A few years back, a buddy of mine on the Dartmouth crew team was faced with a seemingly impossible challenge: he needed to lose 25 pounds in a month.
Although he was strong as an ox, after a few months of eating indiscriminately during the off-season, his weight had slowly crept up.
But now it came down to this: “lose 25 pounds in less than 30 days or you are off the team.”
Crap.
Now, it should be said that many bodybuilders, wrestlers, and even fitness models can drop an insane amount of weight by using performance enhancing drugs, diuretics, or severe water restriction. It “works,” but it’s not particularly good for you, fair, or sustainable.
Sure, the weight would come off, but his soul, good conscience, and morals would be in jeopardy. He wasn’t interested in that.
An extreme starvation diet could potentially help his weight come down, but he would risk strength loss as his body catabolized his hard-earned muscle to keep his organs humming. All of these options were unacceptable.
So my friend dug deep into old wives’ tales and ghost stories of the crew team and beyond to find a simple fix. After all, rowers had faced the same problem for decades.
He finally happened upon a long-retired crew coach who claimed to have the answer to his prayers.
The coach said that this trick:
- Does not involve any drugs/herbs/or magic potions
- Requires absolutely no special foods
- Is mind-numbingly simple
- Requires little deprivation but considerable self-control
So how do you shave off 25 pounds in a month in a way that’s fair, healthy, and legal?
Drink water. Only water.
No fruit juice, soda, diet soda, coffee, beer, sports drinks, energy drinks or any other liquid calories. Drink nothing but pure water for a month. Can he lose 25 pounds in a month?
My friend was dubious, but he decided to grit his teeth and give it a shot.
He started drinking a glass of cool, fresh water every morning and continued to drink plenty throughout the day.
He still made appearances at parties and get-togethers, where he politely and confidently sipped his water bottle, staying delightfully clear-headed while others drooled all over themselves in a drunken stupor.
So did it work?
Incredibly, my friend lost 25 pounds in a month. And he went from pudgy to ripped.
He ate exactly the same foods, drank more water, and ignored all of the mysterious-colored liquids on the convenience-store shelves and stopped doing kegstands.
He also noticed that he wasn’t any hungrier, since liquid calories are rarely satisfying or filling.
Why did he lose 25 pounds in 30 days?
My friend estimated that he previously was unwittingly consuming about 800-1000 liquid calories/day. That’s the equivalent of quite a few 100-calorie packs to suddenly not be eating.
Anyone cutting that amount of calories (while maintaining strength, training and eating plenty of protein to avoid losing muscle) would see significant short-term fat loss.
I’m sure his training program also accelerated his results, but he was adamant about the fact that without eliminating liquid calories he never would have been able to make weight.
Here is what I love about this trick.
It’s so simple that it’s almost absurd. But it is one that absolutely ANYONE can do and it only requires one ingredient (water) and a hint of self-control.
In the days before ab belts, fat blasting pills, stomach stapling, and magic potions, there was a leaning toward achieving seemingly impossible goals with confident and well-polished willpower and little else.
We could all do with a bit more of that.
Too many people these days are looking for a silver bullet in all of the wrong places. How many people want to lose 25 pounds in a month? Could drinking only water work?
Sure, it would certainly help. It’s so simple it’s stupid. But how many people actually do it? Would you?
So many people spend unconscionable amounts of money and time scouring the earth for a pill that will allow them to keep eating terrible food, ignore physical activity, make no lifestyle changes, all while torching fat off of their bodies.
And you know what? It doesn’t exist, and I hope it never does.
The fact that a magical fat-burning pill doesn’t exist is a blessing in disguise: if it existed (and actually worked), then many people would resign themselves to lives of expensive over-medication. And they would never learn anything except to open their wallets, and that they required a pill to be lean and “happy.”
Want to Burn Fat? Drink More Water.
It’s incredible how easy it is to take in hundreds of extra, unneeded, empty, and unfulfilling calories in the many drinks you consume over the course of the day.
So many people monitor food labels like hawks, but completely ignore any liquid calories they consume (which are often considerable).
