The question “how many calories to lose a pound?” is posed very often by the people. A pound of body fat is equal to 3,500 calories i.e. to lose a pound; you need to burn 3500 calories. This target cannot be achieved in a day. The maximum weight you can lose safely in a week is two pounds. Trying to lose one pound in a week is much more realistic. For that, you need to burn 500 calories on a daily basis.

How many calories to lose a pound – A gradual process

Weight loss can be a very gradual process, so you need to do special exercises and follow a proper diet. if some diet works for another person, you can’t be sure that it will work for you too as you may have a different type of body and metabolic rate. People having a slow rate of metabolism tend to gain weight faster, if they consume calories more than their active metabolic rate. Exercising keeps you active and increases your activity level and thus your metabolic rate. It is a must, if you want to lose weight. Search the internet or consult a trainer to find out exercises and activities which allow rapid burning of body fat.

Along with exercises, you need to take care of your diet too. Don’t starve yourself, just cut down on foods which are high on calories. Starving will only make you lose muscle mass and not body fat. When you start eating properly, you will regain all the weight. So, take a nutritious diet and avoid oily, fried and junk food. Take more of vegetables and fruits. Increase fiber and water intake and cut down on fats, carbs and sugar. Make a diet plan and stick to it. Most people lose their patience after some time and find it difficult to follow their diet. You should find ways to control your cravings in order to achieve your weight loss goal.

With the combination of right kind of exercises and a suitable diet plan, one can lose weight fast. But for following it, you need hard work, determination and a lot of patience. You should give up unhealthy eating habits right now, and switch to healthier foods like fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, whole wheat items, beans, legumes etc. Keep watching the number of calories you consume and make use of online calculators to find out the right amount for you. You can also try detox diets which are short term diets meant for detoxification and cleansing of the body and the digestive system. You should not go for anything extreme all of a sudden, like heavy workouts or rigorous diets as it can have adverse effects on your body. Start with moderate exercises cutting out on calorie laden foods. Gradually increase your efforts but don’t set unrealistic targets. Devise a plan keeping in mind how many calories you need to burn to lose a pound and adhere to it. So if you were looking out for how many calories to lose a pound. Here go all your answers.