How can I lose 60 pounds in 3 months? Is it possible? [via Ask Questions]
It is time for some serious math equations. Nah, j/k, but to lose 60 pounds in 3 months, you need to lose 20 pounds a month, which comes down to losing 5 pounds a week.
In other words, you have to lose 5 pounds a week for 12 weeks straight to achieve your goal. Is it possible? Yes. Should you attempt it? Assuming you have no prior experience with this kind of weight loss and your doctor or someone who is qualified to do so is not going to supervise your weight-loss effort, the answer is “No.”
I do not recommend it. Here is why:
1. Losing 5 pounds a week is over two times the recommended rate of weight loss, which is 2 pounds a week.
2. The goal of losing 60 pounds in 3 months is aggressive and not easy to sustain. If you do not achieve it, will you be disappointed? If the answer is “yes,” it may discourage you from losing weight altogether.
3. You can still be aggressive about getting in shape, but a little more realistic. Set a goal to lose 3 pounds a week, instead of the recommended 2 pounds, which is a little more manageable.
Personally, though, I would not do that either. The numbers will play games with you and will screw with your head. Forget the numbers and focus on eating a healthy, balanced diet.
All things being equal, you cannot not lose weight at about 2 pounds a week or faster if you eat healthy. Find a diet which is a good fit for you. It does not matter if a diet promises a certain rate of weight loss. If you are not comfortable with a given diet, you are not likely to follow through with it.
At the end of the day, numbers are just numbers. What really matters is that as you progress toward your goal, you will notice that you feel better and your clothes start to fit looser. This alone should motivate you, and when the compliments start pouring in, there will be no stopping you.