Why Belly Fat Loss Should Be Gradual - Lose Weight, How Much, How Fast?

The human body is a finely-tuned machine that can be conditioned into amazing shape. This process, however, is not meant to happen overnight. Belly fat loss should be a steady, long-term process despite what you might hear on TV or read in a magazine. Losing a large amount of belly fat in a short amount of time is often unhealthy and almost always temporary. Many starvation diets rebrand dehydration and heavy water loss as incredible results. These “results”, however, are quickly lost.

Weight Loss Realty Shows

It is all too common to flip on the TV and see a commercial promising IMMEDIATE WEIGHT LOSS RESULTS, or come across a certain reality show where obese contestants rack up weight loss in the double digits each and every week.

Contestants on weight-loss reality shows are placed in highly-regulated environments where they often each severely restricted diets and undergo hours of constant exercise under the care of professional trainers and a medical staff. Not exactly tenable for the average person to try and recreate at home.

The Only Miracle Cure

Citizens of the western world are highly conditioned to seek instant gratification for all their needs. Suffering from excess belly fat and experiencing the social stigmatization of be overweight can send anyone searching for a “miracle cure.”

However, the only miracle cure (outside of surgery) to weight loss is a healthy diet and exercise. Slimming down the midsection doesn’t happen overnight, nor should it. You must reintroduce your body to exercise and healthy eating.

Just like learning any new skill, weight loss takes time, practice and commitment. Losing weight the right way will ensure that you internalize the habits you will need to keep the weight off permanently.

How Much Belly Fat Loss is Healthy?

The amount of weight that is healthy to lose each week depends on your starting weight, your age, metabolism and health, among other factors. The more weight that you have on your body, the higher your potential to lose.

Obese individuals should target losing 2- 3 pounds per week or 8 – 12 pounds per month. Senior citizens should not expect to achieve this much weight loss. As we grow older, our metabolism slows down, and we do not burn as many calories throughout the day.

Women should also expect to lose on the lower end of that scale. Those who are only slightly overweight should target 1 -2 pounds of weight loss per week, or 4 – 8 pounds per month.

Think of weight loss as a process, not a race to be won as quickly as possible. Not only are you trying to lose belly fat and improve your health, but you are also learning how to be healthy.

Many diets do not work, because they cannot be maintained. In fact, many weight loss reality show contestants will achieve spectacular results on the air, only to regain some or all of their weight back once the season ends and they are left on their own.

Losing belly fat slowly will ensure that your body adjusts and adapts to your new size and fitness level and that you do not jeopardize your health or push yourself to burnout. Your elementary school teachers used to say “slow and steady wins the race.” When it comes to weight loss, they were right!