Important note: Please advise your doctor before following any plan. Don’t follow the advice below if you are under 18.
People always ask: “How much weight can you lose in a week?” Well… to answer your question I have good news, awesome news, and bad news.
First onto the good news: YOU CAN LOSE A TON OF WEIGHT IN ONE WEEK
That’s right, you don’t have to be bound to the conventional wisdom of only losing 1 or 2 pounds a week. Extreme weight loss diets can definitely work, but only for a short period of time.
In fact, you can lose up to 15 pounds in one week if you do it correctly.
Now onto the awesome news: ALL THAT WEIGHT YOU LOSE WILL BE WATER AND FAT, NOT MUSCLE
Yup, you read that correctly, if you follow the methods at the end of this post, all the weight you lose during the week will be pure body fat. The conventional statement that losing more than 2 pounds per week leads to muscle, organ, and hair loss is absolute unicorn shit.
How do I know this? Because some awesome scientists from the American College Of Nutrition back in 1999, conducted a study, which tested 2 groups of people for 12 weeks.
One group only did traditional cardio, while the other group only did weight training. Both groups ate 800 calories a day. At the end of the study, both groups lost large amounts of weight, but the one that only did cardio lost large amounts of lean muscle mass, and the one that only did weight training didn’t lose any muscle mass at all.
So there you go, some hard hitting scientific facts that prove that you will not lose muscle during extreme dieting as long as you lift weights.
Note: And if you don’t have a gym membership or if you don’t have access to any weights, then doing a well-designed bodyweight program like Bodyweight Burn is your next best option.
And lastly, the bad news: YOU HAVE TO EAT VERY VERY LOW CALORIES
So yeah…. you have to eat a ridiculously low amount of calories to lose a lot of weight in a week. I’m talking along the lines of 800 calories a day.
The amount that would make any nutritionist hang themselves.
And now, onto the plan, but first, a picture of steaks:

The 2-step plan to lose the maximum amount of weight in a week
Please note that the following plan can be used by both men and woman.
And don’t do this plan if you’re under 18, you’re way too young to be eating such low calories.
I guarantee that if you follow the plan below, you will lose 10-15 pounds(water and fat) in one week:
1) For one week only, eat 800 calories per day.
2) Workout 2-3 times per week with weights. Make sure the weights are heavy and be sure to hit all body parts.
That’s all.
Some notes/tips about the above 2 steps:
- 800 calories is very little food, for any man, woman, or baby walrus. Because of this, I suggest that you only eat 1 meal per day a la Brad Pilon’s Eat Stop Eat. If you eat one 800 calorie meal per day, then you’ll at least feel somewhat satisfied, but if you split that up into 3 or even worse, 6 meals per day, then you’re not going to fare so well on this one week venture. Yes, this means that you will be fasting 24 hours every day for a whole week. Just remember, you will be burning fat, not muscle.
- Whenever possible, eat higher protein and eat foods with high water content such as fruits and soups. Also, drink lots of coffee and green tea, since they both tend to blunt hunger quite well.
- Stick with heavy compound exercises when in the gym. That means no curling and crunching, and if you even step foot on a treadmill, my dumbass radar will go off and I may have to kill you.
- If you can’t lift weights, then your next best option is to do some sort of bodyweight training. You know…exercises like squats, push-ups, lunges, pull-ups, sit-ups, etc..
- This is a mental game more than anything else. When you’re eating very few calories to lose weight faster, your mind starts playing tricks on you. Your stomach is gonna be grumbling more often. And there are gonna be times where you want nothing more than to self-sabotage yourself. Which is why the next point is so important.
- Above all, keep yourself distracted and out of the kitchen. If you’re constantly prancing around the kitchen and thinking about food, you’re going to fail. So keep yourself busy. Read a book, play some video games, take a nap, work on your tan, or shave your pubes. I don’t care. Just do something that doesn’t involve food.
- [EDIT 10/6/2014] I should also add that your protein intake needs to be HIGH. Like really high. In fact, the majority of your calories should probably come from protein, fruits, and veggies if you want this diet to be effective. The protein will help keep you full but more importantly also help maintain muscle.
