You can lose 40 lbs. quickly as long as you keep in mind that weight loss occurs one pound at a time. The more focused you are on your goals however, the easier it will be to stick to your diet and drop the extra weight. According to MayoClinic.com, the only way to successfully lose 40 lbs. and keep it off is to have a plan.
Basic Math
One pound equals 3,500 calories. To lose a pound a week for example, you need to reduce the amount of calories you consume by 500 per day. If you only follow that simple math logic and eliminate one dessert or a combination of food each day that totals 500 calories, you can drop 40 lbs. in 40 weeks.
Considerations
You've got to enjoy the food you eat and choose food that you like to be able to stick to a diet and continue eating healthily after you drop the weight. Forty weeks may not be soon enough for you to meet your goal, so you'll have to reduce your caloric intake even more to quicken the process. You can lose 40 lbs. in half the time if you reduce your caloric intake by 1,000 calories a day. That shouldn't be difficult for most Americans who regularly consume more than 3,000 calories a day. The trick is to stay full and not feel deprived.
Types
Types of foods that can fill you up without adding significant calories include fresh vegetables. Substituting an extra large salad for one high-calorie meal per day substantially reduces your intake, promotes regulation and fills you up. Pile a plate with a variety of fresh-cut vegetables. The chewing and digestion process often cancels out the insignificant number of calories you ingest. Top your salad with a drizzle of olive oil to fulfill your body's need for healthy fat and use as much balsamic vinegar as you like. The olive oil may have about 100 to 200 calories per tablespoon, but the calories in vinegar are negligible.
Options
To remain healthy while dieting, women should stick to no fewer than 1,200 calories a day, while men can safely consume closer to 1,500 calories. One fat gram has 9 calories, while carbohydrates and protein have only 4 calories. Balance your big daily salad with whole grains and low-fat dairy and soy products to complete your daily menus. Finally, don't deprive yourself of treats that make you happy. Just eat less of them. Instead of eating an entire chocolate bar and add 250 or more calories for example, break it up into three or four pieces and take the time to thoroughly enjoy the smaller share each day.
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