Advertisement
question

If I've been overweight my whole life, how do I change?

National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Academy of Sports Medicine
answer
Weight loss is not easy -- it takes discipline, hard work, and support from family and friends. However, weight loss is possible and people defy the odds and change their lives every day. Fortunately, the law of thermodynamics can help explain how you can lose weight. This law dictates that if you burn more calories than you take in, then you will lose weight. Begin by setting a goal to losing 1 to 2 pounds per week. Losing weight anymore rapidly than this could be unhealthy and difficult to maintain. To help you visual how you can accomplish this goal, it is important to understand that there are 3,500 calories in 1 pound of fat. So, to lose 2 pounds per week you must burn 7,000 calories more than you take in, or burn about 1,000 calories per day. In order to achieve this amount of calorie burn, consider beginning an exercise program which will help you burn an extra 500 calories and a nutrition plan which cuts your calorie intake down by 500. You may want to start slowly and aim for losing one pound a week (3,500 calories) which would help to make your daily habits and goals more achievable in the beginning.

Continue Learning about Weight Loss

Should you take water pills for weight loss?
Should you take water pills for weight loss?
You’ve probably heard claims that water pills can work wonders for weight loss. But the fact is, water pills were never designed to help people lose w...
Read More
How obesity and weight bias may affect your mental health
How obesity and weight bias may affect your mental health
About 74 percent of adults in the United States are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Over half of the people in...
Read More
How do I reduce the fat in my chest area?
How do I reduce the fat in my chest area? You can reduce fat in the chest area only by reducing over...
More Answers
7 simple weight-management moves to make every day
7 simple weight-management moves to make every day7 simple weight-management moves to make every day7 simple weight-management moves to make every day7 simple weight-management moves to make every day
Changes like these can add up to greater overall wellness.  If you're crunched for time and looking to burn a few more calories each day, there's goo...
Start Slideshow

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.