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What do a bride-to-be, a couple booking a long-overdue cruise, and a career powerlifter with an upcoming competition have in common? Oftentimes, they all want (or need) to lose weight — fast. If you’re even vaguely familiar with health and fitness, you’ve probably heard the standard weight loss dogma more than enough times: Eat your vegetables, be more...
The post How to Lose Weight Fast, According to Science appeared first on BarBend.
What do a bride-to-be, a couple booking a long-overdue cruise, and a career powerlifter with an upcoming competition have in common? Oftentimes, they all want (or need) to lose weight — fast.
If you’re even vaguely familiar with health and fitness, you’ve probably heard the standard weight loss dogma more than enough times: Eat your vegetables, be more active, make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night, hit the weights, take this or that “magic” supplement, blah blah blah.
Credit: Davizro Photography / Shutterstock
Don’t get it twisted: For the most part, that’s all sound advice (you can probably keep your wallet shut about the diet pills, though). Increasing your physical activity and monitoring your nutrition are sure-fire ways of changing the number you see on the scale … eventually.
But there are some situations where you need to change your body composition or body weight fast. While health is undeniably more of a marathon than a sprint, there are ways to kick things into high gear quickly. Here’s the science-based guidance behind rapid weight loss.
Editor’s Note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. When starting a new training regimen and/or diet, it is always a good idea to consult with a trusted medical professional. We are not a medical resource. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional.
How Weight Loss Works
Whether you need to squeeze into a wedding dress or make the cut for a weight-class-specific sport, you need to understand the science behind how your body adjusts and manages its own weight.
Credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock
[Read More: The 12 Best Fat Burners for Women]
First things first: The overwhelming scientific consensus regarding weight change is that slow and steady beats fast and aggressive almost every time, especially when it comes to sustainability in weight change. (1)(2)(3) That said, there are certain scenarios that legitimize a temporary, aggressive uptick in weight loss behaviors.
Understanding Energy Balance
Energy balance, or the ratio of calories consumed to calories expended within a given parameter of time (usually a calendar day), is the guiding principle behind weight loss. Excess calories are stored as fat (or used for other metabolic purposes, such as building muscle), so it follows that adjusting your influx of calories will affect weight change.
[Read More: The 11 Best Fat Burners, Reviewed By an RD (Fall Update)]
Research indicates that one pound of body fat consists of roughly 3,500 calories. (4) So if you want to burn body fat, you need to expend an additional 3,500 calories worth of energy over time, on top of what you use every day to facilitate general bodily functions like physical activity, digestion, and so on.
The rule of thumb most commonly used is to divide that 3,500-calorie deficit across a seven-day week. Eat 500 fewer calories than you burn all seven days, and you should lose a pound of body fat. But your body’s weight is made up of more than just residual calories stored within your fat cells.
Digestion, Hydration, and Other Factors
Weight loss and fat loss aren’t necessarily the same thing: Losing fat by creating a caloric deficit will change the number you see on the scale, but your body weight also fluctuates on a daily basis all on its own, and sometimes quite dramatically.
Your eating behaviors can acutely, and of course chronically, affect your body weight. After all, the foods you consume and digest have weight, so you’ll be heavier after eating a large meal. Bowel movements, constipation, and other digestive health factors can impact your weight as well. (5)(6)(7)
[Read More: 8 Best Appetite Suppressants to Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, and More]
There’s also hydration to consider. Your body stores water in more places than you’d think, and a well-hydrated person will weigh more than someone who is significantly dehydrated. Dropping “water weight” is a common tactic for rapid, temporary weight loss among athletes, particularly those who partake in combat sports like boxing or in strength sports like powerlifting or Olympic lifting.
How to Lose Weight Fast
If you want to lose weight quickly, you need to change both your eating habits and your physical activity levels. More moderate strategies like mindful or intuitive eating can create change over time, (8) but often won’t start working right away. To create drastic weight loss, you need to take drastic action — safely.
Step 1: Create a Caloric Deficit
A calorie deficit, also known as a negative energy balance, is all but mandatory if you want to create weight loss that lasts for more than a day or two. In essence, this simply means eating less, but you need to know exactly how much less in the first place.
To get there, you must arrive at a general marker of how much energy you burn every day through your normal habits; that’s your caloric maintenance level. This value can vary tremendously based on how you build your healthy habits, lifestyle, genetic factors like metabolism, and more. (9)(10)
Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock
[Read More: The 10 Best Supplements for Weight Loss]
Luckily, a bit of math can accomplish a lot of the legwork for you. Plug some simple data into BarBend’s science-based calorie calculator and it’ll tell you roughly where to begin:
Once you have an idea of how many calories you need to maintain your weight, subtract 500 to 1,000 calories from that to identify your target deficit. A 1,000-calorie deficit (or higher, even) is considered aggressive (11)(12) and may come with side effects like muscle loss, but should lead to faster weight loss if you play it smart.