Our ancestors had nearly no other options but drinking water. There were no Slurpees, caramel macchiatos, or double-chocolate stouts. In a sense, we are built to drink nothing but water.
Now I’m not advocating that you need to stop drinking anything but water (but you could certainly try if you want an exercise in self-control and some serious, quick results).
Liquids calories are not filling, are devoid of fiber, and usually, lack natural nutrients (with the exception of my much-loved green smoothie).
Here are the worst offenders that you should cut out first:
- Milkshakes
- Sugary alcoholic drinks (e.g., margaritas, rum and coke, etc.)
- Fruit juice (even 100% juice)
- Meal-replacement drinks
- Soda
- Energy Drinks
- Beer
- Diet soda (studies have shown that diet soda is even more fattening than regular soda)
- Flavored Milk
- Sugary drive-thru drinks (the famed caramel cappuccino)
- Sugar in coffee or tea
- Powdered drink mixes
- Sports drinks
When you want to spice up your water, throw in some citrus or mint. You can also drink as much tea or coffee as you’d like.
Want a party in your mouth? Add some cinnamon, nutmeg, herbs and such.
Red wine from time to time also seems to have little effect on weight gain, and in fact, has antioxidants and reservatrol that have been shown to improve health and assist weight loss.
So cheers. Drink up, my friends.
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Have you tried cutting out all liquid calories? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Why cut out coffee or tea, plain, or with a bit of milk (say, 2 teaspoons)?
Hi Stu, that’s a good point – my friend didn’t need to cut out black coffee or tea and neither does anyone else. Adding a bit of milk or cream to one cup would be fine, but it adds up quickly if someone is drinking more than a few a day. Thanks for visiting!
I’m curious on how you feel about decaffeinated coffee? Good or bad?
Always go organic, fair trade. Usually caf is better than decaf, but if it’s organic decaf and you enjoy it then go for it!
Hi Abel i had a quick question so can i drink just black coffee??
Hi Abel my name is Chelby and i’m 5’11 220lbs I’m trying to lose weight immediately but I’m not sure if this diet is only drinking water or do you eat as well for this month long diet technique?
Hi Chelby, you eat with this as well. Basically, this post is about cutting out all the excess liquid calories we get from juice, milk, beer, wine, soda, sports drinks, and other empty calories. But eating is important for sure, so I don’t want you to get the wrong idea! Just stick to real food, avoid sugar, and you’ll make progress!
Hello, can i add few slices lemon to my water?
sure!
Sure this I will give a try thank you. Have a good season of training. I been doing cardio everyday for months and lost some weight and can see my abs.
Please do!
Hi I just want to get something clear here, is it only water you drink and not consume any food at all? If so, would one feel faint, weak and dizzy? and if I wanted to start this, would it be okay to take vitamin pills? I would love to lose weight quick.
Thanks
No no, eat food, too!
I would love to lose weight as well but I am in a bind with helping out others. Is there anything I can do with no Cost. Sorry money is short with a 17yr old a 18yr.old a 20 yr old and helping its crazy around my house
Are you serious…… ?! did you read the article?!
My uncle lost 40 pounds but I’m not so sure it was all that healthy. He had nothing but water and three table spoons of honey every day for a month. I mean if you want you can do that but I don’t recommend it. If you want to lose weight you need to work off more calories than you take in.
Hi my names Brandon and I need to lose 160 pounds by September does this work.
Getting rid of junk liquid calories certainly helps! You got this Brandon! 🙂
Don’t forget to tell Brandon, and everyone else that you need to MOVE too! Just stopping the intake of liquid calories alone is NOT going to allow this kind of weight loss with out the movement. If you are a sedentary person then start by cutting your liquid calories and taking walks. build up the amount of time you are walking and increase your water intake. The more you walk the stronger you will become and if you eat real, not processed foods and stay away from sugar, the weight will come off!
Yes it works, I have lost 55 pounds in 4 months drinking only water or unsweetened tea. But I also cut out all junk food and anything fried. Reducing calorie intake is the best way to lose weight.
Can i drink coffee toothpaste too?
