How To Lose 10 Pounds In A Month – 17 Best Tips To Follow

So, you have an upcoming event in 30 days, and you want to shed 10 pounds. Good for you – for we have a diet plan to lose weight in 30 days! To lose a pound of fat a week, you must burn 3500 calories in 7 days (1).

While you may go on a low-calorie diet, it may not always be possible to create a deficit of 3500 calories (2), (3). Also, going on a very low-calorie diet can slow down your metabolism (4). So, what’s the best way to lose 10 pounds in 30 days? Read on to get the answer.

1. Count Calories

Weight loss has a simple equation. More calories out and fewer calories in (5). Counting calories will give you a fair idea of how many calories you are consuming and expending. It will help you better track your weight loss progress.

Ideally, you must reduce 500 calories from your total calorie intake in the first week to kick-start your weight loss. You can further reduce 500 calories in the next week.

But if if you workout, a very-low calorie diet is not ideal. Depending on your daily caloric expenditure, consume 1200-1500 calories per day. Increase or decrease calorie intake according to when you workout.

2. Cut Down On Refined Carbs

Refined carbs have zero nutritional value. They get easily digested, cause blood sugar spikes, and result in low-grade inflammation and obesity (6), (7). Scientists have found that a diet high in refined carbs leads to belly fat or abdominal obesity (8).

Toss out all the refined carbs from your pantry. These may include refined flour, white rice, bread, pasta, rice flour, breakfast cereals, pizza dough, and sugar.

3. Say No To Sugar

Refined sugar and foods containing added sugar pose a serious risk to health. Refined sugar can lead to obesity, insulin resistance, increased hunger, diabetes, and heart disease in the long run (9).

Keep off from refined sugar, sweets, candies, pastries, cakes, chewing gums, pancakes, sweetened beverages, and doughnuts. Cutting down on sugar can lead to reduced calorie intake. This decreases the risk of metabolic diseases (10).

You may consume a maximum of 25 g sugar per day, as per WHO guidelines (11). Check nutritional labels for fructose, high fructose corn syrup, added sugar, etc.

4. Add More Fiber

Consuming more dietary fiber is great for weight loss. Dietary fiber is a good carb that humans cannot digest and absorb (12). It adds bulk to the stool, helps breakdown fat to short-chain fatty acids, and increases the number and variety of good gut bacteria. The fiber also forms a gel-like layer and increases satiety (13), (14), (15), (16).

Consume veggies, fruits, and whole grains to get more dietary fiber. These will keep your hunger in check and help reduce your calorie intake. You can consume these dietary fiber-rich foods.

5. Have Protein In Every Meal

A high-protein and low-carb diet works wonders for weight loss. It reduces energy intake, maintains muscle mass, and prevents weight regain (17), (18), (19), (20).

Here’s what you can consider as good sources of protein: skinless chicken breast, mackerel, salmon, rohu, pomfret, basa, murrel, haddock, sardine, ground turkey, mushroom, tofu, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, casein water, lentils, kidney beans, soybeans, garbanzo beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, peas, soybean milk, egg whites, almonds, pistachios, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds.

6. Consume Healthy Fats

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish oil, fatty fish, monounsaturated fatty acids (olive oil), and medium-chain saturated fats (coconut oil) are the healthy fats that you may include in your diet (21).
Healthy fats help reduce inflammation and the associated weight gain (22).

Sources Of Healthy Fats –Sardine, mackerel, hilsa, salmon, tuna, olive oil, rice bran oil, peanut butter, sunflower butter, pepita, melon seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios.

7. Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods like sausage, salami, ready-to-eat foods, canned fruits or veggies, packaged foods and beverages, and frozen foods are loaded with added sugar and sodium. They also contain preservatives, artificial colors, and flavoring agents. These foods have reduced nutritional value and are high in calories and trans fats.

If you want to lose 10 pounds in a month, you must avoid consuming processed foods. Consume fresh veggies, fruits, protein sources, healthy fats, whole grains, and stay hydrated to lose weight.

8. Avoid Dressings And Sauces

Salad dressings and sauces are loaded with flour, sugar, and salt. Avoid all bottled condiments. Instead, stick to hummus, olive oil dressing, orange juice dressing, and yogurt dressing.

