How to Lose 12 Pounds in 12 Weeks

Co-authored by Marilin Karst

Last Updated: April 18, 2024 Approved

While losing twelve pounds in twelve weeks may feel like a hefty goal, it is absolutely possible. With appropriate tapering down of calorie intake and the addition of some gentle movement, the shift does not have to feel abrupt. And, with appropriate lifestyle adjustments, it is even possible to keep the weight off permanently!

1

Taper down your calorie intake.

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Your end goal should be about 500 calories less than you'd normally eat. It's best to work your way down to the new amount to give your body time to adjust.
- If you eat a ton of junk food and/or fried food, then just gradually cut that out.

2

Drink water.

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To find the appropriate amount of water to drink, take your weight and divide it by 2, which will equal the number of ounces in water you should drink a day. You may want to divide that result by eight (eight fluid ounces in a cup) to tell you how many cups of water to drink daily.
- If you feel you are not drinking enough water, you should try to look at you urine when you use the restroom. If your urine is a pale yellow, or better yet, colorless, then you are consuming a sufficient amount water each day. If it is dark yellow or brown, you either need more water, have a serious liver disease, or hepatitis. According to a website addressing such issues^{[1]
  X
  Research source}, "Brown urine can an indication of a serious condition. It could be caused by liver disease, hepatitis, melanoma cancer, or copper poisoning. Other symptoms from those ailments should also be considered as indicators. But note that if you had recently eaten fava beans or taken a laxative, your urine also could turn brown."

3

Eat a balanced diet.

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Eat as many fruit and veggies as you like. However, try to eat them on an empty stomach (aids in digestion). Choose fat free dairy products, and try not to have more than 3 ounces of meat a day. Also, the lighter the color of meat, the healthier it is. An important note, cut high fat food from your diet, make sure it's 30% or less calories from fat.

4

Exercise.

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It doesn't have to be boring and hard. It's as easy as taking a 10 minute walk after each meal, or riding your bike, or even playing tag. The important thing is to get out there, even if it's only a 25 minute walk. The more you do, the better you will feel. Remember, the exercise time must be at least 30 minutes [of increased heart rate], because that can burn the fat.
- An easy way to get motivated to exercise is to sign up at your local recreational center for some sports, such as swimming, walking, or basketball.
- Another great option is strength training! If you have muscle tone, you will naturally burn fat around the clock.
- It's super easy to keep track of how many calories you burn for a given activity, and this will help you stay in a calorie deficit to lose weight.

5

Maintain your weight.

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When you have reached a point where you eat a certain amount of calories and your weight hasn't fluctuated more than 3 pounds you are done.

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Tips

When you've lost your weight, celebrate! Buy yourself that outfit you've really wanted, go to a spa...treat yourself! ...but not with food.

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Since you are eating healthy every day, it's okay to indulge occasionally, but remember, in moderation.

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If you find that you are tired during the afternoon, or you need more energy, try going for 5 small meals a day rather than 3 big ones.

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Warnings

Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume several gallons over the course of just a few minutes, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which time electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet massive amounts of fluid are still consumed. Your chances of water poisoning are slim!

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Too much water can cause water poisoning^{[2]
X
Research source}, causing body cells to swell from the massive intake of water, this can cause the brain cells to swell and can cause death.

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