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Is it possible to lose 15 pounds in a month?
No, you cannot lose 15 pounds in a month. Contrary to what many lose weight quick programs might tell you, losing this much weight is not healthy or safe for most people.
But first, let’s understand how weight loss works. Weight loss occurs when we continuously eat less than our body needs. This creates a calorie deficit that forces the body to access stored fat to maintain body functions. You need a calorie deficit of about 3500 calories to lose a pound. This means, to achieve a goal of losing 15 pounds in 30 days, you need to maintain a calorie deficit of about at least 1700 calories daily. Here’s why this is not possible for so many people.
- You need to eat 1700 fewer calories to lose 15 pounds in a month. Most adults need about 2000 – 2500 calories for women and men, respectively. Reducing this number by 1700 calories is starvation, and it is unsafe. Also, most experts recommend a moderate calorie reduction of at least 500-calories, not triple the amount with 1700 calories.
- You can burn 1700 extra calories each day with exercise. However, even with the best cardio workouts such as swimming, rowing, or running, you burn a moderate 300 – 500 calories in a 30-minute session. Also, this means spending at least 4-hours exercising daily to burn off 1700 calories. An impossible task to achieve for most people, let alone those with a busy schedule, that doesn’t leave much time for exercise.
How long does it take to lose 15 pounds?
It takes anywhere from two to four months to lose 15 pounds. Most health experts recommend that you aim for a steady weight loss of about 1 – 2 pounds 0r 1% of your total body weight every week.
However, keep in mind that how fast you lose weight is also dependant on factors such as; your current weight, age, gender, height, and lifestyle. A person with an active lifestyle who exercises daily will not lose weight at the same rate as a sedentary person, who barely exercises or moves all day. Also, a person weighing 250-pound might not lose weight at the same rate as someone weighing 150-pounds. At just 1% of total body weight weekly, the heavier person will not lose the same amount of weight every week as the person weighing 150 lbs.
How Much Weight Can You Lose In A Month?
On average, you can expect to lose about 4 – 7 pounds in a month. This is in line with what most health experts recommend, a slow and steady weight loss of about 1 – 2 pounds every week.
Having a realistic time frame for your weight loss goals is a great way to increase your willpower to lose weight. No matter how small the number might be, having that small win every week boosts your morale as its shows you’re on the right track. While you might not be able to lose as much weight as you wish in a month, you can still lose weight. Besides, some weight is better than none, right?
Final thoughts; is it possible to lose 15 pounds in a month?
While it is possible to lose 15 pounds in a month. This type of quick weight loss is not recommended. Achieving this weight loss involves making drastic changes to your diet or lifestyle that cannot be sustained long term. A more realistic timeframe to losing 15 pounds is anywhere from two months to four months.
