Diet & Weight Loss Articles

How Long Does It Take To Lose Weight?

Regardless of the reasoning a person decides to go on their weight loss journey, be it for health reasons or simply wanting to improve their physical appendence, it is important to outline how long it will take to achieve their weight loss goals in order to keep things in perspective.

When they take the time to outline how long it may take to lose their excess weight, it can help lead to the creation of long-term and sustainable, realistic weight loss goals. When a person knows the amount of time it will take to reach these goals this can also help set milestones a person can look for when checking their weight loss progress, such as noticing changes in the mirror, in order to quell any frustration and to keep a person motivated to continue making progress.

The fact of the matter is, no matter which type of diet program a person decides to follow, there are so many factors, most of them being completely outside of a person’s control, that go into determining how quickly someone can lose excess body weight.

Gender.

When comparing genders, a person’s fat to muscle ratio is something to remember when thinking about weight loss results. Men have less of a fat to muscle ration when compared to women.

As a result, men typically burn calories at a rate of 5-10% faster than women.

Age.

A person’s age is another factor to consider when talking about weight loss. As people get older, their ability to lose excess body weight becomes more difficult. Research has determined that the longer someone waits to begin changing their lifestyle to lose weight, it will take longer for them to see results when following a nutritionally balanced dieting plan.

Starting Weight.

When beginning a weight loss program, a person’s starting body mass will have an impact on how quickly and difficult it will be to see their results of their goals.

Calorie Intake.

In order to start losing weight, a person needs to lower the amount of calories they consume in order to create a calorie deficit. They must consume less calories than necessary in order for their body to compensate by generating the energy it needs to function.

Sleep.

Sleep is an aspect of weight loss that is often overlooked due to it seemingly having nothing to do with dieting. However, the loss of sleep a person can experience does have an effect on the rate at which an individual can lose weight, so make sure to get proper rest!

Medical Conditions.

Various illnesses can be one of the reasons as to why an individual may have a harder time when it comes to weight loss as well as problems with weight gain.

Medications.

Some studies that have been carried out mention that certain medications like antidepressants are actually direct contributors to some forms of weight gain and can cause some difficulty when it comes to losing weight as well.

Family History.

A person’s family origins can also have an impact on a person’s weight loss and gain due to the genetic traits that have been passed down over the ages, especially if there is a history of obesity or overweight members within the family.

When eating fewer calories a day in order to establish a calorie deficit, as well as taking other factors into consideration, losing excess body weight is something that everyone can eventually achieve. Yet, the thing that will vary from person to person is the rate at which this excess weight is lost and the time it takes to see noticeable results.

Setting a goal to lose 1 to 3 pounds of weight a week is an obtainable, safe milestone when it comes to healthy weight loss. People can start to notice results in an average of 2 to 4 weeks’ time when they begin their selected dieting and healthy nutrition plan.