Remember, this is only for one week
I just wanted remind you all, that this sort of extreme weight loss plan is only a temporary plan.
The results don’t have to be temporary, but the plan is. Please do not try and do this weight loss plan for more than a week.
Doing so is really going to mess with your head and you’ll most likely binge back to your original weight.
After one week, transition to a more moderate weight loss plan for the long haul.
I hope you guys now know how much weight you could lose in a week if went balls to the walls.
Want even better results? Take it to the next level with Fat Loss Boost
Many people have been asking me, “Can I do this for more than 7 days?”
Uh…
Yes and no.
Technically, you could eat 800 cals per day for a sustained period of time.
But sooner or later it’s gonna backfire on you.
If you want a more sustainable rapid fat loss plan…
Then I highly recommend checking out Fat Loss Boost.
This is a more long-term approach than the strategy I outlined in this blog post.
It’s a strategic rapid fat loss diet that works in 14 day cycles.
So you go hard on the diet for 14 days, lose a crap ton of weight, take a break, and repeat.
And the results from Fat Loss Boost are even better:
““I have been able to lose 10 pounds using this program. Starting weight 186. Weight this morning was 176.”
“I lost 12 lbs for my first attempt. Started at 201.7 and ended at 189.9. I am amazed!!! Thanks to everywhere for all the support and great hacks.”
“Ok people I’m done 😀. I hit 171.8 today, my goal was to break 172 on this round which was what I weighed almost ten years ago (lowest as an adult). That’s 30.2 lbs in just under 3 months.“
Pretty crazy, right?
Definitely give it a look if you want a realistic, yet challenging plan that burns fat faster than anything. you ever tried before.
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Questions? Like steak? Let me know down below.
I respond to (almost) every comment, which is pretty crazy considering there’s been over 3000 comments. Sigh…I need a hobby.


I’m starting this tomorrow! Need to get in shape for my graduation in 9 days…
don’t’ do this if you’re under 18.
Great post Keith. I’m gonna give it a go.
My journey begins on the 7th December 2014 and ends on the 13th December 2014.
Current weight: 46.2 kg.
Goal weight: 40 kg.
Will return on the 13th/14th December 2014 to report my results. =D
How are you only 46.2 kg? How old are you? and how tall are you because 46.2 kg is very light.
Hey Keith, just getting on to day 3 and seeing great results, about 2 pounds per day. I started in Monday and am planning to have a big cheat meal on Tuesday, would that deminish all my weight loss?
Great website by the way, and thanks!
as long as you don’t binge, you’ll be fine.
Keith. I understood about the diet, but can I still drink an enormous amount of water all day everyday
ya water is fine, just don’t kill yourself.
What do you mean by heavy exercise
lift heavy weights, typically in the lower rep ranges (5-8 reps).
Can you take a light walk every other day ? My dog needs to be walked 🙂 also I don’t want to build any muscle on my legs , they are big enough so do I just avoid the exercise for them ? As you said in women’s physique article to use hiit for legs but that article says don’t combine with this extreme diet? Please advise . Thanks 🙂
yes that’s fine, this is just for 1 week, so what what you do now isn’t going to determine your fate in the long run.
But walking is definitely not enough for legs.
thanks Keith, Sorry, I’m confused .. so can I do Hiit for legs while on this diet?
even though it says no cardio,
Thanks 🙂
found some inspiration and help for this 🙂
http://www.allouteffort.com/2012/11/how-my-wife-lost-13lbs-in-2-weeks.html#more
Going to do this for a week and come back with my results.
It’s 1:22 AM so that makes.it Dec 11th.
See you on the 18th!
5’7
Weight.now: 147 lbs 22% body fat
i am 5.8 and 210, and i too started on december 11, but i started at 4pm. i did not lose any weight in the morning when i usually weigh myself. i think that i am going to see a loss, based on the way i feel right now, on the second morning. i am curious to see how you do on december 18. good luck!
