You can’t lose 20 pounds in 7 days unless you have a life-threatening virus

The most you can reasonably expect to lose in 7 days is 3 – 5 pounds. Some people can probably lose more by going to extremes of starving themselves and working out 2 – 4 hours per day; but if you’re more inclined to take a safe and sensible approach to your dieting, you should expect that it will take at least 28 days to lose 12 – 20 pounds; and you’re more likely to lose closer to 12 pounds than closer to 20 pounds.

Anyone who tells you they have a system you can use to help you lose 20 pounds in 7 days is trying to swindle you. Common sense alone should tell you that the only way someone loses that much weight in such a short space of time is if they come down with some kind of illness.

When dieting it’s important to have reasonable expectations for how long it’s going to take to lose the weight you’re trying to lose. It is also important to lose the weight gradually as you’ll tend to keep the weight off longer when you allow yourself enough time to develop healthy eating and exercising habits.

Most people who lose weight rapidly will usually gain back the weight in no time. If you want to lose weight and keep the weight off diet smartly.

Image: Two girls exercising cayucos beach by mikebaird via Flickr