What’s your take on preworkout drink
Well that’s must be the exception because I drink a ton of water each day and nothing else. And I’m still fat! Lol
I know. Right? I already don’t drink anything but water but looking for rapid weight loss. This article obviously does not address nutrition and calories. Besides, I’ve learned, as a woman, to mostly disregard a man’s weight loss success since it comes easier for men anyway.
On to the next article.
Because coffee and tea do not speed up the metabolism like water does, its not so much about the sugar and calories, alot of it is, but it is simply because water speeds up the metabolism and burns off the calories that you eat. My biggest advice to loose weight lightning fast is to exercise daily (cardio and weight lifting) and drink at least 1 gallon of water a day. Get an empty milk jug, wash it out, and fill it up with cold, pure water and carry it around with you every day. When you get hungry or thirsty drink some water it will quench your thirst and fill your stomach. Eat 5-6 meals a day, you dont have to be on a “diet” but dont go to McDonalds or anything like that. Pack a sandwich or a bowl of soup, hell go get a sub or if you want to loose ALOT of weight eat a salad with some low calorie dressing. Eat as much as you can for breakfast. I would recommend a big bowl of oatmeal with your favorite fruit and a tall glass of water. The more you eat for breakfast the less hungry you will be through out the day. Be fit and be healthy 🙂
Thanks for the input Thomas. It is definitely important to remember to carry water around throughout the day! – Emily, FBM Team Coach
I am professional fitness trainer, with 40 years experience. Black coffee can absolutely increase metabolism! Water has to be ice cold to speed up your metabolism. With all due respect, you were off a bit on these.
Because it has sugar in it but if you don’t put sugar in it no sugar in it its probably okay
What kinds of foods did your Friend Eat during that month to help him lose that much weight???
Abel, love the site. Found it from Jimmy’s link of blogs this weekend. Love this post, I have become a water addict over the last year, I carry a half gallon jug and try to drink close to 2 a day (1 gallon). Adding you to my RSS and look forward to reading more soon!
Howdy Dean, thanks for the kind words and for stopping by! I was glad to see Jimmy’s link myself. Water is totally underrated. I’ll give your site a visit – digging the name.
Hi Abel, I’m a 5ft4” teenager. I used to weigh 75kg, then with healthy eating weighed 73kg. I put in more effort and I’m 68kg, presently. I’m still overweight and need to lose more weight, want to get down to 62kg. Please, give me tips on how to lose 8kg fast. Thank u.
Hi Cherish,
Thanks for visiting. Firstly, as a teenager, it’s important to not put too much emphasis on your weight and losing it extremely quickly – you’ll look and feel best when you focus on getting healthy first and then the fat will drop off almost automatically. Cleaning up your nutrition and doing some high-intensity exercise are your best options. Check out my videos and my free eCourse for tips!
I’ll piggy back on Abel’s recommendations of self-education. The best tool to lose weight is your mind. Unfortunately, you’ll have to use it to unlearn 100% of what the mainstream health authorities have told you about healthy eating. For a fun introduction to the unlearning, watch “Fathead” by Tom Naughton. You’ll laugh and learn. Then read “Why We Get Fat” by Gary Taubes. You won’t laugh, but you might get royally pissed off at the nutrition authorities. Maybe you’ll get angry enough to follow Abel’s suggestions in his e-course.
Great insight. Actually, Tom Naughton is going to be on my show next week! Timely.
This sounds great. My problem is I’ve always loved milk, but I noticed no matter how well I eat, I never lose any of the belly fat when I drink milk–even low fat milk. Yesterday I read that the sugars in the milk are quickly converted into fat.
I need to lose 20 pounds and it is a chore to lose any. I’m going to try this.
Processed milk is definitely a belly fat catalyst for many folks, so give it a shot!
“Processed milk is definitely a belly fat catalyst for many folks…”
Really? Ergh… Is that the case for all processed dairy? I can cut out or eliminate milk and cheese (and even ice cream LOL). but not my beloved yogurt (plain, unsweetened, and organic when possible).
What do you mean by processed milk? I drink one small iced latte ( 1 cup organic milk & 1 shot espresso). Thoughts?
