Is it safe to lose 40 lbs in 2 months?

AuroraFroes

AnnPT77

Perhaps, but only if very severely obese, like around 500lb+, and under close medical supervision for deficiencies or complications.

For someone in less extreme circumstances, 0.5%-1% of current weight per week is a reasonable plan, with a bias toward the 0.5% if not under medical supervision.

For many people, 40 pounds in two months would be literally impossible.

To lose 5 pounds a week, a person would need to eat on average 2500 fewer calories than they burn per day. Many people don't burn that many calories: To lose that fast, they'd have to eat zero for 2 months, while carrying out their normal life. They could burn more via exercise, but exercise doesn't burn as many calories as many people think.

Even most who who burn over 2500 calories daily don't burn hugely more than 2500. They'd have to eat tiny amounts to lose that fast - unrealistic for most to stick with for 2 full months.

You don't give us enough info about you to give opinions whether it could be safe for YOU. Odds are against it being safe, based on what I wrote above.

ninerbuff

No

As Ann said, you'd have to be severely obese to be SAFE about it. Anyone that uptakes that isn't obese will severely have malnutrion issues (if you don't eat you don't supply the macro/micro nutrients to sustain a healthy body) and things happen like hair falling out, women losing periods, loss of muscle mass, etc.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 40 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

kellielouis

It’s possible when I juice (7lbs in 7 days program) I lose 2lbs a day working out 30 minutes a day. A lot of people freak out but if you are following a nutrition plan that’s been tried and tested like the one I did you can do it safely. Some people do it for 28 days so I’m guessing the lose more than 40lbs in that time. There’s such mixed messages around it I find it all very interesting. The diet industry say it’s not safe to lose more than 2lbs a week. But if you have bariatric surgery they lose way more than that and no one is screaming it’s not safe. So I honestly feel they hoodwink us and keep us in the diet trap.

All I’d say don’t do anything too drastic. Listen to your body and if you feel ill stop and get support.

Corina1143

More info needed. Probably no. What's your definition of "safe"? Will you die? Probably no.

Londablank

I honestly could not answer this question. I am not a medical doctor. I was over 300 pounds. I was almost 360 pounds in 2001 when I was in my coma. I was told this when I woke up.

I have been in very poor health since 2020 when I had two strokes I am only 45 now. I see a doctor on a regular basis. I am checked every three months and have read regular blood draws and urine analysis. My weight started coming off in May 2022. I now weigh 205, So when I first started losing weight, it was coming off about 20 pounds or so a month.

Like I said, my doctor was monitoring everything. When I started, I was on insulin and blood sugar pills. I was 100% insulin dependent, taking a long lasting at night. And regular insulin before every single meal. I was also on blood pressure and cholesterol medicine. The only medication I am on now our medication for my migraines (some thing I have had horribly since my strokes), bipolar medication, and one pill I have to take since I’ve had a stroke. I no longer have to take any diabetic medication since my A1c has gone from a nine to a 5.4.

I found that the weight loss came off so fast because I had been so overweight. Now that I have lost so much weight it is no longer coming off the way that it was. Again, I was being monitored by a doctor the whole time.

rileysowner

No

In general, no. With the various possible situations where it could be as mentioned by previous posters.