Losing 5 pounds per week is not a reasonable weight loss goal. Rapid weight loss of up to 25% comes from muscle loss rather than fat, which reduces metabolism and makes long-term weight maintenance difficult. A safer goal is to lose 1-2 pounds per week through diet and exercise in order to lose body fat while preserving muscle.

1. Is 5 pounds a
week a
reasonable
weight-loss
goal?
All Pictures
from Clip Art

2. NO!

3. In rapid loss of body weight up to
25% of the weight loss comes from muscle.
That’s right, reduced calorie diets almost always
result in muscle loss.
& &
Don’t forget This reduces your resting
when you lose metabolism rate and makes it
weight at an almost impossible to keep
unreasonable weight off.
rate most of the
loss is in the
form of water.

4. Don’t forget what
you are trying
to accomplish is a
reduction in
body fat, not a
reduction in
lean muscle.

5. For more info
check out:
“Get Stronger,
Feel Younger”
by Wayne
Westcott, PhD
and Gary Rienl
“Lifetime Physical
Fitness & Wellness”
by Werner W.K. Hoeger
and Sharon A. Hoeger
“Body for Life”
by Bill Phillips and
Michael D’Orso