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Jul 31

How long should it REALLY take to lose weight? – Fox News

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Were constantly confronted by before and after shots. People whove changed their bodies in six weeks or got their pre-baby body back.

But how long does it really take to lose weight? Heres the science behind weight loss.

What to expect

If youve asked your doctor or trainer how long does it take to lose weight? you may as well have asked how long is a piece of string. There are numerous factors that affect peoples weight loss from age, fitness and health status to lifestyle.

That said, a realistic rate of weight loss for most people is around one to two pounds a week. Weight loss can plateau and yo-yo, so there is no designated time period to ditch that extra layer of fat despite the common 12-week challenges.

You need to continually mix it up, keep focused and set achievable short and long-term goals.

Weight loss vs. fat loss

Seeing the scales flash four pounds in a week doesnt necessarily mean all your hard work is paying off. There are three explanations for weight loss: losing body fat, losing water and losing muscle.

With a balanced diet and regular physical activity, youll most likely shed fat and preserve lean muscle tissue (ideal world). However, if youre more focused on your calorie restriction or following the latest fad diet at the expense of exercise, then youll lose all three components, but most likely more muscle and water.

This may appear great on the scales, but the results are never long-lived. Why? If you regain the weight, more fat and less muscle is replaced. Then once you come off the diet your body thinks another famine is coming and works hard to store away whatever energy it can most likely as fat. You are left with a body that jiggles instead of one that is toned.

Age vs. fitness age

If youve noticed losing weight gets tougher with age, youre not wrong. As you get older your body loses muscle mass, which slows your base metabolic rate (the rate at which it burns calories).

But thats not the only age that affects weight loss. Your fitness age the number of years youve been physically active for determines your base level physique and the speed at which you shed pounds.

If youre new to training (or overweight) and start exercising three to four times a week and eating healthily, then you could lose up to four pounds a week. Alternatively, if youve been training three to four times a week and eating correctly for a while, youll probably lose weight at s steadier pace.

Get a grip of your lifestyle

Losing weight can be more complex than just eating healthily and exercising. If youre struggling to shift the scales, consider the role your lifestyle plays. Are you stressed? Not getting enough sleep? Are your friends and family helping you stay on track? Or perhaps you have underlying health issues?

The conclusion

Every body is individual. Not one size fits all. You can train and eat exactly like someone else and have entirely different results.

While most experts would agree that one to two pounds a week is realistic, the truth of the matter is that slow and steady wins the race.

Not the message you really want to hear, I know.

Kathleen Alleaume is a nutritionist, exercise physiologist and author of Whats Eating You?

This article originally appeared on News.com.au

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How long should it REALLY take to lose weight? - Fox News

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