Calorie Calculator
Imperial
Metric
Age
Sex
Male
Female
Height
Feet
Meters
Weight
Pounds
Kilograms
Activity Level
Sedentary: little or no exercise
Exercise 1-3 times/week
Exercise 4-5 times/week
Daily exercise or intense exercise 3-4 times/week
Intense exercise 6-7 times/week
Very intense exercise daily, or physical job
BMR estimation formula
No
Yes
Calculate
Your daily calorie needs: Calories Per Day
Daily calorie needs based on goal
Goal
Calories Per Day
Maintenance
Fat Loss
Extreme Fat Loss
Exercise: 15-30 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Intense exercise: 45-120 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Very intense exercise: 2+ hours of elevated heart rate activity.
jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$('.calorie_calculator #eq').on('change', function() {
var bfat= $(this).find(":selected").val();
if (bfat == "3") {
$('.calorie_calculator #katch').show();
}else{
$('.calorie_calculator #katch').hide();
}
});
var units_x;
units_x="EN";
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="units"]').click(function() {
var units_v = $(this).val();
if (units_v == "SI") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Meters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Centimeters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Kilograms");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
//$('#macros-meters').prop('checked', true);
//$('#macros-feet').prop('checked', false);
units_x="SI";
$("input[id=macros-kilos]").prop("checked",true);
$("input[id=macros-pounds]").prop("checked",false);
}
else if (units_v == "EN") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Feet");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Inches");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Pounds");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
// $("input[id=macros-meters]").prop("checked",false);
// $("input[id=macros-feet]").prop("checked",true);
units_x="EN";
$("input[id=macros-kilos]").prop("checked",false);
$("input[id=macros-pounds]").prop("checked",true);
}
});
//alert(units_x);
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-system"]').click(function() {
var heightUnits = $(this).val();
if (heightUnits == "meters") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Meters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Centimeters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
}
else if (heightUnits == "feet") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Feet");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Inches");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
}
});
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight-system"]').click(function() {
var weightUnits = $(this).val();
if (weightUnits == "kilos") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Kilograms");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
}
else if (weightUnits == "pounds") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Pounds");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
}
});
$('.calorie_calculator .calc-submit').click(function() {
var height = 0;
var calories = 0;
var katch = $("input[name='katch']").val();
if(katch==""){katch=20;}
katch = katch/100;
var eq = $('.calorie_calculator #eq option:selected').val();
var heightTens = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val());
var heightUnits= parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val());
var heightType = $('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-system"]:checked').val();
var heightTypex = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="heightTypex"]').val());
var weight = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val());
var weightType = $('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight-system"]:checked').val();
var age = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name=age]').val());
var sex = $('.calorie_calculator input[name=sex]:checked').val();
var job = $('.calorie_calculator input[name=activity]:checked').val();
var bmr = '';
if (isNaN(age) || isNaN(heightTens) || isNaN(weight)) {
$('.calorie_calculator .calc-answer').show(0).html('Please enter values for all the fields.').addClass('bb_cal_error').one('webkitAnimationEnd mozAnimationEnd MSAnimationEnd oanimationend animationend', function() {
$(this).removeClass('bb_cal_error');
});
$('html, body').animate({scrollTop: $(".calc-header").offset().top-150}, 1000);
$('.calorie_calculator #cal_result').hide();
$('.calorie_calculator .ca_result .rs').html('');
}
else {
if(isNaN(heightUnits)) {
heightUnits = 0;
}
//alert('heightType:'+units_x);
if (units_x == "EN") {
height = ((heightTens * 30.48) + (heightUnits * 2.54));
}
else {
height = (heightTens * 100) + heightUnits;
}
if (units_x == "EN") {
weight = (weight * 0.453592);
}
if (sex == "M") {
if (eq == "1") {
bmr = Math.round(88.362 + (weight * 13.397) + (height * 4.799) - (age * 5.677));
}else if (eq == "2"){
bmr = Math.round(5 + (weight * 10) + (height * 6.25) - (age * 5));
}else if (eq == "3"){
// bmr = Math.round(weight*(100-(20)))/100);
bmr = Math.round(370+21.6*(1-katch)*weight);
}
}
else {
if (eq == "1") {
bmr = Math.round(447.593 + (weight * 9.247) + (height * 3.098) - (age * 4.330));
}else if (eq == "2"){
bmr = Math.round((weight * 10) + (height * 6.25) - (age * 5));
bmr = (bmr - 161);
}else if (eq == "3"){
bmr = Math.round(370+21.6*(1-katch)*weight);
}
}
switch (job) {
case "a1":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.2);
break;
case "a2":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.375);
break;
case "a3":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.466);
break;
case "a4":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.55);
break;
case "a5":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.725);
break;
case "a6":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.9);
break;
}
$('.calorie_calculator #cal_result').show();
$('.calorie_calculator .d_calorie_result').html(calories);
$('.calorie_calculator .maint_result').html(calories);
$('.calorie_calculator .fat_result').html(Math.round(calories/1.25));
$('.calorie_calculator .efat_result').html(Math.round(calories/1.67));
$('html, body').animate({scrollTop: $("#cal_result").offset().top-150}, 1000);
$('.calorie_calculator .calc-answer').html('');
}
});
});
#bb_cal_ui .calc-header {
border-bottom: 2px solid #8cc540;
padding: 5px 0 !important;
font-size: 36px;
font-weight: 700;
margin: 34px 0 30px 0px !important;
}
#cal_result .bmrtable, #cal_result .bmrtable td, #cal_result .bmrtable tr, #cal_result .bmrtable th{
border: 0px;
padding: 8px 2px;
}
#cal_result .bmrtable td{
border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
}
#cal_result .bmrtable th{
