Healthy and permanent weight loss is a gradual and unpredictable process, so it’s impossible to say how much weight a person will lose or how quickly he or she will lose it. The bottom line is that we're all different and we all lose weight at different speeds based on:
- age
- gender
- weight
- genes
- diet
- level of activity
- lifestyle
And remember, if you start exercising and eating right, the scale won't always reflect the changes your body is making. It's possible to gain muscle and lose fat, which won't show on the scale even if it shows in how your clothes fit. Learn more: How to Lose Weight
How do I gain weight or muscle?
While a lot of people want to lose weight, some teens feel they're too skinny and want to gain weight or muscle. First, everyone develops differently and many teens find that, over time, they start to fill out and gain more weight naturally. In fact, many experts don't recommend that teens try gaining weight by eating tons of calories--that could lead to gaining more body fat, which isn't healthy. Learn more: Healthy Weight Gain for Teens
Some teens wonder how to bulk up, which is another goal that's even tough for adults to reach. Most studies have shown that children who do resistance training may gain strength, but not muscle bulk, according to the ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. In other words, many kids and teens will find it tough to gain lots of muscle mass. That doesn't mean strength training is a bad idea--under supervised conditions (with a coach or expert), kids can get strong and fit with the right kind of routine. But making drastic changes in muscle mass at that age (or any age) is something most won't achieve. Learn more: Should I Gain Weight?
How can I get six-pack abs?
Unfortunately, getting flat abs is something not everyone can achieve. Getting flat or washboard abs comes from being lean and having genes that work in your favor by keeping fat from being stored around the belly. Many of us store excess fat around the abs, and it's possible to lose some of it with a healthy diet and exercise. But, even with that, many of us would have to drop our body fat to unhealthy levels to get six-pack abs. Learn more: How do I get six-pack or washboard abs?.
Whatever your goal is, it's important to be realistic about the changes you can make to your body. We're all products of our genes and our lifestyles. We can change how we live, but we can't change the basic makeup of our bodies. By focusing on changing what you can and allowing your body to respond to that, you can create healthy habits that will move with you into the future.
More Exercise and Weight Loss FAQs
Sources:
American College of Sports Medicine. (2006). ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
