weight loss

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Can you lose weight in a week?

By Joe Young | Medically reviewed by Dr Luke Pratsides
can you lose weight in a week
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Everyone wants a quick fix. Let’s be honest, nobody really wants to put in the work. If there was a magic button that’d make you slim, you’d press it. No questions asked. And losing weight in a week seems like the ultimate shortcut. 

But is it a good idea? Let’s find out. 

The science behind weight loss

Losing weight requires a few things to happen, but the main thing is hitting a calorie deficit. Implementing sustainable healthy habits is the best way to do this. 

There are plenty of unhealthy ways to lose weight fast, but we’re not going to tell you those. Not only could this lead to harmful deficiencies, but you're also very likely to regain the lost weight. We strive to make you do something about your health but we’ll never go beyond what’s safe.

How to lose weight in a week

Do more exercise

Exercise is important. And it’s especially vital if you want to lose weight fast. The more you move, the more calories you’ll burn. Brisk walking, running, cycling, or swimming can lead to weight loss. There are plenty of exercises to try even if you don’t like it. 

Exercise is key to losing weight fast as it’s the best way to burn lots of calories quickly. To lose weight fast, you have to put the work in. You knew it wouldn’t be easy. 

Reduce your calorie intake 

This is a simple one. Eat less and you’ll lose weight. Especially when combined with exercise. You could even try intermittent fasting, which is less about starving yourself and more about eating at the right times. However, the best way to lose weight is to eat less and burn more calories, not starve yourself. 

Drink more water

One of the key parts of weight loss is hydration. It regulates your appetite, increases metabolism, and flushes toxins out. Drinking water can also help you feel full so it’s a great way to fight off cravings. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day for optimum health. And when you want to lose weight in a week, everything must work to its best. 

Plan your meals 

It’s all very well and good to say you’re going to do these things, but it won’t work without a plan. You’re not going to suddenly lose weight without putting some thought behind it. Planning meals is a great way to keep on track and lessen cravings.

Rest well

One of the main pillars of weight loss is sleep. It fuels the fire of nutrition, exercise, and mindset. With it, there’s a perfect balance between these goals. It helps regulate hormones that control appetite and metabolism. It’ll also help with cravings.  

Just think about it. How many times have you slept badly and craved something sweet to energise you? You never reach for an apple when the croissant calls after a night of poor rest. 

But is losing weight fast bad?

Losing weight in a week is doable if you follow these steps. But that doesn’t mean you should do it. It’s better to focus on lifestyle changes you’ll stick to rather than a quick solution. If you lose weight after a week, great. If not, it’s no problem. 

Fit these ideas into your daily life in a healthy and sustainable way, rather than over-restricting yourself for one painful week.  

Rapid weight loss could also be bad for your health. Very low-calorie diets lack important nutrients, which can result in conditions like anaemia or gallstones. It’ll make you irritable, lethargic, and mentally drained. Not exactly a cocktail for success. 

Ultimately, putting your mind and body under such stress for a week is likely to put you off losing weight altogether. 

The numan take

Keeping off weight is essential to your health, but a week is nowhere near long enough to make long-lasting changes. 

You’ll work yourself to the bone to lose a few pounds but it won’t last. Make the right choice, not the fastest. Nothing worth doing comes that easy.

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