide on a number and don’t deviate from it. This will be very hard to do if you don’t know how much weight you should lose per week. And that brings us to…
Calorie Intake
Calorie intake is extremely important when trying to lose weight. Your body needs calories to function properly. And while we don’t recommend going below a 1000 cal/day (for the average person), you should definitely keep your calorie intake below what your body needs. That way, you will lose weight and your body will thank you for it. The amount of calories you need to lose per week depends on your own metabolism and how much weight you want to lose. To give you an idea, if you have a calorie target of 2000 calories and you are looking to lose 1 pound per week, you will need to reduce your calorie intake by about 500 calories per day. So, essentially, you are advising your body to burn more calories than it takes in. This will result in weight loss and improve your health. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Fat Phobia
A lot of people have fat phobia. They don’t want to have anything to do with fats and oils because of how they think it will make them appear. While this couldn’t be farther from the truth, it is still a common misconception. There are actually lots of great things about fats and oils, especially the fats that are good for you. So, if you want to lose weight, you should not be afraid of fats. You should try to incorporate them in your diet and if you absolutely must have something to drink, then go for a glass of wine or a small beer. There are a lot of great things about fats and oils, and you should definitely try to incorporate them in your diet. Another thing you should do if you want to lose weight is to eat less carbs and more fats and proteins. Carbs are something your body uses for energy, so if you want to lose weight you should be reducing your intake of carbs. If you are not sure how many carbs you should be consuming or whether or not you should even be eating carbs, then it is a wise move to consult with a nutritionist or dietician. But, for the sake of simplicity, you can use this formula:
- Calories = Fat + Carb + Protein
- You will need about 10 calories more per day than you consume to lose one pound per week
- You should be able to comfortably lose one pound per week without extreme measures (such as fasting or taking supplements)
- Reducing your calories by 500 per day will help you lose one pound per week
What About Exercise?
Besides what you eat, exercise is also a critical factor in losing weight. It doesn’t matter how much you eat or how little you eat, if you don’t exercise, you aren’t going to lose weight. Regular exercise promotes healthy habits and allows you to maintain a proper weight regardless of the food you eat. It also helps you to reduce stress, which may in turn help you to lose weight. So, if you want to lose weight, you should make it a point to exercise every day. You don’t have to go for long, just walk for a little while or do some light stretching. Find a routine that suits you and stick with it.
There are a lot of different ways you can lose weight. No matter which method you choose, make sure you don’t deviate from the basics. Eat less carbs, more fats, and exercise regularly. If you follow these guidelines, you will lose weight and feel better than you ever have before. So, how much weight should you lose per week? That depends on you. But, for the average person, it’s somewhere between 1 and 2 pounds per week. If you want to lose more weight, then you should try to increase your fat intake and decrease your carb intake. And remember, if you want to lose weight, you should not be afraid of fats or oils!