This eating plan is considered a fad diet. Fad diets often promote quick weight loss that is unsustainable and may severely restrict what you eat. They may be harmful and generally do not have long-lasting health benefits. Talk to your healthcare provider before making any major changes to how you eat.
A diet to lose 15 pounds in two months aims to help you lose weight quickly by restricting your calorie intake combined with exercise. It involves focusing on nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods.
Although losing 15 pounds in two months may be less drastic than some shorter diets, it is still considered rapid weight loss.
How Does the 15 Pounds in 2 Months Diet Claim to Work?
Diets aimed at helping you lose 15 pounds in two months work by creating a calorie deficit. This means taking in fewer calories than you burn. You may need to make changes to the kinds of foods you eat in addition to increasing your daily exercise to support gradual weight loss.
In general, if you consume 500 fewer calories per day, you can expect to lose about 0.5 to 1 pound per week. However, this can vary depending on factors like your age, sex, weight, and activity level.
To lose 15 pounds in two months, you would need to lose about 2 pounds per week. This means creating a calorie deficit of about 1,000 calories per day through diet and exercise.
You can estimate your current daily calorie requirements using a calorie calculator.
What Can You Eat on the 15 Pounds in 2 Months Diet?
In addition to increasing your physical activity level, you can reach your target calorie deficit by:
Avoiding foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value
Replacing high-calorie foods with lower-calorie options
Reducing portion sizes
When reducing calories, it’s important to make sure you’re not removing nutrients from your diet. Focusing on nutrient-dense foods helps you avoid deficiencies and leaves you feeling more satisfied, making it easier to stick to the plan.
Foods to Avoid
Creating a calorie deficit can be as simple as replacing foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients with more nutrient-dense options.
This means limiting or avoiding:
Added fats and sugars
Commercially processed foods
Refined grains
Alcoholic beverages are also high in calories and low in nutrients.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides a calculator for estimating calories from alcohol intake.
Foods to Include
Eating a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and a variety of low-fat protein sources can help you reach your weight goals.
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are good sources of dietary fiber. Fiber slows digestion, improves blood sugar control, and helps you feel full for longer.
The American Heart Association recommends the following eating habits to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight:
Increase your fruit and vegetable intake
Aim for whole-grain foods that are low in saturated fat and high in fiber
Replace saturated fats with healthier oils and sprays when cooking
Replace red meats with proteins low in saturated fat, like chicken, fish, and beans
Read food labels to help you choose items that are lower in calories, sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat
You can also use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate tool to help you create a dietary program tailored to your individual needs.
Potential Benefits of the 15 Pounds in 2 Months Diet (and Why They May Not Last)
For certain people, a healthcare provider may recommend losing 15 pounds in two months for health problems due to obesity, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
However, rapid weight loss may not be right for everyone and can be difficult to maintain. Always talk to your healthcare provider before changing your diet, especially if you have a health condition.
Potential Risks of the 15 Pounds in 2 Months Diet
Losing 15 pounds in two months may enable rapid fat loss, but it also comes with potential risks.
Dramatically restricting calories can increase your risk of deficiencies in important vitamins and minerals. This can lead to a range of health symptoms, like fatigue and higher risk of infections.
Losing weight quickly can also slow your metabolism. This can make it harder to sense when the body is full, making it easier to overeat.
Is Losing 15 Pounds in 2 Months Right for You?
Losing 15 pounds in two months is considered a rapid weight loss plan.
Your doctor may recommend a rapid weight loss plan if you experience health problems due to obesity, like diabetes or high blood pressure. However, it may not be right for everyone and carries potential health risks.
Always speak to a healthcare provider before starting a rapid weight loss diet.
The Takeaway
Losing 15 pounds in two months is considered a rapid weight loss plan. It works by creating a calorie deficit through diet and exercise, meaning you take in fewer calories than you burn.
Focusing on nutrient-dense foods is important when restricting calories to avoid nutrient deficiencies and other health issues. This means limiting foods like processed meats and refined carbohydrates and including foods like lean meats, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.
Losing 15 pounds in two months may benefit people with health conditions due to obesity. However, it carries potential risks and may not be sustainable for most people.
Always talk with your healthcare provider before starting a new diet plan.
