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

Author: Mr. Trenton Treutel V  |  Last update: Thursday, July 10, 2025

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 fast can I realistically lose 20 pounds?

Generally, a healthy threshold for weight loss is 2--3lbs per week. At this rate, you can safely lose 20lbs in about 2.5 months. That being said, if you are obese you can easily lose 20lbs in a month, if not more.

How long do I have to workout to lose 20 pounds?

Simply put, you can lose 20 pounds in several months by eating fewer calories than you do now and exercising vigorously for three to five hours per week using resistance training, interval training, and cardio training.

What is a realistic timeline to lose 20 pounds?

Consider a person who wants to lose 20 pounds. By following a healthier lifestyle approach that incorporates a balanced diet and regular exercise, they could meet their goal in approximately 10-20 weeks, exhibiting a healthy weight reduction.

Is it possible to lose 20 pounds in a month with exercise?

Yeah it's very possible to lose 20 lbs in a month. Keep doing the cardio and definitely keep walking but you might wanna ramp those steps up to 10k steps a day. Drastically reduce your consumption of processed foods or cut them out all together. Reduce carbs and increase your protein intake.

How Long To Get From 25% to 15% Body Fat? (Reality Check)

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.

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.

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.

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.

How many miles a day should I run to lose 20 pounds?

To put this into perspective, even a person who eats a measly 1,000 calories per day would need to burn 6,000 calories daily to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. The average person would need to burn the calorie equivalent of running 60 miles per day for 14 days.

How to slim down quickly?

How to naturally lose weight fast
  1. Intermittent fasting.
  2. Tracking diet and exercise.
  3. Mindful eating.
  4. Protein with meals.
  5. Avoid sugar.
  6. Fiber.
  7. Gut bacteria balance.
  8. Sleep.

How much weight loss is noticeable?

These changes might be subtle at first—like your clothes fitting a bit looser or noticing a slight difference in the mirror. Even if the transformation isn't dramatic right away, it's a sign that your efforts are paying off. A noticeable difference often comes after losing about 5% of your body weight.

How many steps do I need to walk to lose 20 pounds?

For losing 20 pounds, increase your daily step count to 14,000 to 16,000 steps, along with healthy eating habits. For more tips, learn how many calories does your body burn at rest.

How long does it take to lose belly fat?

So if you lose 1lb (0.45kg) a week you could hope to reduce your waistline by an inch after four weeks. Dieticians advise that if you eat 500 calories less than your daily requirement you will lose about 1lb every seven days (expect some variation from person to person).

Is it noticeable when someone loses 20 pounds?

A good rule of thumb is that people tend to notice your weight loss when you've lost around 10% of your starting weight, so if you started at 250lbs, people will start to notice when you've lost 25lbs. Naturally, the same amount of weight loss can look different on different people.

Does fat look worse before it leaves?

You Feel Like You're Looking Worse

The idea is that just before a significant weight loss occurs, you actually look a little pudgy and soft. Why? Because you've started to break down your fat cells and now they're filling up with water. Soon, these cells will flush themselves out and shrink.

Will my breasts get smaller if I lose 20 pounds?

Do Your Breasts Get Smaller When You Lose Weight? Whilst breasts can get smaller after you lose weight, breasts do not always get smaller after you lose weight. Size changes may be common, but it depends person to person.

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.

Why is my weight stuck even after exercise and diet?

So as you lose weight, your metabolism declines, causing you to burn fewer calories than you did at your heavier weight. Your slower metabolism will slow your weight loss, even if you eat the same number of calories that helped you lose weight. When the calories you burn equal the calories you eat, you reach a plateau.

What is the number 1 exercise to lose weight?

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.

How long should I walk to lose weight?

Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories. If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily habits, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. Of course, the more you walk and the quicker your pace, the more calories you'll burn.

Is it better to do cardio or weights first?

If you want to increase your endurance, do cardio before weights. If you want to build muscle strength, do weights before cardio. If you want to improve your overall fitness, you can do either cardio or weights first.

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