border-bottom: 2px solid #92c663;
}
.bmr_result_align{text-align:center; font-weight:600;}
#bb_cal_ui {
box-shadow: 0px 0px 10px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.09);
transition: background 0.3s, border 0.3s, border-radius 0.3s, box-shadow 0.3s;
margin: 0px;
padding: 18px 20px 20px 20px;
}
.calc-label span{display:none!important;}
div#bb_cal_ui .hidenow{
display:none;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .cals-and-calorie_calculator h2.calc-header {
background: #232323;
border: solid 1px #232323;
border-bottom: none;
border-radius: 3px 0px;
color: #ffffff !important;
margin: 0 !important;
padding: 15px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-container {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
border-top: solid 1px #ffffff;
border-radius: 0 3px;
padding: 10px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-subheader {
display: block;
font-family: ProximaNovaExCnSemiBold;
font-size: 20px;
font-size: 2rem;
margin-top: 10px;
text-transform: uppercase;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .cals-and-calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 100%;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .cals-and-calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox-half {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 49.5%;
}
div#bb_cal_ui input.calc-textbox-halfd, div#bb_cal_ui select.calc-textbox-halfd {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 4px 15px;
width: 48.5%!important;
font-weight: 500;
background: #fff;
color: #000;
font-size: 17px;
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
div#bb_cal_ui input.calc-textbox-halfd, div#bb_cal_ui select.calc-textbox-halfd {
width: 100% !important;
}
.calorie_calculator{margin:0px !important;}
#bb_cal_ui h3 {font-size: 20px;}
#bb_cal_ui .calc-header {
padding: 5px 0 !important;
font-size: 22px;
margin: 10px 0 25px 0px !important;
}
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-float-right {
float: right;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] {
display: none;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -75px -1250px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
height: 23px;
margin: 2px 5px 5px 6px;
vertical-align: middle;
width: 21px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -50px -1250px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-label {
border: solid 1px #5a5a5a;
border-radius: 3px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-size: 1.4rem;
font-weight: bold;
padding: 6px;
width: 100%;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-label-small {
border: solid 1px #5a5a5a;
border-radius: 3px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-size: 1.4rem;
font-weight: bold;
padding: 6px;
width: 49.5%;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-label:hover {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-answer {
display: none;
}
#bb_cal_ui h3:after {
content: "";
display: block;
width: 100px;
padding: 0px 0;
border-bottom: 0px solid #8cc540;
}
#bb_cal_ui .calc-container{
padding:0px;
}
#bb_cal_ui .g-heading {
display: -webkit-box;
display: -webkit-flex;
display: -ms-flexbox;
display: flex;
margin-bottom: 0;
padding: 0;
-webkit-box-pack: justify;
-webkit-justify-content: space-between;
-ms-flex-pack: justify;
justify-content: space-between;
-webkit-box-align: center;
-webkit-align-items: center;
-ms-flex-align: center;
align-items: center;
float:right;
}
#bb_cal_ui .form-heading {
-webkit-box-flex: 1;
-webkit-flex: 1 0 auto;
-ms-flex: 1 0 auto;
flex: 1 0 auto;
}
#bb_cal_ui h3 {
font-size: 24px;
}
#bb_cal_ui h3, .tool-heading {
margin: 0 0 8px;
padding: 0;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle {
font-size: 0;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio] {
position: absolute;
visibility: hidden;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio]:checked+label {
background-color: #15131D;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio]:checked+label {
color: #fff;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio]+label {
background-color: #fff;
color: #777;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle label:last-of-type {
border-radius: 0;
border-left: none;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle label {
font-size: 1rem;
padding: 5px 14px;
border: 1px solid #DADADA;
}
#bb_cal_ui .btn {
display: inline-block;
border: 0;
padding: 1em;
background: #E25F2F;
color: #fff;
line-height: 1;
text-align: center;
-webkit-transition: all .15s ease-out;
transition: all .15s ease-out;
}
#bb_cal_ui .btn, .clickable, #bb_cal_ui .menu-button, #bb_cal_ui .select select, #bb_cal_ui button, #bb_cal_ui input[type=button], #bb_cal_ui input[type=file], #bb_cal_ui input[type=submit], #bb_cal_ui label {
cursor: pointer;
}
.calc-note {
margin: 10px 0 40px 0;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .macros-slider-calculator h2.calc-header {
background: #232323;
border: solid 1px #232323;
border-bottom: none;
border-radius: 3px 0px;
color: #ffffff !important;
margin: 0 !important;
padding: 15px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-container {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
border-top: solid 1px #ffffff;
border-radius: 0 3px;
padding: 10px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-subheader {
display: block;
font-family: ProximaNovaExCnSemiBold;
font-size: 20px;
font-size: 2rem;
margin-top: 10px;
text-transform: uppercase;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-row {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-row-half {
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
width: 49.5%;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .float-right {
float: right;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .macros-slider-calculator input.calc-textbox {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 100%;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .macros-slider-calculator input.calc-textbox-half {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 49.5%;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-dropdown {
height: 46px;
vertical-align: top;
width: 100%;
border-radius: 3px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-answer {
display: none;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-container{
margin: 0px;
}
.calorie_calculator{
margin: 15px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-subheader, .calc-subheader {
display: block;
margin: 25px 2px 8px 2px;
font-weight: 600;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 4px 15px;
width: 100%;
background:#fff;
color:#000;
font-size: 17px;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox-half, div#bb_cal_ui input.calc-textbox-half {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 4px 15px;
