Look.
Chances are you’re reading this article right now because you are desperate.
You are sick and tired of the way you look.
You are fed up with being overweight, unhealthy, and feeling like shit.
You want results and you want them now.
You’re just starting out so you want to know how much weight will you be able to lose in a month.
But more specifically you want to know the MAXIMUM amount of weight you can lose in a month.
And you want to do it with as little work as humanly possible.
Now I could easily draw out this intro paragraph a bit longer and tell you how the world and the government has fucked you into being overweight.
I could tell you how it’s not your fault.
I could tell you that all you need to do is sign up for my $97 program and you’ll be able to lose 50 pounds in a single month with zero dieting, 20 minutes of exercise, and less effort than hitting resume on the season premiere of Orange is the New Black.
That would be the dream, huh?
Well that’s because it is a dream.
“How much weight can I lose in a month?” Why asking this question already guarantees you’re fucked
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The mere fact that you’re asking this question shows flawed thinking.
If you’re asking “how much weight can I lose this month,” you’re basically telling yourself, “I want this weight loss crap to be over as fast as humanly possible.”
And that’s totally understandable.
When you’re first getting started, no one wants to diet and exercise.
It’s not a sexy and enjoyable thing to do.
But if you’re looking for ways to lose the maximum amount of weight in a month, 2 months, 12 months or whatever…
…then you’re telling yourself that you don’t want to put in the work after that time period.
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You’re telling yourself “Okay, I’m going to exercise 6x per week and eat nothing but salad for the next 30 days.”
But after those 30 days, we all know what happens.
Everything goes to the shitter.
Your old shitty eating habits come back up, you stop exercising, and surprise, you gain back what you lost in a matter of days.
But this should really come to no surprise.
You essentially fucked yourself from the beginning.
Deep down you knew you could never sustain your insane workout/diet for the month.
What’s the maximum amount of weight someone can lose in a month?
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Okay let’s give some practical advice.
Here’s what you can realistically expect to lose if you’re just starting a weight loss plan:
The more weight you have to lose, the more you will initially lose.
If you are 100 pounds overweight, you’ll probably lose up to 20 pounds in your first month.
This is simply because you have more bodyweight to lose.
That and you’re going to lose a lot of water weight.
But if you are already pretty lean and have 10 pounds to lose, you might only lose 1-2 pounds in a month.
Most people will lose 1-2 pounds per week
Note how I said just said “pounds.”
This isn’t pure body fat.
The first week you will more lose more water, then it tapers off to 1-2 pounds per week.
Related: Can you lose 10 pounds in a week?
Once you get to those last 5-10 pounds, weight loss can slow down to as little as 0.5 pounds per week.
Weight loss is not linear
As much as we want it to happen, weight loss is not linear.
This means you are not going to lose 1 pound per week for 12 weeks until you reach your goal weight.
You’ll go some weeks losing 1-2 pounds per week, then go 2 weeks without losing anything.
The secret is to stay consistent and trust the process.
30 days is not enough time to see big changes in your body
Sorry to crush the dreams of everyone reading this article, but 30 days is not nearly enough time to see huge changes in your physique.
I’m not saying you won’t see results.
But seriously, what were you expecting to happen in 30 days?
Professional fitness models give themselves up to 20 weeks to get shredded and you want that in 30 days?
Get the fuck out of here.
Instead of 1 month goals, use 1 month checkpoints
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Trying to lose the maximum amount of weight in 1 month (30 days) never works because you’re not focused on creating life long habits.
It’s why people who try to lose weight for a wedding or high school reunion immediately put back on the weight afterwards.
They’re so focused on getting in shape by the end of the month that they have know idea what the hell they’re going to do afterwards.
So how do you beat this?
Instead of setting 1 month goals, set 1 month checkpoints.
1 month checkpoints remove the stress and pressure of having to hit some ridiculous goal at the end of the month.
It helps you refocus your mental energy and really gives you a sense of accomplishment every single month.
Here’s an example:
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1 month goal: “I need to lose 10 pounds in the next month.”
1 month checkpoint: “I will make healthier food choices and stay within my daily calories.”