I did lose weight on day 2-1.5 pounds. Did not lose weight on days 3&4. Lost another 1.5 on day 5. Down 3 pounds in 5 days. Have lifted heavier at the gym 2x, and am about to go now as well, and have walked 3 times. I want to lose at least 2 more to b satisfied w/effort. Did not do as well as suggested w/calories on first 2 days. Averaged 1100 on both days, but accidentally more than made up for it on day 3, eating only 250 calories. However eating lots of high quality protein, and fiber. On all 3 days. After day 3, only over 3 day average calories by 50, which when divided by 3, is under 17 calls per day. Of the 800 calorie limit. Day 4 stayed at 800 and same with day 5. Getting better with time, not worse. I am hoping that since I have gotten better over time, that I may get a better late result.
Hi,
Will it be a bad idea to not only lift weights but also run on the treadmill while you are on this diet?
i wouldn’t do it.
okay why not? 🙂
read the article.
Been eating like a beast all week without exercise .
Day 1 diary
Oops weighed in after breakfast = 56.9 kilos
Height 165cm
Day 1
Green tea on waking and a glass of water .
Walk dog 20 mins light .
Breakfast :
At 9:30 am 1/3 cup brown rice puffs , 170grams plain Chobani , 1 scoop choc protein powder, sprinkle chia seeds , sprinkle psyllium husk, 35 grams of banana and cinnamon total – 328 calories
10:30am : weight exercises
Lunch : 1pm protein pancake made out of 35 grams of banana , one egg and 1 scoop of Protein powder , psyllium husk total – 218
Dinner : 5 pm .omelette made of 1 egg , 1 egg white , mushrooms and 12 grams of light Feta . Total 141 calories
Desert : 1/2 a cup of unsweetened almond/coconut milk with 1 scoop choc protein powder .
Total macros = 805 calories
Carbs = 55 grams
Protein = 83 grams
Fat = 11 grams
Fibre = 19 grams
Will eat similar to this for 7 days will report back , have a buffet Xmas dinner tomorrow night but planning on sticking to oysters and prawns and a piece of Watermelon for desert .
Ended up eating more protein and less carbs at lunch and dinner . Total 800 cals 30 grams carbs and 112 grams of protein for the day .
Was pretty tired all day but not starving .
Ok honestly , this is torture and I felt like crap . Not for me . I’ll go back to the longer way now to lose 4 kgs .Thanks anyway
🙂 least I know its there if I’m desperate . Good luck everybody .
Well, here goes!!
Starting this tomorrow!
Height: 5’7
Weight now- 13/12/2014: 226.2 lbs *Flipping Hell!!!*
Weight 21/12/2014: Hopefully 216 lbs!!!
Well I started this morning I’m 31 yrs old 200 lbs 5’4 @ 8 am 12/14/14 I ate big 780 calorie breakfast meal lifted 20 lb weights with arms 6 reps of ten and I put 10 pound legs weights on and lifted my legs 10 reps of 10 and I’ve been drinking water since 9 a bottle every hour I feel good thanks I’ll let you know my results on the 21st
When you say no curls or crunches. What do you mean?
i mean exactly what it says – to not do any bicep curls or ab crunches.
Is it because it’s a waste of time or will it sabotage my results? Thanks.
Hi I’m 5’3 I weigh 205 n its killing me this is the most I ever weighed I need to get rid of this immediately. So I’m going to try this diet for 7 days. Question can I walk or no????
yes walking is fine, make sure to weight train too.
Began this weight loss diet weighing 226 morning of first day. Second morning was 222. Third morning was 220. Today is the fourth morning and I remained at 220. Why????????
I will continue diet all seven days and post results! Thanks
you won’t consistently lose weight every day. Sometimes it happens in one big flush.
Today is fifth day I am at 218
6th day remained at 218 hoping for a 2 pound drop tomorrow which would then make it 10 pounds in 7 days will keep u posted! Very motivated 🙂
I did it! Ten pounds in one week!
Woo! Great job, Ana.
I read you complete article two times over. However, I do not follow the rationale behind no cardio – treadmill/ab crunches. Would appreciate a line in response
You’re on such a huge calorie deficit that cardio simply isn’t needed.