width: 48.5%;
font-weight: 500;
background:#fff;
color:#000;
font-size:17px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-float-right {
float: right;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] {
display: none;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -75px -1250px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
height: 23px;
margin: 2px 5px 5px 6px;
vertical-align: middle;
width: 21px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -50px -1250px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label {
background-color: #8cc53f;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-label, .calc-label {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: 600;
width: 100%;
padding: 6.5px 15px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-label-small, .calc-label-small {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: 600;
width: 100%;
padding: 6.5px 15px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-label:hover {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-answer {
display: none;
}
#cal_result {
padding: 25px 0px;
}
#keto_cal_form, #cal_result {
margin: 0 auto;
}
.keto_cal_form_block .keto_cal_form_row, #cal_result .keto_cal_form_row {
margin-bottom: 45px;
}
#cal_result .result-body {
display: flex;
margin-right: -25px;
}
#cal_result .result-body > div {
color: #2b2b2b;
font-size: 16px;
letter-spacing: 0;
line-height: 45px;
background: #e6f3d4;
box-shadow: 0 1px 3px 0 rgb(164, 183, 136);
border-radius: 4px;
text-align: center;
padding: 37px;
flex: 1;
margin: 0 25px 0 0;
display: flex;
flex-flow: column;
align-items: stretch;
justify-content: center;
}
#cal_result .result-body .rs {
font-size: 40px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2b2b2b;
display: block;
}
.entry-content span {
font-size: 17px;
line-height: 1.5;
}
#cal_result .result-body .rs-unit {
white-space: nowrap;
}
.entry-content span {
font-size: 17px;
line-height: 1.5;
}
.calc-submit {
background: #2b2b2b;
border: 0;
height: 50px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
font-size: 25px;
font-weight: 700;
color: #FFF;
transition: all 150ms ease;
text-transform: uppercase;
width: 100%;
margin: 30px 0 5px 0;
}
.calc-submit:hover {
background: #8cc53f;
}
/* Media Queries */
@media all and (max-width: 1023px) {
.three-columns {
margin-left: 0;
margin-right: 0;
}
.three-columns .article-block {
flex: 1 46%;
max-width: 46%;
margin: 20px 2%;
}
#cal_result .result-body {
flex-wrap: wrap;
}
#cal_result .result-body > div {
max-width: 45%;
flex: 1 46%;
margin-top: 28px;
}
}
@media all and (max-width: 600px) {
.navbar #main-menu > li > .nav-link {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
}
.button-box {
position: relative;
z-index: 5;
}
.hero-button-box {
text-align: left;
}
.hero-button-box .button.track.hero-button {
display: inline-block !important;
max-width: 200px;
margin-left: 15px;
}
}
@media screen and (max-width: 479px) {
.play-button-box {
left: calc(50% - 35px);
top: calc(50% - 35px);
}
}
@media all and (max-width: 767px) {
ul.list {
padding-left: 25px !important;
}
#cal_result .result-body > div {
max-width: 100%;
flex: 1;
}
}
In short: Figure out your caloric maintenance level and subtract a number of calories each day to create a deficit. The more calories you take away, the faster you’ll lose weight, but with greater risk involved.
Step 2: Get (More) Active
Once you’ve got your general nutrition plan squared away, you may want to incorporate a bit of extra physical activity into the mix to speed things up. Note that your caloric maintenance level considers the energy burned through exercise by default.
For instance, if you burn 2,500 calories on average and perform gym or home workouts thrice per week, you’d need to add a fourth workout into the mix to increase your energy expenditure beyond that 2,500.
[Read More: The 10 Best Supplements for Weight Loss]
However, rapid weight loss protocols also negatively impact performance. (13) So, if you’re eating a scant amount of calories already to create your deficit, you may not want to throw yourself to the wolves in the gym with too many high-intensity workouts. Increasing your daily step count through leisure walks or ramping up how much strength training you do (within reason) are smart options here.
In short: Consider adding extra exercise into your routine to deepen your caloric deficit, but be mindful of the type and intensity of your exercise habits if you’re consuming a limited number of calories.
Step 3: Drop Water Weight if Necessary
Body fat (or muscle) isn’t the only thing you can shed if you want to change your scale weight. Water weight cuts are commonplace in sports as a means of getting an athlete into their competitive weight range and, in some cases, may be appropriate for your goals as well.
Carbohydrate intake also affects both your stored water levels and how much glycogen your muscles hold. You may have some success in your short-term weight loss endeavors by cutting carbs or even implementing a ketogenic diet.
Paradoxically, increasing the amount of water you consume (some data have used an additional 48 ounces per day as a benchmark) (14) can help you flush more stored water out of your system. Additionally, increasing how much you sweat through cardio training or sauna usage can cause you to drop several pounds quickly. (15)(16)
Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock
[Read More: How to Calculate Your Macronutrients for Weight Loss]
Understand, though, that intentional dehydration can pose serious health risks. (17)(18) If you’re opting for a regular sauna as a way of moving the needle on the scale, do so in a limited capacity and only after consulting with your doctor.
In short: Drinking significantly more water, severely restricting carbohydrates, and using a sauna or steam room will help you shed significant amounts of non-fat weight, but these practices come with potentially serious health risks.
Weight Loss Tips & Tricks
Don’t major in the minors when it comes to changing your body composition — a caloric deficit and more physical activity are going to account for most of your results, no matter how fast you need to lose weight.
That said, there are some tactics you can employ to both accelerate your results and ensure that you’re making progress in a way that won’t harm your health long-term:
The post How to Lose Weight Fast, According to Science appeared first on BarBend.
What do a bride-to-be, a couple booking a long-overdue cruise, and a career powerlifter with an upcoming competition have in common? Oftentimes, they all want (or need) to lose weight — fast.