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1 month goal: “I will never eat sugar again this month.”
1 month checkpoint: “I will reduce my sugar intake slightly and focus on staying within my calories.”
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1 month goal “I will go to the gym 6x per week for 2 hours at a time.”
1 month checkpoint: “I will go the gym at least once this week then 2x next week, then 3x the following week. As long as I’m improving, I’m good to go. ”
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As you can see, the whole point is to take incremental steps towards your goal instead of trying to take one massive leap and fall flat on your face like most people.
So bottom line: Use 1 month checkpoints to create momentum and crush any long term goal.
Your 3 step battle plan to losing the max amount of weight this month (and the rest of your life)
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Step #1: Create a calorie deficit
The cornerstone of any diet is a calorie deficit. This means you need to eat less than your burn in order to lose weight.
Most people can start with getting about 10-12x your bodyweight in pounds for their daily calorie intake.
You would need to slightly adjust down if you aren’t initially losing weight.
If you want to lose weight faster, you would start at 10x.
But please note that the lower calorie you go, the harder it gets since hunger will be greater.
Step #2: Get your macros (and micros) under order
Macros are your protein, carbs, and fats.
In order to preserve muscle mass as well as regulate hunger, you should aim to get a minimum of 0.6 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight if you’re relatively sedentary.
If you’re doing heavy weight lifting like I recommend in Superhero Shredding 2.0, then you would need to bump that up to 0.8 grams.
Step #3: Set realistic expectations
Arguably the most important step in this whole process.
Most people know that they need to eat less crap and exercise more in order to lose weight.
Where 99% of people screw up is they’re unrealistic, lazy, and really just too much of a pussy to put in the work.
Sorry, some one had to say it.
Anyone can chase the goal of losing 5-10 pounds in a month but how many can maintain those results for the next 6-12 months? How about 6-12 years?
Most can’t.
That’s why expectations are so important.
You can’t expect a miracle in a month. The sooner you realize that, the better off you’ll be.
So what exactly the brutally honest truth?
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It’s this:
- If your mentality is “What is the maximum amount of weight I can lose this month?” then you already lost. You will never be successful at losing weight unless you approach it with a long term mindset.
- The stories you hear about people losing 30+ pounds per month almost never happen unless you’re morbidly obese.
- Weight loss is not linear. You always lose more in the beginning, level out to about 1-2 pounds per week in the middle, and weight loss slows down to a crawl in the end. Always.
- Stop searching for the fucking “secret.” It doesn’t exist. Just like becoming a millionaire or finding that perfect girlfriend who’s hot, smart, and kind, there’s no secret. The “secret” is that there is not secret. It’s all about having consistency, grit, and determination to get what you want.
What’s your biggest struggle with losing weight? Drop a comment below and let me know. I’m glad to help.
Hi,
Im a 27 year old female, 5ft and my weight is about 165lbs. I have a one year old baby so some of that weight is postpartum. How many calories should i be consuming? And is t possible to lose weight without actually going to a gym? I dont have access at the moment but o really need to lose at least some weight before beginning of december! Any tips?
The article is very insightful and gives a much needed kick back to reality!
You can lose weight strictly with diet, but you’ll lose some muscle too. For you, around 1600-1800 to start.
Most of this applies to people who don’t follow through. I’ve been working out for a week consistently and already see major differences, and I’m about 20 pounds overweight. There are no loo and already see major differences, and I’m about 20 pounds overweight. If you know how to exercise and you know how your body loses weight, there are no rules, and certainly these rules don’t apply. The scenario as explained above do happen, but for the dedicated person who follows through, this is all bullshit. I’ve lost 30 pounds in two months before, and now I’m going to lose 20 pounds in a month and a half. Work ethic and calorie reduction along with the quality of those calories.
I’m a 29 year old female, 5ft and about 140 pounds. This is the most I’ve ever weighed in my life. I have gone to the gym on and off for about 3 years and I have been doing my best to eat healthy meals but I haven’t managed to stay at a desired weight or figure. Is it true that eating every 2-3 hours a day helps boost your metabolism? And how strict is strict when referring to diet? How many calories should I consume? And what is the best slimming workout you can do at the gym? I know I’ve asked a lot of questions, but I may be that desperate person whom you’re describing. Thanks for your help!
