How fast can I lose 50 pounds?
7 months is what I’d put aside for this goal.
That isn’t a very long time to commit to a worthwhile goal. And done correctly you’ll only need to lose fat once.
As we get older its very common to gain weight slowly, one year it’s a few pounds and the next year it’s a few pounds more, then one day you wake up and realise you’re 50 pounds or more over weight.
This is a gradual process, it never happens overnight, and it’s caused by eating MORE calories than what your body burns per day over a long period of time.
And the number one reason that a lot of men over 40 fail to lose that weight is because they’re looking for a “quick fix” and quick fixes always fail.
The fact is, it took you time to gain that 50 pounds and it’s going to take you time to lose it.
Here’s the steps you need to take to lose that 50 pounds of fat:
Step #1 – Avoid fads and fallacies
Falling into “weight loss traps” is the fastest road to failure. Marketing is everywhere, and people want to hear they can lose 50 pounds in a month or even a few weeks, but the reality is it’s not going to happen.
The first step is to avoid anyone that tries to offer you a quick fix to fat loss, the latest low carb diet or fat burning supplement!
Here at Lean Over 40 For Men I make a point of cutting through all the nonsense very quickly and get you burning fat as fast as possible without any of the nonsense.
Step #2 – Accept a gradual fat loss
At best you’ll lose 2 lbs of fat per week to begin with and then more like 1-1 ½ lbs per week after that.
Based on that progress, you’re looking at 7-8 months to reach your goal, providing you’re consistent with your training and nutrition which leads me onto the next point…
Step #3 – Strength Train
Lifting weights to lose fat becomes even more important especially as we get older, I can’t stress the importance of this point enough!
Men over 40 need to lift weights to lose fat! Here’s just a few of the reasons:
a. As we get older we naturally start to lose muscle and when we lose muscle it inevitably gets replaced by FAT.
Have you ever noticed how you can stay the same weight on the scale, yet look fatter?
That’s because you’re going through a body composition change i.e. losing muscle and gaining fat. Though your weight is staying the same, you’re losing muscle and getting a belly in the process!
Take charge of your body and start pronto lifting weights.
b. Lifting weight boosts testosterone levels. Those declining testosterone levels that help you lose FAT can be ramped up by lifting weights, specifically compound movements.
c. Helps prevent injury
Lifting weights correctly strengthens tendons and ligaments making getting injured harder as you get older.
All those nagging joint pains that your peers are going through will be greatly reduced for you because a lot of those are caused through inactivity.
d. Makes you look awesome
What’s the point in lifting weights if it doesn’t make you look awesome? The great news is lifting weights gives you broad shoulders, defined chest, tight waist and athletic legs.
Done correctly you can add just the right amount of muscle without the bulk making you look awesome.
I’m not talking about big, bulky bodybuilders here, I’m talking about a lean, athletic looking body with a natural amount of muscle.
Step #4 – Calorie deficit
To lose fat you need to eat LESS calories than what your body burns per day, however this is where a lot of men over 40 screw up…
They think eating less calories means severe calorie restriction, or worse still cutting out fats and carbs.
Eating less calories than what your body burns per day is important, but it needs to be slightly less calories than what your body burns per day AND you should never feel neglected and starved when losing fat.
Fat loss is about eating in an enjoyable and sustainable way that keeps you feeling full over the long term.
This is done by eating enough calories to keep you feeling full and a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats.
Bottom line – severe restrictions don’t work.
Step #5 – Moderate cardio
A lot of men over 40 make the mistake of putting cardio before weight training but as mentioned it needs to be the other way around!
If you get your nutrition and strength training in place you WILL lose fat and start to look awesome without any cardio.
Excessive cardio will reduce testosterone, strip away lean muscle and delay fat burning. Properly done cardio i.e. two steady state sessions per week, going out for a walk or better still circuit style cardio performed with a barbell will help to burn extra calories.
Think of cardio as complimenting your weight training and helping you burn fat at a faster rate.
Cardio by itself is never the key to getting a lean body.
Step #6 – Consistency
What would happen if you started to implement my advice as from today?
7 months down the line you’d be 50 pounds lighter, have more lean muscle, better strength and look awesome.
7 months from now you’d be A LOT happier and would have to go out and buy new clothes!
This stuff works, put in the work, bite off that small gradual fat loss each week and long-term success almost takes care of itself.
Start your own transformation journey with me
If you’d like to lose that 50 pounds the no nonsense way I have a course Abs Over 40 that will lay everything from training to nutrition out for you.
Abs Over 40 is the definitive guide to losing belly fat for men over 40, you’ll only be lifting weights 3 times per week and I’ll teach you all about fat loss nutrition that will help you lean down FAST!