How long does it take to lose 20 pounds with cardio?

Author: Darius Beier  |  Last update: Friday, July 18, 2025

To lose weight effectively and safely, aiming to lose 1 to 2 pounds (lbs) per week may be best. This means that losing 20 lbs may take 10 to 20 weeks. To lose weight, people will likely need to follow a healthy diet and get regular exercise.

How much cardio is needed to lose 20 pounds?

If you're trying to lose weight, you should aim for doing cardio at least five days per week for a total of at least 250 minutes (4 hours, 10 minutes) each week. Contrary to what many believe, you can do aerobic exercise seven days per week. If this goal seems daunting for you, start slow.

How long does it realistically take to lose 20 pounds?

Depending on where you start, it could take anywhere between 10 and 20 weeks (or more) to lose 20 pounds. That may sound like a long time, but the truth is, it's better to go slow and not rush the process—especially because rapid weight loss can be risky, says personal trainer Susan Pata, NASM-CPT.

How much weight can I lose in 2 weeks with cardio?

Changes in activity can cause water retention. With a deficit of 600-700 calories, you would expect to lose between 2.4lbs and 2.8lbs in two weeks, which water retention could easily mask.

How long would it take to lose 20 pounds by running?

Running 1 mile burns about 100 calories (round number). If you divide 70,000 calories by 100 calories per mile, you get 700 miles. So you would have to run 700 miles to lose 20 pounds. If you divide 700 miles by 60 days (2 months), you get 11.67 miles per day that you would have to jog.

How to Lose 20 LBS of Fat! (THE RIGHT WAY)

Can I lose 30 pounds in 3 months running?

Weight loss primarily depends on your diet. Treadmill will help you maintain your heart health. Targeting 30 pounds in 3 months is a unrealistic goal. Keep a target of 1% weight loss per week.

Is 20 lbs weight loss noticeable?

Yes, 20 pounds (lbs) of weight loss is typically noticeable. However, this may vary depending on an individual's current weight, body composition, and distribution of weight.

What cardio burns the most fat?

HIIT is among the best cardio for fat loss because it provides a well-rounded workout while burning a ton of fat and calories. “HIIT workouts can vary greatly, from 500 calories per hour to 1500-plus calories per hour for a 180-lb man.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

Can I lose noticeable weight in 2 weeks?

You should reduce your intake of processed, carb-heavy foods like cookies, chips and soda. Is is possible to lose between five to ten pounds in two weeks, although this weight loss will vary depending on each person's metabolism. Food intake should be carefully monitored and combined with regular physical activity.

Is losing 30 pounds noticeable?

Re et al.) found that people notice changes in their faces if they lose around 1.33 points of their BMI score. For people of average height, this amounts to a loss of around 8 or 9 lbs. Losing 30 lbs should be noticeable to most people.

Which cardio is best for weight loss?

Best Cardio Workouts For Women And Men
  • Jumping Rope. Jumping rope at a moderate pace (100 to 120 skips per minute) can burn about 13 calories per minute. ...
  • Burpees. Aim for at least 10 burpees every 60 seconds to burn around 14.3 calories per minute. ...
  • Mountain Climbers. ...
  • Walking. ...
  • Jump Squats. ...
  • Jumping Jacks. ...
  • Swimming. ...
  • Running‍

Does walking count as cardio?

Is Just Walking Enough Cardio? The fitness experts we spoke to agree: Yes, walking can totally “count” as your cardio workout if you format your walking workout to be challenging enough for your body. To maintain a healthy fitness level, try to walk at least three days a week.

Should I do cardio or weights first?

If you are training for a 5K or a marathon, you will want to do cardiovascular training first for maximum performance. If you want to increase your muscle strength, do strength training first when your muscles are not fatigued from cardio.

What kills water weight?

Water weight is not usually a cause for concern, but it can be uncomfortable and recurring. Reducing salt and carbohydrate intake, keeping hydrated, and frequently exercising are all good ways to lose water weight and prevent it from returning.

How to lose belly fat fast?

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

What cardio kills belly fat?

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

What is the 30/30/30 rule for weight loss?

The 30/30/30 is a weight loss method that involves eating 30 g of protein within the first 30 minutes of your day and following it with 30 minutes of light exercise. This morning routine is rooted in sound science, and it could be a good way to increase your capacity to burn fat while keeping lean muscle.

How can I burn 1000 calories a day?

Run at a pace of 8 mph for 60 minutes during your cardio workout. Running for a whole hour at a speed of 8 mph burns around 1,000 calories if you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg). If you weigh less but still want to keep your time at the gym around an hour long, you may need to run a bit faster.

Why do I look the same after losing 20 lbs?

Losing muscle mass: If you are losing weight through dieting or exercise, it's possible that you are losing muscle mass along with fat. This can make you look flabbier and less toned, even if you have lost weight.

How much weight do you need to lose to go down a size?

The rule of thumb, Fernstrom says, is that losing 8 to 10 pounds translates to going down one size. Still, if you lose "up to 15 pounds, you may be OK in your old size," she says. But putting off buying new clothes until you really need them doesn't work for everyone.

How long does it take for weight loss to show on a scale?

You'll know about this usually in the first couple of weeks, as you might notice quite a significant loss on the scales at this time. However, don't see this as setting the bar for yourself. A lot of the weight that you've lost so far will have come from the excess fluid that was in the body.

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