Setting a Realistic Weight Loss Goal
“Prior to setting goals, I would want people to understand that rapid weight loss often doesn’t lead to sustained weight loss,” says Rekha Kumar, MD, an endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. “If you rapidly lose weight, you tend to lose muscle mass and that drops metabolism and predisposes you for weight regain.” . . . Most successful weight losses start between 12 to 16 weeks. Start by aiming to lose about 5 percent of your body weight within that 12- to 16-week time period. This modest weight loss goal can improve your health by leaps and bounds. That small weight loss can also help you gain confidence in your ability to make positive change. “Once you’ve lost the first 5 percent, focus on what has been working to amplify efforts, then work up from there.”