If you’re even vaguely familiar with health and fitness, you’ve probably heard the standard weight loss dogma more than enough times: Eat your vegetables, be more active, make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night, hit the weights, take this or that “magic” supplement, blah blah blah.
Don’t get it twisted: For the most part, that’s all sound advice (you can probably keep your wallet shut about the diet pills, though). Increasing your physical activity and monitoring your nutrition are sure-fire ways of changing the number you see on the scale … eventually.
But there are some situations where you need to change your body composition or body weight fast. While health is undeniably more of a marathon than a sprint, there are ways to kick things into high gear quickly. Here’s the science-based guidance behind rapid weight loss.
Editor’s Note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. When starting a new training regimen and/or diet, it is always a good idea to consult with a trusted medical professional. We are not a medical resource. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional.
How Weight Loss Works
Whether you need to squeeze into a wedding dress or make the cut for a weight-class-specific sport, you need to understand the science behind how your body adjusts and manages its own weight.
[Read More: The 12 Best Fat Burners for Women]
First things first: The overwhelming scientific consensus regarding weight change is that slow and steady beats fast and aggressive almost every time, especially when it comes to sustainability in weight change. (1)(2)(3) That said, there are certain scenarios that legitimize a temporary, aggressive uptick in weight loss behaviors.
Understanding Energy Balance
Energy balance, or the ratio of calories consumed to calories expended within a given parameter of time (usually a calendar day), is the guiding principle behind weight loss. Excess calories are stored as fat (or used for other metabolic purposes, such as building muscle), so it follows that adjusting your influx of calories will affect weight change.
[Read More: The 11 Best Fat Burners, Reviewed By an RD (Fall Update)]
Research indicates that one pound of body fat consists of roughly 3,500 calories. (4) So if you want to burn body fat, you need to expend an additional 3,500 calories worth of energy over time, on top of what you use every day to facilitate general bodily functions like physical activity, digestion, and so on.
The rule of thumb most commonly used is to divide that 3,500-calorie deficit across a seven-day week. Eat 500 fewer calories than you burn all seven days, and you should lose a pound of body fat. But your body’s weight is made up of more than just residual calories stored within your fat cells.
Digestion, Hydration, and Other Factors
Weight loss and fat loss aren’t necessarily the same thing: Losing fat by creating a caloric deficit will change the number you see on the scale, but your body weight also fluctuates on a daily basis all on its own, and sometimes quite dramatically.
Your eating behaviors can acutely, and of course chronically, affect your body weight. After all, the foods you consume and digest have weight, so you’ll be heavier after eating a large meal. Bowel movements, constipation, and other digestive health factors can impact your weight as well. (5)(6)(7)
[Read More: 8 Best Appetite Suppressants to Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, and More]
There’s also hydration to consider. Your body stores water in more places than you’d think, and a well-hydrated person will weigh more than someone who is significantly dehydrated. Dropping “water weight” is a common tactic for rapid, temporary weight loss among athletes, particularly those who partake in combat sports like boxing or in strength sports like powerlifting or Olympic lifting.
How to Lose Weight Fast
If you want to lose weight quickly, you need to change both your eating habits and your physical activity levels. More moderate strategies like mindful or intuitive eating can create change over time, (8) but often won’t start working right away. To create drastic weight loss, you need to take drastic action — safely.
Step 1: Create a Caloric Deficit
A calorie deficit, also known as a negative energy balance, is all but mandatory if you want to create weight loss that lasts for more than a day or two. In essence, this simply means eating less, but you need to know exactly how much less in the first place.
To get there, you must arrive at a general marker of how much energy you burn every day through your normal habits; that’s your caloric maintenance level. This value can vary tremendously based on how you build your healthy habits, lifestyle, genetic factors like metabolism, and more. (9)(10)
[Read More: The 10 Best Supplements for Weight Loss]
Luckily, a bit of math can accomplish a lot of the legwork for you. Plug some simple data into BarBend’s science-based calorie calculator and it’ll tell you roughly where to begin:
Once you have an idea of how many calories you need to maintain your weight, subtract 500 to 1,000 calories from that to identify your target deficit. A 1,000-calorie deficit (or higher, even) is considered aggressive (11)(12) and may come with side effects like muscle loss, but should lead to faster weight loss if you play it smart.
Calorie Calculator
Imperial
Metric
Age
Sex
Male
Female
Height
Feet
Meters
Weight
Pounds
Kilograms
Activity Level
Sedentary: little or no exercise
Exercise 1-3 times/week
Exercise 4-5 times/week
Daily exercise or intense exercise 3-4 times/week
Intense exercise 6-7 times/week
Very intense exercise daily, or physical job
BMR estimation formula
No
Yes
Calculate
Your daily calorie needs: Calories Per Day
Daily calorie needs based on goal
Goal
Calories Per Day
Maintenance
Fat Loss
Extreme Fat Loss
Exercise: 15-30 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Intense exercise: 45-120 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Very intense exercise: 2+ hours of elevated heart rate activity.
jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$('.calorie_calculator #eq').on('change', function() {
var bfat= $(this).find(":selected").val();
if (bfat == "3") {
$('.calorie_calculator #katch').show();
}else{
$('.calorie_calculator #katch').hide();
}
});
var units_x;
units_x="EN";
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="units"]').click(function() {
var units_v = $(this).val();
if (units_v == "SI") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Meters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Centimeters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Kilograms");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
//$('#macros-meters').prop('checked', true);
//$('#macros-feet').prop('checked', false);
units_x="SI";
$("input[id=macros-kilos]").prop("checked",true);
$("input[id=macros-pounds]").prop("checked",false);
}
else if (units_v == "EN") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Feet");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Inches");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Pounds");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
// $("input[id=macros-meters]").prop("checked",false);
// $("input[id=macros-feet]").prop("checked",true);
units_x="EN";
$("input[id=macros-kilos]").prop("checked",false);
$("input[id=macros-pounds]").prop("checked",true);
}
});
//alert(units_x);
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-system"]').click(function() {
var heightUnits = $(this).val();
if (heightUnits == "meters") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Meters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Centimeters");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
}
else if (heightUnits == "feet") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').attr("placeholder", "Feet");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').attr("placeholder", "Inches");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val("");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val("");
}
});
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight-system"]').click(function() {
var weightUnits = $(this).val();
if (weightUnits == "kilos") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Kilograms");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
}
else if (weightUnits == "pounds") {
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').attr("placeholder", "Pounds");
$('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val("");
}
});
$('.calorie_calculator .calc-submit').click(function() {
var height = 0;
var calories = 0;
var katch = $("input[name='katch']").val();
if(katch==""){katch=20;}
katch = katch/100;
var eq = $('.calorie_calculator #eq option:selected').val();
var heightTens = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-tens"]').val());
var heightUnits= parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-units"]').val());
var heightType = $('.calorie_calculator input[name="height-system"]:checked').val();
var heightTypex = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="heightTypex"]').val());
var weight = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight"]').val());
var weightType = $('.calorie_calculator input[name="weight-system"]:checked').val();
var age = parseInt($('.calorie_calculator input[name=age]').val());
var sex = $('.calorie_calculator input[name=sex]:checked').val();
var job = $('.calorie_calculator input[name=activity]:checked').val();
var bmr = '';
if (isNaN(age) || isNaN(heightTens) || isNaN(weight)) {
$('.calorie_calculator .calc-answer').show(0).html('Please enter values for all the fields.').addClass('bb_cal_error').one('webkitAnimationEnd mozAnimationEnd MSAnimationEnd oanimationend animationend', function() {
$(this).removeClass('bb_cal_error');
});
$('html, body').animate({scrollTop: $(".calc-header").offset().top-150}, 1000);
$('.calorie_calculator #cal_result').hide();
$('.calorie_calculator .ca_result .rs').html('');
}
else {
if(isNaN(heightUnits)) {
heightUnits = 0;
}
//alert('heightType:'+units_x);
if (units_x == "EN") {
height = ((heightTens * 30.48) + (heightUnits * 2.54));
}
else {
height = (heightTens * 100) + heightUnits;
}
if (units_x == "EN") {
weight = (weight * 0.453592);
}
if (sex == "M") {
if (eq == "1") {
bmr = Math.round(88.362 + (weight * 13.397) + (height * 4.799) - (age * 5.677));
}else if (eq == "2"){
bmr = Math.round(5 + (weight * 10) + (height * 6.25) - (age * 5));
}else if (eq == "3"){
// bmr = Math.round(weight*(100-(20)))/100);
bmr = Math.round(370+21.6*(1-katch)*weight);
}
}
else {
if (eq == "1") {
bmr = Math.round(447.593 + (weight * 9.247) + (height * 3.098) - (age * 4.330));
}else if (eq == "2"){
bmr = Math.round((weight * 10) + (height * 6.25) - (age * 5));
bmr = (bmr - 161);
}else if (eq == "3"){
bmr = Math.round(370+21.6*(1-katch)*weight);
}
}
switch (job) {
case "a1":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.2);
break;
case "a2":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.375);
break;
case "a3":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.466);
break;
case "a4":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.55);
break;
case "a5":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.725);
break;
case "a6":
calories = Math.round(bmr * 1.9);
break;
}
$('.calorie_calculator #cal_result').show();
$('.calorie_calculator .d_calorie_result').html(calories);
$('.calorie_calculator .maint_result').html(calories);
$('.calorie_calculator .fat_result').html(Math.round(calories/1.25));
$('.calorie_calculator .efat_result').html(Math.round(calories/1.67));
$('html, body').animate({scrollTop: $("#cal_result").offset().top-150}, 1000);
$('.calorie_calculator .calc-answer').html('');
}
});
});
#bb_cal_ui .calc-header {
border-bottom: 2px solid #8cc540;
padding: 5px 0 !important;
font-size: 36px;
font-weight: 700;
margin: 34px 0 30px 0px !important;
}
#cal_result .bmrtable, #cal_result .bmrtable td, #cal_result .bmrtable tr, #cal_result .bmrtable th{
border: 0px;
padding: 8px 2px;
}
#cal_result .bmrtable td{
border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
}
#cal_result .bmrtable th{
border-bottom: 2px solid #92c663;
}
.bmr_result_align{text-align:center; font-weight:600;}
#bb_cal_ui {
box-shadow: 0px 0px 10px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.09);
transition: background 0.3s, border 0.3s, border-radius 0.3s, box-shadow 0.3s;
margin: 0px;
padding: 18px 20px 20px 20px;
}
.calc-label span{display:none!important;}
div#bb_cal_ui .hidenow{
display:none;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .cals-and-calorie_calculator h2.calc-header {
