With the new year, it is common for many people to be on a diet as their resolution. Whether you’re new to the “new year, new you” diet phase or if you’ve tried it before, you may still have some questions. Many people set a goal with the number of pounds they want to lose on their new diet but just how many pounds is realistic? Is there a certain number of pounds lost per week that makes you more or less likely to regain the weight you’ve lost? Let’s take a look at the weight loss you can expect.

How Many Pounds A Week Should I Lose?

When it comes to setting a weight loss goal you should ideally aim to lose 2 pounds per week on your diet. Of course, there are different factors that may affect this weight loss such as the type of diet you’re on, the amount of exercise you’re completing, your previous lifestyle, and your starting weight.

If you lose more than 2 pounds in the first week of your diet don’t get concerned, this is typically water weight and is completely fine to lose. However, it is realistic to expect to lose around 2 pounds per week after the first week. No matter what your weight loss goal is reducing your body weight by a small amount such as 5 to 10 percent can enhance your health by improving your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

It can also reduce your risk of developing health problems related to obesity. Although you may be tempted to partake in a “crash diet” that encourages you to eat less than 800 calories a day it is strongly suggested that you don’t as it could actually damage your body. If you are concerned about your weight loss be sure to speak with your healthcare provider as they will be able to check for any issues. Your healthcare provider will also be able to help you keep track of the ways your weight loss is improving your health.

What If I Lose More?

Experts recommend losing about 2 pounds per week but you may be tempted to aim for more. It’s important to keep this recommendation in mind because although losing more weight each week will help you get to your weight loss goal quicker it may hinder you in the long run.

Research shows that weight loss that is achieved slowly and steadily is more likely to be permanent whereas those that lose weight quickly tend to gain it back once your diet ends. Additionally, losing too much weight too fast can actually damage your health by causing issues such as gallstones, muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies, and decreased metabolism.

In general, you should focus not just on the number on the scale but on your overall health. By implementing healthy lifestyle changes such as exercise along with your diet you can achieve a weight loss that will last a lifetime.

Check with Synergy Wellness and Weight Loss if you have questions about weight loss.