woman showing successful weight loss

can you lose 40 pounds in 4 months

Can you lose 40 pounds in 4 months?

It is possible to lose 40 pounds in 4 months. However, this would require you to lose 2.5 pounds a week. A little more than the rate experts recommended you lose weight, that is, 1 – 2 pounds weekly.

 

While 4-months might seem like a long term, it isn’t that long when you’re trying to lose this amount of weight. Remember, the rules of healthy weight loss remain the same. That is, you need a calorie deficit of 3500 calories to lose 1 pound.

  • This means, to lose 40 pounds in 4 months, you need a calorie deficit of 8200, about 1200 calories daily.
  • The best way to go about it is with diet and exercise. Reduce your daily calories by half and burn the other half with exercise.
  • Most adults require at least 2000 calories to maintain their weight. A reduction of 600-calories leaves you with enough calories to survive on without feeling deprived.
  • Also, consider intermittent fasting schedules such as alternate-day fasting. On this schedule, you spend 36-hour fasting. This means going without food for at least 3-days every week. An easy way to create and maintain a deficit without counting your calories.
  • Burn off the extra 600-calories with exercise. The best exercises for weight loss such as; swimming, running, jogging, or weight training, can help you burn calories fast. However, as the goal is to burn at least 600-calories, aim to spend at least 1hr and 30minutes exercising daily.

Do these, and you will lose 40 pounds in 4 months.

weight loss

How long does it take to lose 40 pounds?

On average, it takes about 5 to 10-months to lose 40 pounds. This is the recommended rate at which the CDC (center for disease control and prevention) recommends you lose weight. With a moderate calorie deficit of 500-calorie daily, expect to lose 40 pounds in 10 months. Double it to a 1000-calorie deficit daily, and you can lose 40 pounds in 5 months.

 

However, keep in mind that how fast you lose weight might vary from person to person due to factors such as; lifestyle, weight, height, age, and gender. Overall, the goal is to aim for healthy weight loss. Setting up a realistic timeframe when losing weight is a great way to avoid the temptation of lose-weight-quick fad diets. Besides, allowing yourself enough time to lose weight increases the likelihood that you will keep it off for good.

woman after successful weight loss

How Much Weight Can I Lose In 2 Months?

Expect to lose about 8 – 16 pounds in 2 months. This is in line with what most experts recommend, losing 1 – 2 pounds per week or 1% of total body weight.

 

However, results might vary from person to person as to how quickly you lose weight is influenced by factors such as; lifestyle and weight. A person weighing 250-pounds will not lose the same amount of weight in 2 months as someone weighing 150-pounds as their energy needs are different. Even at the same rate of 1% of total body weight, the heavier person might lose more weight as their starting weight is higher. In the same way, an active person who exercises daily will not lose the same amount of weight in 2 months as someone with a sedentary lifestyle. So, while the general expectation is to lose 8 – 16 pounds in 2 months, results may vary due to these factors.

 

Can you lose 40 pounds in 4 months? Final thoughts

While it is possible to lose 40 pounds in 4 months, it’s not considered healthy, as it’s a little over the rate at which experts recommend you lose weight. That is 1 – 2 pounds per week or 1% of total body weight.