background: #232323;
border: solid 1px #232323;
border-bottom: none;
border-radius: 3px 0px;
color: #ffffff !important;
margin: 0 !important;
padding: 15px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-container {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
border-top: solid 1px #ffffff;
border-radius: 0 3px;
padding: 10px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-subheader {
display: block;
font-family: ProximaNovaExCnSemiBold;
font-size: 20px;
font-size: 2rem;
margin-top: 10px;
text-transform: uppercase;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .cals-and-calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 100%;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .cals-and-calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox-half {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 49.5%;
}
div#bb_cal_ui input.calc-textbox-halfd, div#bb_cal_ui select.calc-textbox-halfd {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 4px 15px;
width: 48.5%!important;
font-weight: 500;
background: #fff;
color: #000;
font-size: 17px;
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
div#bb_cal_ui input.calc-textbox-halfd, div#bb_cal_ui select.calc-textbox-halfd {
width: 100% !important;
}
.calorie_calculator{margin:0px !important;}
#bb_cal_ui h3 {font-size: 20px;}
#bb_cal_ui .calc-header {
padding: 5px 0 !important;
font-size: 22px;
margin: 10px 0 25px 0px !important;
}
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-float-right {
float: right;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] {
display: none;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -75px -1250px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
height: 23px;
margin: 2px 5px 5px 6px;
vertical-align: middle;
width: 21px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -50px -1250px;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-label {
border: solid 1px #5a5a5a;
border-radius: 3px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-size: 1.4rem;
font-weight: bold;
padding: 6px;
width: 100%;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-label-small {
border: solid 1px #5a5a5a;
border-radius: 3px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-size: 1.4rem;
font-weight: bold;
padding: 6px;
width: 49.5%;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-label:hover {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
}
.cals-and-calorie_calculator .calc-answer {
display: none;
}
#bb_cal_ui h3:after {
content: "";
display: block;
width: 100px;
padding: 0px 0;
border-bottom: 0px solid #8cc540;
}
#bb_cal_ui .calc-container{
padding:0px;
}
#bb_cal_ui .g-heading {
display: -webkit-box;
display: -webkit-flex;
display: -ms-flexbox;
display: flex;
margin-bottom: 0;
padding: 0;
-webkit-box-pack: justify;
-webkit-justify-content: space-between;
-ms-flex-pack: justify;
justify-content: space-between;
-webkit-box-align: center;
-webkit-align-items: center;
-ms-flex-align: center;
align-items: center;
float:right;
}
#bb_cal_ui .form-heading {
-webkit-box-flex: 1;
-webkit-flex: 1 0 auto;
-ms-flex: 1 0 auto;
flex: 1 0 auto;
}
#bb_cal_ui h3 {
font-size: 24px;
}
#bb_cal_ui h3, .tool-heading {
margin: 0 0 8px;
padding: 0;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle {
font-size: 0;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio] {
position: absolute;
visibility: hidden;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio]:checked+label {
background-color: #15131D;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio]:checked+label {
color: #fff;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle input[type=radio]+label {
background-color: #fff;
color: #777;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle label:last-of-type {
border-radius: 0;
border-left: none;
}
#bb_cal_ui .radio-toggle label {
font-size: 1rem;
padding: 5px 14px;
border: 1px solid #DADADA;
}
#bb_cal_ui .btn {
display: inline-block;
border: 0;
padding: 1em;
background: #E25F2F;
color: #fff;
line-height: 1;
text-align: center;
-webkit-transition: all .15s ease-out;
transition: all .15s ease-out;
}
#bb_cal_ui .btn, .clickable, #bb_cal_ui .menu-button, #bb_cal_ui .select select, #bb_cal_ui button, #bb_cal_ui input[type=button], #bb_cal_ui input[type=file], #bb_cal_ui input[type=submit], #bb_cal_ui label {
cursor: pointer;
}
.calc-note {
margin: 10px 0 40px 0;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .macros-slider-calculator h2.calc-header {
background: #232323;
border: solid 1px #232323;
border-bottom: none;
border-radius: 3px 0px;
color: #ffffff !important;
margin: 0 !important;
padding: 15px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-container {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
border-top: solid 1px #ffffff;
border-radius: 0 3px;
padding: 10px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-subheader {
display: block;
font-family: ProximaNovaExCnSemiBold;
font-size: 20px;
font-size: 2rem;
margin-top: 10px;
text-transform: uppercase;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-row {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-row-half {
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
width: 49.5%;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .float-right {
float: right;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .macros-slider-calculator input.calc-textbox {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 100%;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .macros-slider-calculator input.calc-textbox-half {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 12px;
width: 49.5%;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-dropdown {
height: 46px;
vertical-align: top;
width: 100%;
border-radius: 3px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.macros-slider-calculator .calc-answer {
display: none;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-container{
margin: 0px;
}
.calorie_calculator{
margin: 15px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-subheader, .calc-subheader {
display: block;
margin: 25px 2px 8px 2px;
font-weight: 600;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 4px 15px;
width: 100%;
background:#fff;
color:#000;
font-size: 17px;
}
div#bb_cal_ui .calorie_calculator input.calc-textbox-half, div#bb_cal_ui input.calc-textbox-half {
box-sizing: border-box;
height: auto;
line-height: inherit;
padding: 4px 15px;
width: 48.5%;
font-weight: 500;
background:#fff;
color:#000;
font-size:17px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-float-right {
