How Long Does It Take To Lose 20 Pounds?

woman eating healthy wondering how long does it take to lose 20 pounds

There is a plethora of misinformation in the fitness industry and this can cause a lot of damage to weight loss. A common question for many is “how long does it take to lose 20 pounds?” Even such a simple question is shrouded in misleading and confusing information.

If you are looking for a healthy way to improve your fitness and lose 20 pounds of weight accordingly, then you should always conduct thorough research. Research is a proper first step prior to trusting the advice of ‘experts’. Many so called ‘experts’ do not have an understanding of your individual health requirements and circumstances. And let’s face it, a lot of them simply put out catchy and unproven claims to get attention.

There is no ideal supplement or superfood that can provide you with the key to health-driven weight loss. Losing 20 pounds is a common exercise goal and is one that is encouraged by the vast majority of fitness trainers when people are first starting a new exercise routine.

In order to examine how long the weight loss process will take, you should assess your calorie consumption while maintaining a rigorous exercise routine.

Ideally, you should be exercising for three-five hours per week using a combination of interval, resistance and cardio training.

Although this sounds like a simple routine to implement, the reality is much harder for many. It will require a complete lifestyle modification for most people. 

What Diet Should I Follow?

Many people believe that eating less is a simplistic task. However, maintaining a healthy diet is difficult because of your established routines. They will permeate the vast majority of your daily habits without you even realizing it.

For instance, if you pass a McDonald’s drive-thru on your way to work, you may be used to pulling in without even thinking about it. Therefore, you should implement strategic methods in order to avoid these situations and purchase, prepare and pack your own meals.

When preparing your own meals try to ensure that you are including raw vegetables. You should also try to avoid alcoholic beverages and ideally only consume 5 or less alcoholic beverages per week.

If you usually stock sweets around the office desk in order to alleviate your stress levels, you should remove these. A healthier alternative is to purchase a stress ball or some other form of healthy stress release. 

How Often Should I Exercise? 

You should try to exercise for 3-5 hours per week. Whilst this seems simple enough, there are many factors that cause people to become inactive.

Depression, a lack of schedule, not knowing how to exercise and budget can all play a part in restricting one’s ability to work out.

However, if you hire a personal trainer, you are far more likely to attend training sessions, and they will be able to motivate you towards your goals.

You’ll also need to reset your sleep and morning routines. Waking up earlier means that you’ll be ready to exercise earlier in the day. This also helps set up the remainder of the day effectively.

Maintaining consistency is the best way to ensure that you lose 20 pounds quickly. If you maintain a healthy exercise routine and diet for five months, you can expect to lose 20 pounds over this period of time.

Sticking to a routine for five months can seem incredibly difficult. You will need to plan and surround yourself with a good support network as you will probably need to adjust every part of your daily routine.

If you cannot afford to hire a personal trainer, then ask a friend or loved one to assist you while you train and keep you accountable. All behavior change is relational and the first relationship you need to adjust is the one with yourself. 

woman preparing healthy weight loss smoothie
Cropped shot of a young woman making a healthy snack with fruit at home

Why Do So Many People Fail?

This world is plagued with a variety of illnesses and mental illness can greatly inhibit someone’s motivation and ability to implement an effective, long-term workout routine.

However, the benefits of exercise for those who suffer from depression are limitless.

Once you experience the post-workout buzz, you will be far more likely to enjoy the process again and again. The key is to not allow any distractions to get in the way of your health and development. 

You may want to lose weight for a variety of reasons. These goals and aims should be at the forefront of your mind.

It is more important than ever to exercise routinely in order to maintain strengthened mental and physical health. Remind yourself that you deserve to feel at your best, and an exercise routine will help.

If you can implement a strong mindset, you are far more likely to be able to maintain a strong exercise routine for five months (and beyond).

How Long Does it Take to Lose 20 Pounds? A Handful of Months.

To conclude, it takes approximately five months to lose 20 pounds. That is if you are exercising for 3-5 hours a week and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet.

Avoiding alcohol is the fastest way to ensure that your body loses weight. Additionally, you will need to make the relevant adjustments to your lifestyle in order to ensure that you maintain your training routine.

Hiring a coach, mentor or personal trainer is the best way to maintain motivation. They will be able to push you beyond your own limitations. 

The fastest way to lose 20 pounds is to adapt your mentality and adjust your morning routine accordingly. If you exercise as soon as you wake up, you are far more likely to feel and act productively throughout the day.

While this may seem like an incredibly hard task, you will reap the rewards. Your body’s metabolism will improve, and you will be able to digest food more easily.

You should also make sure that you have eaten raw vegetables in each meal. And try to prepare your meals in advance to avoid the temptation of the McDonald’s drive-thru!