9. Portion Your Meals

Even healthy foods can make you gain weight if you do not practice portion control. Eat in a small plate. Half of your plate should contain veggies, while protein should occupy one fourth, and the other one fourth must contain whole grains.

Also, pay attention to the food when you eat. This will give your brain a cue about the amount of food you have consumed, thereby preventing overeating.

10. Snack Healthy

Unhealthy snacking alone can lead to a lot of weight gain (23). Instead, consuming whole foods loaded with protein and fiber has shown to promote satiety and weight loss (24). Here’s a list of healthy snacks:

Healthy Snacks To Consume

Watermelon, coconut water, melon, apple, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate, guava, orange, pear, grapefruit, plain yogurt, ricotta cheese, baby carrot and hummus, baked vegetable chips, 5-10 in-shell pistachios, 4 soaked almonds, 2 dates, 1 banana, a handful of soaked Bengal gram, ½ cup whole moong bean with tomato and cucumber, black coffee, green tea, matcha green tea, and fruit juices and smoothies.

11. Be Careful With The Beverages

If you are aiming to lose 10 pounds in 30 days, you must avoid consuming soda, diet soda, packaged fruit and vegetable juices, alcohol, and coffee or tea with creme and sugar. These contain a high amount of sugar and are high in calories. They also contain added flavors, preservatives, carbonated water, and artificial sweeteners.

You can instead go for plain water, detox water, coconut water, freshly pressed fruit juice, or a glass of red wine.

12. Fast Intermittently

Intermittent fasting has been scientifically proven to create a caloric deficit and aid weight loss (25). The 16/8 intermittent fasting is one popular method. You fast for 16 hours and feast for 8 hours.

This method of eating also has many health benefits apart from weight loss. Start by fasting once a week and gradually make it a routine gradually.

13. Eat Slow

Eating slow helps reduce hunger and calorie consumption (26). Scientists have also found that chewing food well helps manage weight (27).

Slow eating has been proven to be a dietary strategy for people with obesity and diabetes (28). Hence, chew slowly and pay attention to your food when you eat.

14. Do More Cardio

Cardio is great for weight loss. A study found that high intensity cardio results in lower body fat and waist circumference (29).

For the first two weeks, concentrate on burning calories by doing aerobics, running, jumping rope, Zumba, swimming, or playing a sport.

15. Do Strength Training

Strength training helps prevent muscle loss. Cardio causes both fat and muscle loss. After the second week, when you have lost a considerable amount of water weight and fat, start strength training twice a week.

Do resistance band training, bodyweight exercises, weight lifting, and TRX training.

16. Sleep And Rest

Sleep and rest are as important as working out 5 hours a week. When you work out, your muscles undergo wear and tear. It is when you sleep and rest the muscle fibers rebuild themselves and recover. Moreover, sleep deprivation causes weight gain.

Get 7-8 hours of sleep (30). Take at least 30 minutes off every day to unwind. Read a book, create a skincare regimen, get a foot spa or a body massage, or meditate.

17. Feel Beautiful

It all boils down to how you feel inside. Yes, you must lose the excess weight and strive for better health. But don’t blindly follow a trend or a celeb. Also, not stressing about weight can help you lose weight faster. If you are stressed out about anything, talk to a licensed psychiatrist or a confidant.

These are the 17 ways you can lose 10 pounds in a month. Here is a sample diet plan you may follow:

1-Week Diet Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rice good for weight loss?

Rice may not be a better choice for weight loss if taken in excess. However, one can consume rice in moderation – while this may not have any detrimental effect, it may not contribute to weight loss either.

How can I reduce my stomach fat?

Consuming high fiber foods, adequate hydration, regular exercise, and reducing processed foods help reduce overall body fat.

Is boiled egg good for weight loss?

Yes, a hard-boiled egg is good for weight loss. It is rich in lean protein and is filling too. It can significantly reduce hunger pangs and helps reduce weight gain.

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Charushila BiswasHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. She strives to inform, educate, and motivate her readers via authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information. After completing her master's in biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology,...more