float: right;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] {
display: none;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio] + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -75px -1250px;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
height: 23px;
margin: 2px 5px 5px 6px;
vertical-align: middle;
width: 21px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label span {
background: url('/images/bgsprite.png') no-repeat -50px -1250px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-row input[type=radio]:checked + label {
background-color: #8cc53f;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-label, .calc-label {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: 600;
width: 100%;
padding: 6.5px 15px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-label-small, .calc-label-small {
border: solid 1px #cccccc;
cursor: pointer;
display: inline-block;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: 600;
width: 100%;
padding: 6.5px 15px;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-label:hover {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
}
.calorie_calculator .calc-answer {
display: none;
}
#cal_result {
padding: 25px 0px;
}
#keto_cal_form, #cal_result {
margin: 0 auto;
}
.keto_cal_form_block .keto_cal_form_row, #cal_result .keto_cal_form_row {
margin-bottom: 45px;
}
#cal_result .result-body {
display: flex;
margin-right: -25px;
}
#cal_result .result-body > div {
color: #2b2b2b;
font-size: 16px;
letter-spacing: 0;
line-height: 45px;
background: #e6f3d4;
box-shadow: 0 1px 3px 0 rgb(164, 183, 136);
border-radius: 4px;
text-align: center;
padding: 37px;
flex: 1;
margin: 0 25px 0 0;
display: flex;
flex-flow: column;
align-items: stretch;
justify-content: center;
}
#cal_result .result-body .rs {
font-size: 40px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2b2b2b;
display: block;
}
.entry-content span {
font-size: 17px;
line-height: 1.5;
}
#cal_result .result-body .rs-unit {
white-space: nowrap;
}
.entry-content span {
font-size: 17px;
line-height: 1.5;
}
.calc-submit {
background: #2b2b2b;
border: 0;
height: 50px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
font-size: 25px;
font-weight: 700;
color: #FFF;
transition: all 150ms ease;
text-transform: uppercase;
width: 100%;
margin: 30px 0 5px 0;
}
.calc-submit:hover {
background: #8cc53f;
}
/* Media Queries */
@media all and (max-width: 1023px) {
.three-columns {
margin-left: 0;
margin-right: 0;
}
.three-columns .article-block {
flex: 1 46%;
max-width: 46%;
margin: 20px 2%;
}
#cal_result .result-body {
flex-wrap: wrap;
}
#cal_result .result-body > div {
max-width: 45%;
flex: 1 46%;
margin-top: 28px;
}
}
@media all and (max-width: 600px) {
.navbar #main-menu > li > .nav-link {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
}
.button-box {
position: relative;
z-index: 5;
}
.hero-button-box {
text-align: left;
}
.hero-button-box .button.track.hero-button {
display: inline-block !important;
max-width: 200px;
margin-left: 15px;
}
}
@media screen and (max-width: 479px) {
.play-button-box {
left: calc(50% - 35px);
top: calc(50% - 35px);
}
}
@media all and (max-width: 767px) {
ul.list {
padding-left: 25px !important;
}
#cal_result .result-body > div {
max-width: 100%;
flex: 1;
}
}
In short: Figure out your caloric maintenance level and subtract a number of calories each day to create a deficit. The more calories you take away, the faster you’ll lose weight, but with greater risk involved.
Step 2: Get (More) Active
Once you’ve got your general nutrition plan squared away, you may want to incorporate a bit of extra physical activity into the mix to speed things up. Note that your caloric maintenance level considers the energy burned through exercise by default.
For instance, if you burn 2,500 calories on average and perform gym or home workouts thrice per week, you’d need to add a fourth workout into the mix to increase your energy expenditure beyond that 2,500.
[Read More: The 10 Best Supplements for Weight Loss]
However, rapid weight loss protocols also negatively impact performance. (13) So, if you’re eating a scant amount of calories already to create your deficit, you may not want to throw yourself to the wolves in the gym with too many high-intensity workouts. Increasing your daily step count through leisure walks or ramping up how much strength training you do (within reason) are smart options here.
In short: Consider adding extra exercise into your routine to deepen your caloric deficit, but be mindful of the type and intensity of your exercise habits if you’re consuming a limited number of calories.
Step 3: Drop Water Weight if Necessary
Body fat (or muscle) isn’t the only thing you can shed if you want to change your scale weight. Water weight cuts are commonplace in sports as a means of getting an athlete into their competitive weight range and, in some cases, may be appropriate for your goals as well.
Carbohydrate intake also affects both your stored water levels and how much glycogen your muscles hold. You may have some success in your short-term weight loss endeavors by cutting carbs or even implementing a ketogenic diet.
Paradoxically, increasing the amount of water you consume (some data have used an additional 48 ounces per day as a benchmark) (14) can help you flush more stored water out of your system. Additionally, increasing how much you sweat through cardio training or sauna usage can cause you to drop several pounds quickly. (15)(16)
[Read More: How to Calculate Your Macronutrients for Weight Loss]
Understand, though, that intentional dehydration can pose serious health risks. (17)(18) If you’re opting for a regular sauna as a way of moving the needle on the scale, do so in a limited capacity and only after consulting with your doctor.
In short: Drinking significantly more water, severely restricting carbohydrates, and using a sauna or steam room will help you shed significant amounts of non-fat weight, but these practices come with potentially serious health risks.
Weight Loss Tips & Tricks
Don’t major in the minors when it comes to changing your body composition — a caloric deficit and more physical activity are going to account for most of your results, no matter how fast you need to lose weight.
That said, there are some tactics you can employ to both accelerate your results and ensure that you’re making progress in a way that won’t harm your health long-term:
- Increase your protein intake significantly. Protein (whether you get it from whole food or a whey protein powder) isn’t just essential for...
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