How can I lose my body fat in a week?

Neha

1 month ago

How can I lose my body fat in a week?

Food Physical activity

Happy Tummy Expert

1 month ago

Dear Neha, Thank you for the question

Minimal amount of body fat is necessary for normal physiological functions that manages body temperature, creates energy to perform all the physical activities, and protects the organs of human body. Storage body fat consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue. Total body fat in human body is the sum of essential fat and storage fat.

The optimal total Body fat percentage varies with age and gender however the healthy/ Optimal range of body fat for women is 21-33%.

A sustainable and healthy weight loss regimen, should target on overall weight loss and fat reduction. Weight loss requires a holistic approach that involves lifestyle modification which includes Dietary modification, Physical activity and stress management. With any weight loss plan changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.

An ideal weight loss meal plan should include calorie deficit diet with appropriate exercise regime followed under professional guidance.

However here are few objectives to be considered when planning to start with a weight loss program.

Count Your Daily Calories

It is recommended to consume 500kcal less than your average, daily, current dietary intake of calories to target on 2-3kg weight loss per month (ideally 0.5kg per week).
This target is a healthy& sustainable way of reducing and then maintaining the weight loss.
The first step hence is “counting your daily calorie intakes”. Counting your daily calorie intake is proven to be effective when on a weight loss diet. You can use applications/apps freely available, that will help you count your calories to keep a track on your daily calorie intake and physical activity levels.
These apps will also help you to track your hydration & sleep patterns which also impact your weight.
Ideal body weight for an individual can be calculated using the Broca Index (BI) which is: Ideal Standard Weight (kg) = Ht (cm) – 100
WHO has given different BMI (Body mass index) classifications to categorise adults into different weight categories. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height. It can be considered as a 2nd level indicator of overall health.

It can be calculated using a simple formula of BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

Following is the WHO BMI Classification for Asians

18.5 to 23 - Normal

Less than 18.5 - Underweight

23 to 27.5 – Overweight

Above 27.5 - Obese

General Dietary Guidelines for weight loss that can be considered:

Eat a well-balanced diet that includes all the 5 food groups (cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk & milk products).
Do not skip your meals. Have small quantity of meals at regular intervals.
Choose healthy snacking options in between your meals.
Monitor your portion size.
Fiber in your meals can potentiate the satiating property, suppress excess hunger and control food intake. All fruits and vegetables, whole grains, multigrain, millets, nuts & seeds etc., are a good source of fiber.
Try switching from saturated fats and trans fats to MUFA (mono-unsaturated fatty acids) & PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) as they are essential fatty acids and are good for your health.
Include protein in your diet. Some of the sources include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds, etc.
Consume fresh, seasonal fruits as they contain many essential nutrients and are good sources of fiber.
Carbonated and alcoholic beverages to be limited or preferably avoided.
Deep Fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
Minimum of 8 glasses of water should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated.
Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before Bed time.
Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.