woman showing abs after weight loss

Can you lose 50 pounds in 4 months

Contents

Can you lose 50 pounds in 4 months?

While it is possible to lose 50 pounds in  4 months, it is not recommended. Achieving this amount of weight loss in such a short period requires you to lose about 3 pounds every week, more than the recommended 1 – 2pounds per week for healthy weight loss.

 

While 4 -months feel like a lot of time, it’s not when it comes to achieving such an ambitious weight loss goal. Remember, it takes a calorie reduction of 3500 pounds to lose 1 pound. Double it to 7000 calories to lose 2 pounds. You need a calorie reduction of at least 1500 calories per day to lose 3 pounds in a week. You would need to cut at least 700 carries from your diet and burn another 750-calories via exercise to achieve this goal. An ambitious goal that most people will not keep up. It is for this reason that losing 50 pounds in 4 months is not recommended. Most people cannot sustain this type of vigorous change to their diet and exercise routine for 4 months. A more realistic timeframe to have in mind when trying to lose 50 pounds is anywhere from 25 weeks to a year.

woman showing off weight loss

How long should it take to lose 50 pounds?

It takes anywhere from 6-months to a year to lose 50 pounds safely.

 

At a rate of two pounds a week, you will be able to lose 50 pounds in 25 weeks or a little less than six months. However, at a rate of one pound a  week, you will lose it in 50 weeks or a little less than a year. While this might seem like a long time to lose weight, this is the recommended rate at which you should aim to lose weight. With this realistic timeframe in mind, you don’t have to make any unsafe changes to your diet. A moderate calorie reduction of 500-calories combined with a good exercise routine is enough to jumpstart the weight loss process. Also, a slow and steady approach to weight loss is much better as it allows you ample time to incorporate these changes into your lifestyle. This way, you can sustain the weight loss long-term. Isn’t it better to lose weight in 6 months rather than lose it quickly in a few months only to gain it back and start again?

 

Also, keep in mind that how fast or quick you lose weight is also dependant on factors such as; genetic, height, gender, weight, and lifestyle. Men tend to lose weight faster than women. Also, your lifestyle plays a big role in how quickly you lose weight. A person with a desk job and a sedentary lifestyle will not lose weight at the same rate as an active person who exercises regularly.

weight loss difference

How much weight can you lose in 4 months?

On average, expect to lose 16 – 32 pounds in 4 months.  According to CDC, you should aim for a healthy weight loss rate of 1 – 2 pounds every week. Aiming for 16 – 32 pounds is a healthy and realistic weight loss goal in line with this recommendation.

 

While fast and quick are thrown around when it comes to weight loss. That is not the approach you want to take when losing weight. Choose a healthy weight loss plan that doesn’t involve any unsafe changes that can put your health at risk.  Also, keep in mind that results may vary from person to person in 4 months depending on factors such as; age, gender, height, weight, and lifestyle. Even at a calorie deficit, an active person who exercises regularly will not lose weight at the same rate as someone with a sedentary lifestyle. The same way a heavy person weighing over 250-pounds burns more calories in 30-minutes than a lighter person doing the same workout at the same duration. 

 

Can you lose 50 pounds in 4 months? Final thoughts

Losing 50 pounds in months is an ambitious goal that is neither safe nor healthy. A more realistic weight loss goal when losing 50 pounds is 6-months. While you can lose weight in 4 months, expect it to be about 16 – 32 pounds. Having this realistic timeframe in mind makes losing weight easier as you know just what to expect.