If You Want to Lose Weight Very Fast But Safely, According to Experts

Lose 5 pounds in one week! It's a trope we see everywhere, and if you're someone who needs to drop some weight for health reasons or simply want to for yourself, it can sound pretty enticing. Technically, it's possible for some people to lose that much in that time period, but it's not something our nutrition experts recommend, and it's definitely not a healthy approach.

Even though you might have lost that much on a low-carb or keto diet (which may be mostly water weight), you'll likely gain it all back as soon as you decide it's time to eat carbs again. Plus, since weight loss in general is highly dependent on your metabolism and loads of other factors unique to you, including physical activity and body composition, that promise won't hold true for everyone.

If you're still looking to lose weight, there are a few healthy tips that hold true for almost all of us across the board — and they’re concepts that we can put into practice beginning right now.

How to Lose Weight Safely

1. Up your veggie intake.

Instead of restricting different foods and food groups, focus on incorporating an abundance of nourishing foods that you can add into your diet to promote overall health and weight management. The water and fiber in produce adds volume to dishes and are naturally low in fat and calories but nutrient-dense and filling. You can create lower-calorie versions of delicious dishes by swapping out higher calorie ingredients for fruits and veggies. If you think about making any meal mostly veggies (at least 50% of anything that you’re having), you’re on the right track to better health.

2. Build a better breakfast.

A balanced breakfast — one that is stacked with fiber, protein, healthy fats, coming together in a delicious dish — will revolutionize your day, especially if you are currently skipping it and still find yourself struggling to prioritize a healthy lifestyle. Skipping breakfast may influence your hunger hormones later in the day, leading to you feeling "hangry" in the afternoon which makes it harder to refrain from oversized portions or cravings for sugary and refined carbohydrate foods.

The best, heartiest breakfasts are ones that will fill you up, keep you satisfied, and stave off cravings later in the day. Aim to eat anywhere between 400 and 500 calories for your morning meal, and make sure you're including a source of lean protein plus filling fat (think eggs, unsweetened Greek yogurt, nuts, or nut butters) and fiber (veggies, fruit, or 100% whole grains). Starting your day with a blood sugar-stabilizing blend of nutrients will help you slim down.

3. Snack smart.

Many popular snacks today aren't nutrient-dense but are high in calories. Major culprits often come in the form of refined grains like cereals, chips, crackers, and cookies but also calorie-packed drinks like juice and soda. Try to keep snacks under 300 calories for weight loss and aim for healthy snacking choices with at least 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein to fill you up. Choose picks that are ideally low in added sugar and sodium too.

4. Eat mindfully.

Slowing down to focus on things like the taste, textures, temperature, and smells of what you're eating can help with portion control. But mindful eating also means really focusing on what you're eating and when—this can help you identify unnecessary munching moments you may not realize you're engaging in throughout the day that may be tacking on extra calories.

More importantly, try to avoid eating foods that you don't choose for yourself. Mindful eating can help shift the focus of control from external authorities and cues to your body's own inner wisdom. Noticing where your extra calories actually come from is another step to making better choices in the short and long term.

5. Skip sugary beverages.

We just don't feel full by liquid calories in quite the same way as we do real food. Drinking a juice or caramel coffee drink just isn't as satisfying as eating a bowl of veggie- and protein-packed stir-fry. Skipping sugary beverages is often the easiest way to lose weight faster, and bonus, it's good for things like heart health and diabetes prevention too. So monitor your intake of juice, soda, sweetened coffee and tea and alcoholic beverages. If you consume each of those beverages during the day, you'll have taken in at least 800 extra calories by nighttime — and you'll still be hungry. (Incidentally, alcohol may suppress the metabolism of fat, making it tougher for you to burn those calories.)

6. Start strength training.

Strength training builds lean muscle tissue, which burns more calories — at work or at rest — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The more lean muscle you have, the faster you'll slim down.

How do you start strength training? Try some push-ups or a few squats or lunges. Use your free weights to perform simple bicep curls or tricep extensions right in your home or office. Mix in some new ab, arm, back and leg moves if you like. Strength training just three to four times per week can lead to rapid improvement in not only weight loss, but also range of motion, stability, and posture.

7. Spice up your life.

Spicy foods can actually help you cut back on calories. That's because capsaicin, a compound found in jalapeño and cayenne peppers, may (slightly) increase your body's release of stress hormones such as adrenaline, which can speed up your ability to burn calories. What's more, eating hot peppers may help you eat more slowly and avoid overeating. You're more likely to stay more mindful of when you're full. Some great choices besides hot peppers: ginger and turmeric.

8. Go to bed earlier.

There's a ton of research that demonstrates getting less than the desired amount — about seven hours — of sleep per night can slow down your metabolism. Chronic sleep deprivation may even alter hormones that control hunger, and some studies show that there is a connection between poor quality food choices and less sleep. Good sleep has a ton of other benefits too, like boosting alertness, improving mood and overall quality of life.

So don't skimp on your ZZZ's, and you'll be rewarded with an extra edge when it comes to overall health and losing weight. Start small with just pushing up bedtime by 15 to 30 minutes, every minute counts!

9. Keep a food journal.

People who log everything they eat — especially those who log while they're eating — are more likely to lose weight and keep it off for the long haul, studies consistently indicate. The habit also takes less than 15 minutes per day on average when you do it regularly, according to a 2019 study published in Obesity.

Start tracking on an app like MyFitnessPal or use a regular notebook. It'll help you stay accountable for what you've eaten. Plus, you can easily identify areas that could use a little improvement when it's written out in front of you.

10. Take a walk!

Walking can be a very useful weight management tool, as it can help maximize your NEAT (an abbreviation for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), which is essentially the energy expended for anything besides formal exercise and sleep. If you are walking for weight loss, NEAT can be a great tool for helping you achieve your goals. Research even shows that walking is decreased in obese individuals and also declines with weight gain.