is it possible to lose 60 pounds in 5 months

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Is it possible to lose 60 pounds in 5 months?

While it is possible to lose 60 pounds in 5 months, it is not recommended for most people.

This type of rapid weight loss is considered unsafe for most people. Here’s why;

It takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose a pound.
This means losing 60 pounds requires an even large deficit of about 210,000 calories.
In 5 months, this comes to a daily deficit of 1400 calories, to lose 60 pounds.
This is a high-calorie deficit that most people cannot sustain without risking their health for such a prolonged period.

A more realistic timeframe to have in mind when trying to lose 60 pounds is anywhere between 8 – 16 months.

This is in line with the CDC (center for disease control and prevention) guidelines for healthy weight loss. A slow and steady approach of losing 1 – 2 pounds every week. Even though this might not lead to quick weight loss. It’s a healthier approach that can be sustained long-term. You don’t have to worry about gaining it all back.

Understanding weight loss.

Weight loss occurs when we eat less than our body burns. This creates a negative caloric balance forcing your body to tap into stored fats for energy, jumpstarting the weight loss process.

You can do this by creating eating fewer calories to create a deficit. Most experts recommended a moderate calorie reduction of 500 – 1000 calories for weight loss. Losing 60 pounds in 5 months requires a deficit of 1400 calories. A hard goal for most people, even with the combined efforts of diet and exercise.

You’d have to drastically reduce your calories to meet the goal leaving you with very little to survive on. Severe calorie reductions can make you feel like you’re starving. Also, you’re likely not to get all nutrients your body needs, thus putting your health at risk.

Contrary to popular belief, exercise only burns a moderate amount of calories per session. For example, a person weighing 185-pounds swimming vigorously for 30-minutes burns 420-calories. You’d have to exercise intensely for several hours to burn enough calories to create this deficit. Most people will struggle to do this daily, let alone continuously for 5-months.

How much weight can I lose in 5 months?

Generally, expect to lose about 20 – 40 pounds in 5 months. With a daily deficit of 500-calories, you can lose 20 pounds in 5 months. With a daily deficit of 1000-calories, you can lose 40 pounds in 5 months.

However, keep in mind that this can number can vary from person to person as factors such as; lifestyle, age, height, gender, and weight can also influence how quickly you lose weight.

While it is possible to lose more weight in 5 months, it is not recommended. Aim for a slow and steady weight loss of 1 – 2 pounds weekly. Besides, having realistic expectations is a great way to increase your willpower to lose weight. Also, you don’t have to resort to any extreme measures that can put your health at risk.