We’ve all seen the endless TV commercials and heard the equally plentiful radio ads that promise us we can drop 25 pounds in a month. Some of these ads make it sound so easy! But before you try out a new diet option for weight loss, it’s smart to research the diet plan more thoroughly. You will also want to make sure you know what amount of weight loss can reasonably, and safely, be expected. The last thing you want to do as you plan to lose some weight is to harm your health in any way. Read on to find out how much weight you can lose in a month and for some tips to help you along your journey.
How Many Pounds to Lose Per Month
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that losing weight at a slower pace is usually more successful for people in the long run. The CDC’s guidelines suggest that we should try to lose no more than a couple of pounds per week.
Summer is just around the corner, and that can be a time where people feel pressure to lose several pounds quickly. However, if your goal is to lose some weight—and keep it off—don’t try to lose all of the pounds right away. Make a plan and stick with it to reap the most benefits with gradual weight loss.
A Little Equals A Lot of Good Health
Don’t feel discouraged if you were hoping to drop more than a few pounds in one month. The CDC notes that even losing just a few pounds can help you reap significant health benefits. It’s worth noting that individual results will vary, but someone who loses just five percent of her body weight could see her health begin to improve. This might mean anything from lower blood pressure to lower cholesterol or reduced blood sugar levels. All of those health benefits can add up to help lower your risk of chronic illness related to carrying excess weight.
Create a Weight Loss Plan
Set yourself up for success by creating a plan for weight loss. Based on the CDC’s recommendations of a healthy amount of weight to lose in a month, plot your monthly goals. For example, there are four full weeks in May, which means you could plan to lose about eight pounds. (Four weeks multiplied by two pounds per week is equal to eight pounds.)
Some people prefer to focus on smaller weekly goals rather than larger monthly ones. Breaking down your monthly weight loss goal may help to keep you from feeling overwhelmed by a larger number. Plus, it’s highly rewarding as you hit weekly targets and then realize you’ve hit your monthly goal as well!
Factor in Your Personal Lifestyle
People are unique, and how they lose weight is no exception. Individual differences in lifestyle choices and overall physical makeup all play a role in monthly weight loss. No two people are exactly the same. Expect that weight loss will happen at varying speeds for each of us.
Your personal daily food and beverage consumption is another major factor in how many pounds you lose per month. For instance, consuming more calories than you burn in a day will generally lead to slow, or no, weight loss. Conversely, cutting back on foods like processed items and desserts should help you along on your weight loss journey.
You might also find it helpful to track the number of calories you consume each day. You might be surprised to find out your taking in far more than you think, and that could be sabotaging your weight loss goals. You can consider an app like PLATE to help you track what you should eat and know you’re actually consuming the appropriate calories during the day to lose weight.
Try New Recipes for Inspiration
To help you get inspired to eat healthier in support of your weight loss plan, try some new recipes. Check out Pinterest for helpful images of enticing new foods and recipes to make. A simple online search for healthier meals could be useful as well. Vegetables and fruits are a key component of most healthy diets, so look for recipes that focus on fresh produce rather than canned or packaged items. Consider getting some friends involved and swap recipe ideas. Make it fun!
Consult a Professional
We know that everyone loses weight a little differently and at their own pace. Each of us has our own health priorities to think about as well. For this reason, it’s a good idea to consider scheduling a visit with your primary care doctor. If your healthcare facility offers it, you could even set up a consultation via Zoom.
In addition to asking your doctor about a healthy weight loss goal per month, you could discuss any existing health concerns with them. If you have a chronic illness, for example, you will want to factor that into your monthly weight loss plan.
Healthy Monthly Weight Loss
Whichever way you choose to achieve your weight loss goals, be sure you do so in a healthy way. That starts with ensuring you have realistic expectations for the weight you can safely lose each month. You’ll safeguard your health and you’ll be more likely to stick to your plan in the long term if you lose weight a bit more gradually.
If you find yourself feeling defeated or find that you have a hard time sticking with a weight loss plan on your own try Prolon. It’s a 5-day fast with food that most people lose 5 lbs on.
If you find that you’re constantly snacking but only on unhealthy foods consider getting some Fast Bars, which can help you feel more satisfied while not ruining your diet.
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