Guide to Rapid Weight Loss: How Much, How Fast?

Since this is article series is about about rapid weight loss (or what is called crash dieting) , I imagine you want to know just how quickly weight can be lost. But before if you have not done it, I recommend you read part one on this series

Most mainstream diets and health authorities will tell you that 2 lbs per week (or about 1 kilogram per week for the metrically people out there) is the maximum you should attempt to lose. If you ask me or any of those authorities who recommend it where did they get such value you probably will get the answer I will give, I really have no idea where that came from.

Perhaps there is a physiological explanation about this number. To understand it you need to realize that to lose 1 pound of fat you will need to restrict calorie intake or increase energy expenditure (through exercise) by the amount of 3500 calories. Two pound of fat loss will amount to 7000. So, if you want to lose that in a week you will need to have a calorie deficit of 1000 calories per day. Anything above that may be too restrictive and doomed to fail and perhaps that is where this number come from.

On the other hand we see everyday claims that certain diets may produce 15-20 pounds of weight loss in a week or 10 days. Are all these claims false? Some may be. But there are research studies that show that very overweight individuals may lose 15-20 pounds in a week initially. This has to do with the issue of weight loss/fat loss. In those individuals in addition to fat loss they may be losing water, which will amount to a greater weight loss. You will have to understand that weight loss is not the same as fat loss. However, after that initial rapid weight loss, weight loss slows down.

So, how much and How fast will you lose weight?

The rapid weight loss strategy I am going to discuss in this article series will cause a 15-10 pound of body weight loss in 2 weeks. This a pretty bold statement and of course individual results will vary. Please keep in mind that this rapid weight loss may not be fat loss only (which is what we really want to do with our weight loss efforts) but rather body weight loss that may include water loss.

Next article I will discuss the generalities of the diet.. Keep coming back and read my articles on rapid weight loss (or better subscribe so you will receive it in the mail)