This is exactly how I jump started my weightloss in college. I made a bet with myself one Sunday night to ditch the soda & juices, just to see if I could do it. I had to walk to classes all day long and I didn’t know what to do about diet just yet, but I still dropped 18 lbs in the first two weeks and right around 25 by the end of the month. (I was almost 300lb by the way). It just kept going down from there once I started ditching the candy & unlimited cafeteria food plus started doing bodyweight squats & pushups. REAL basic stuff… I didn’t know any better, but it worked!
18 pounds in two weeks! That’s pretty convincing stuff. The truth of the matter is that none of this needs to be complicated – as you say, cut out the crap and do some bodyweight exercises and you can change your life.
I am willing to do anything right now to loose these extra pounds I have I would really love to lose weight and be back to when I was slimmer. Right now I’m weight 220 pounds and I’m 5’11. But it’s not wealthy for my age. I’m berly 17. And my doctor told me I need to loose weight. If I try this would it help me? If I could get a reply to encourage me and motivate me would help me a lot. So please if you can reply here it would be awesome and if not email me to tapiachivas100@hotmail.com thanks
Hi Alfredo, yes – give it a shot! Forget about soda, processed milk, fruit juice, and other liquid calories and just drink water! It’ll definitely get you off on the right foot.
How about adding sugar free Crystal Light to a bottle of water?
I wouldn’t recommend it – artificial sweeteners are associated with weight gain.
Hello Abel what is the best way for a 16year old who is 5″9 and 200lb to lose about 50lb plus have a medical condition that cause her to be inactive by the way great work
-Sonika
how do you feel about protein drinks?
What if I already drink only water? What would you recommend as the next best thing? I’m not overweight but I could lose some fat. I’m 6’4″ 200 lbs. I exercise a few times a week (bike, jog, pushups, chin ups) and I try to limit bad carbs and maximize protein, good fats, and veggies. I feel good, I just want to feel better. Any quick tips?
Howdy Jonathan, thanks for stopping by. It seems like you’re definitely on the right track. Adding weight training, high intensity exercise, and/or a bit of fasting to the mix would likely accelerate your results. I outline a bit of each in a few other blog posts, in my book, and I’m working on making some tutorial videos for each of those to show folks how to get started. Make sure, also, that you’re getting plenty of quality sleep (shut the lights off or dim them after sundown).
Quick question: what about carbonated water/seltzer? No calories, just added CO2. Personally, I’m a seltzer fiend so I’d like to know what you think.
A few years ago a dropped 125lbs to go from 320 to 195 living a paleo-esque lifestyle. I maintained that for a few years when life (jobs, relationship, stress, etc) got to me and now I’m 345. At some point I abandoned my low carb principles and apparently went all out for a long period of time (I have stories upon stories of buying a cake and eating it within 10 minutes – and that’s not the worst of it!).
Frankly, I’m just getting back in the game but I’m willing to do what it takes. I’m actually following Jack Kruse’s protocol for obese people (less than 25g of carbs/day) because, having read through his stuff, I recall that was my approach when I lost my original 120lbs (in less than 1 year and largely without exercise). I guess I just needed to see it in writing as well as from someone I can relate in the sense that he also was also in my position years ago and did it. I can’t say I’ll be doing the CT stuff he does but with he, Ray Cronise, and Tim Ferriss talking about this heavily the last few years, I might just consider it (though I can’t submerge myself in the bathtub because it’s too small and I’m too fat, lol).
So I guess I’d boil it down to: 1) what is your take on seltzer; and 2) what is your take on Kruse’s approach?
Hi there, thanks for the question. Personally, I’m a huge fan of seltzer water. No calories, hydration, bubbles… it doesn’t get better than that. Drinking gallons of it a day probably isn’t advisable for various reasons, but you have my stamp of approval.
Jack’s approach – low-carb and the LeptinRx has worked for many, many folks, and clearly low-carb is an effective weight loss strategy. As far as cold thermogenesis goes, my philosophy is: try it! The worst case scenario is that you’ll shiver a bit. But take a look at his testimonials for the best case scenario – pretty amazing stuff. Give it a whirl and let me know how it goes!