“. Is it true that eating every 2-3 hours a day helps boost your metabolism?”
No total myth.
For calories, start with a 10-12x multiplier, meaning multiply your bodyweight by 10-12 to get your daily calorie intake.
Hey,
This article is really eye-opening. I want to be able to form healthy eating habits that will stay with me forever. I am a 5foot 1-inch girl and I weigh 120 pounds right now. I want to lose 10 pounds, so I am eating around 1200 calories and I am exercising three times per week. I do a mix of cardio and strength training. I’ve also decided to just stop eating junk food because if I have the slightest bite of something I go on this crazy binge cycle then I end up feeling miserable and guilty. The part that I am having trouble with is my distribution of Macros. I have read articles about low carb, high protein, high fat or low fat and it gets confusing. How can I distribute macros in a way that works for me?
I almost never recommend low carb since that leads to all kinds of eating disorders and messed up relationships with food and health.
Up your carbs but stay within your calories. If anything, lower fats a bit more than anything else.
If weight loss is the goal then there is only one way.
As mentioned rightly in the article above, it is all about long term dietary changes.
1. Fat depots can be external as in love handles, pooch belly, saddle bags, bra rolls,bear belly, or even the fat neck. The internal fat is in the internal organs like the liver, gut and other organs.
Why do we gain weight ?
The reason is simple: Calories in excess of what we need.
Especially in the form of refined carbs.
So what are refined carbs
Bread, tortilla,, rice, corn starch, cakes, croissant, naan, pitta bread, pizza (bread) potatoes, pasta, noodles, sugar, beet: All these can be construed as refined sugars. These should not make u more than 15 – 20% of our daily calorie intake. Anything in excess calories in the above sugar form gets converted to depot fat due to increased insulin secretion due to increased glucose in the blood. This is the primary cause of weight gain.
So, to lose weight
A) Live on a calorie deficit diet ( 1200 calorie)
B)Live on a lower Carb diet
C) Live on a High fat (60%) and 25% Protein diet. But within the calorie deficit until weight target is achieved,].
D) Add increased carbs only for calorie burn replacement of Physical activity ofGymn or any other calorie burn physical activity.
E) Try to include interval starvation into your life style ( 15- 16 hours of starvation) 2 meals a day within 6-7hours (Eg. Lunch 13:00 and Evening Meals 19:00)
F) Morning meal can include a coffee tea or any other sugar free beverage. Bullet coffee can be a choice (Look up on the net if you wish to know about it)
What will be the effect:
1. You will be more alert.
2. Tiredness will reduce during the latter part of the day.
3. Thought process will be clearer.
Your satiety will be achieved quicker and you will lose the hunger pangs that occur on a carb diet.
4. Initial weight loss may be higher during the 1st 3 weeks and then you should lose 1 pound every week if you persist with a calorie deficit diet.
A diet that I follow is
Morning Green tea
Lunch :
Salad
Diced tomatoes, onions, avocado,bell peppers, cucumber, carrot, cilantro, italian herbs , a table spoon of virgin olive oil, some crushed pepper, grated cheese, 1 squeezed lemon, 1 tablespoon of vinegar lettuce, and a fruit of my choice (pears, apple, plum, nectarine) all these to fill one soup bowl. Add some dry roasted peanut and or walnut and salt to taste. Total calories 400
I tend to have a boiled egg or a 1 egg cheese omlette 175 calories
The evening meal has a meat or fish and a soup totalling 500 calories all using butter
Follow this regime if you are otherwise healthy and a weight loss is guaranteed.
Exercise at least 3 times a week and use HIIT ( High Intensity Interval Training)
You will then also befit.
After doing thisfor 12 weeks, add weight training to improve carb consumption ( muscles need carb).
Hi, I weigh 160kg’s and currently on a LCHF diet. I wanted to know if exercising will help with the blabby skin that develops with weight loss.
Exercise is always a good idea. Yes it will def. help with weight loss.
