To lose about 20 pounds in five to six months, you will need to lose slightly more than 3 pounds a month. That rate of weight loss is desirable and recommended by the Weight-Control Information Network. Evaluate your motivations for losing weight and understand that weight loss is a slow process, but one worth your effort. As you lose weight, be prepared to think about the emotions surrounding your food choices and overcome the negative associations. Think of losing weight as making a positive change in your life.
Lose Weight
Step 1
Determine how many calories you should be eating to lose weight and write that number down in the front of your weight-loss journal. Reduce your calories by avoiding fried foods, high-fat cheeses and choosing foods that have less than 30 percent of their calories from fat. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, chicken, beans and reduced-fat dairy products. Record the food you eat every day in your journal.
Step 2
Exercise aerobically and use weights or resistance bands to strength train when you are losing weight. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, exercising builds strong muscles that burn calories faster than fat cells. This will increase your metabolism. You should exercise aerobically for two and half hours throughout the week and strength train two or three days a week.
Step 3
Begin by making small changes to your lifestyle. Avoid eating while watching television, park farther away when you shop or go to your office, and take the stairs when possible. Cut down on the number of restaurant meals you eat by packing your lunch or planning your meals ahead of time. Cut up vegetables and fruit when you return from the store so you always have a healthy snack available.
Maintain Weight
Step 1
Do not change anything for several days once you reach your goal weight. Then, add back in 100 calories of food a day, weigh yourself every day and record your weight. If you lose weight, add in another 100 calories each week until you are eating enough food to neither lose nor gain weight, but maintain.
Step 2
Continue your exercise program to maintain your weight loss. Members of The National Weight Control Registry have maintained a minimum weight loss of 30 pounds for at least one year. Ninety percent of the members exercise about one hour a day. Vary your exercise routine to avoid boredom.
Step 3
Use regular weigh-ins or a good-fitting pair of pants as an accountability partner. If the number on the scale goes up by 5 pounds or the pants feel tight, immediately cut your calories back to your weight loss level until the extra pounds come off.
Tips and Warnings
- In addition to recording the food you eat in a journal, also record your emotions, stress level and activity level. Join a weight-loss support group. Donate the clothes that no longer fit you to a charity. Eat a healthy breakfast every day.
- Consult your physician before beginning any weight-loss program. Avoid fad diets or diet supplements.
Things You'll Need
- Food journal
- Weights or resistance bands
- Athletic shoes
- Scale
References
- Weight-Control Information Network: Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-Loss Program
- American Heart Association: Fat
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Exercise and Weight Loss - Overview
- The National Weight Control Registry: NWCR Facts
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight - It’s Not a Diet, It’s a Lifestyle!
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