50 pounds my ass
what?
I have to loose simething this month going to a xmas party on the 24th and left it v to late. On opti slim think can loose it strict opti slim diet.
This article is the best advice you’ll ever get – and it’s true. You don’t need weight clubs, slimming aids or exercise bikes. What you do need is a determination to change your life. Very broadly, if you are a healthy man and you put less than 1000 cals of food into your stomach, you’ll lose weight. You’ll lose it fast to begin with, then slow, then a bit more, then nothing, then some more. Keep the faith, keep to your three or four month goal and once you get there start using something like the 5:2 to keep you on track. As a 5ft 7 male, I was 213 pounds. My regime: 10 mins of calisthenics every morning until breathless. No more than 800 calories a day. Month 1 loss 15 pounds. Month 2 loss 7pounds (22 total) Month 3 loss 10 pounds (32 pounds) Month 4 9 pounds (41pounds) That was three years ago and I’m still the same lower weight now by using 5:2.
Weigh yourself everyday and keep a record. Good luck.
That’s cool and I’m happy for your results, but I wouldn’t stay at such low calorie levels for too long. Better to bump them up to a more realistic level so you don’t suffer from any metabolic damage.
Hi, I’m 18, I gained like 20 Pounds in just 3 Months or so, went up from 220 to 240, I’m fucking flippin’ out breh lmfao! If I do the 4:3 Diet do you think I’m basically guaranteed to lose weight as fast and safe as I can? Also, I heard you say “Multiply your Calories 10-12x your weight or something like that so wouldn’t that mean I’d have to use 10 x 240? That would be 2,400 Calories for my “Calorie Intake” That seems way too high to me, are you sure that’s a good way to measure calorie intake for NOT GAINING/NOT LOSING weight lol? I remember I used like 3 different websites to measure how many Calories I’m supposed to be eating to not Gain/Lose anything and I think they said I’m only supposed to be eating like 2,100 or 2,200 Calories, anyways… Yeah this fucking sucks, I remember back when I was like 14, I weighed a Massive 280 and within a Month of basically starving myself I dropped to 255! (Ate 900 Calories a day or so) I don’t wanna do that though cause I’m scared that 1, It won’t work, and 2. It’ll make me lose any muscle I have and that’s kinda dangerous for me since I don’t work out almost at all anymore since I “hurt” myself, I won’t go into detail but yeah, Do you think I can lose weight if I eat 2,000 Calories (Give or Take a few) for 4 Days and then just 700-ish on 3 Days?) I’m so scared to try this lol I don’t even know what I’ll eat those days.
If you’re 240, eating 2400 cals per day is perfectly fine and you should def. lose weight (assuming you’re tracking properly).
I would def not do the 700 calorie thing.
What a flock a shit
Interesting…can you elaborate?
Thank you…I’m about to start my journey and reading this was good. I always stop when I don’t see results. This time I will look for progress and consistency.
Awesome, Chan. That’s the way to do it.
Hi Heith
I realized that I was reading about myself.
Starting now, my mindset has changed.I will be more realistic and stay consistent.
Eating 5 times a day a well planned out menu may help me instead of the fast foods, along with light exercise.
My New Year’s Resolution is to exercise 20 minutes a day 4 times a week,and increase it to 60 minutes by June 2017.
Thank you for this motivation, and Happy New Year
Mindset is key. Glad you realized this.
Hello let me start by saying that was a great article sir. I struggle greatly with weight loss I work very hard and eat pretty healthy but it seems like the more I hit the gym the more I weigh I’m a 5’1 female and I weigh 150 pounds I understand that a lot of my weight is muscle because I do work out a lot but my fat just won’t go away. Is that a diet thing or a I need to work harder thing??
Diet is a huge part, yeah. But you also should workout hard if you can.
I recommend checking out this post if you want a good overview on how to setup your diet – https://www.fitmole.org/create-perfect-diet-plan/
This just made me reevaluate my whole life and realize I have such a shitty way of thinking. I needed this more than ever!!! Thank you.
Haha awesome, jasmine.
I love you.
I love you too, even though I don’t really know you.