You got good abbs
I hate water and hardly drink it unless its to take medicafion, but I will definitely give this a try:)
Ruby, great! Let us know how it goes.
Me too! But i know from years ago after my pregnancy thats all i drank and its an aquire taste, eventually it will become all u want, I am trying this based on that
Abel,
Thanks for reading my note. I am 37 (yes ouch) and 140 but have a small frame and need to be at 120 (pref 115)
I have been working with a trainer 2 to three times a week. For only a couple of weeks. I eat 1200cal I drink 2 liters of water a day. I do planks while watching tv, count every calorie and measure my darn fruit even! There isn’t a nutritionist available and frankly don’t have the money. Food is not my issue-I go to restaurants order salad (dressing on the side no cheese…la la la.) Okay i have a 16 mo and after he goes to bed my ONLY indulgence is dry red wine cab or Merlot. I usually add those wine calories in to my 1200. I have a wedding and a vacation with a group of family friends. WHAT is going on? Oh, also I do paleo even though I hate meat. Sigh. Any wisdom here.
I would so appreciate a shout back. Thanks ~L
Hi Laurel,
Dry red wine is a very sensible indulgence. How long have you been paleo? If you’ve been eating a clean paleo diet for an extended period of time and haven’t seen results, there is a deep bag of tricks. Have you tried fasting or lifting heavy weights? It’s also quite possible that your metabolism has slowed down from eating too little, in which case calorie and carb cycling could be beneficial. Just a few quick thoughts. 🙂
Abel,
That’s what I am doing with my trainer. Weights, core, lots and lots of really run squats. The only thing I can figure out is that my body is adjusting and went from a stupid 500 cal a day to full throttle paleo. Too much fat for me-my body needs to stay at a 25-30 grams where they suggest a lot more. I’m running out of time and need results quickly fasting I am very willing but like to here or you refer me to more if you have the time. Many thanks, Laurel
Yes, your metabolism is likely in the dumps after restricting calories so much. Don’t be afraid of fat! Your body needs calories to boost your metabolism – and make sure you’re getting plenty of protein. I just released a free intro to paleo eBook and video here: http://www.fatburningman.com/free-giveaway-introduction-to-the-paleo-diet-ebook-and-video-download-now/ and I recommend Brad Pilon’s fasting book here: http://www.fatburningman.com/brad-pilon-interview-intermittent-fasting-if-eat-stop-eat-and-how-much-protein/
Thank You!~laurel
You bet!
Hello, im a teenage girl, I run over 4 miles a day and have been eating way better then I used to, but I am not see any results. Can you please explaine why I am not see results.
Thanks!
Aly, generally, high-intensity training (sprints) is better than steady-state cardio. Combine that with real food (nothing from packages) and you’re most of the way there!
can you clarify your reply to aly(nothing from packages whats the distinction?james
Now that it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, brew some fruity/citrusy tea, chill it, and drink it cold. For example, Celestial Seasonings’ Red Zinger is excellent when chilled (I sweeten it with a stevia/xylitol blend).
Mmm, that sounds good right now. It’s 95 here in Austin.
I have 2 questions…
1) is mio okay to use as a flavor enhancement
2)what dieting plan do you recommend?
Hi Eli,
Thanks for the questions. Flavor enhancers from natural sources are fine from time to time (just double-check that the ingredients aren’t too crazy). I recommend a more flexible “paleo” template based on protein, high fat, and controlled carb from real foods.
Cheers!
Abel
Since you recommend a more flexible paleo template, what is your take on Tim Ferriss’ Slow-Carb Diet? I’ve followed it before and saw pretty good results rather quickly. I’m not sure if you share my concerns, but I’ll put mine out there to see what you think.
First of all, the issue of the once-per-week cheat day was a major problem for me. Now, maybe it’s just my problem of overeating and a little bit of neurosis, but while It’s great at first, if you’re like me, after a few weeks it became about making my cheats bigger and bigger. I’ll admit that I looked forward to it way to much, which certainly became a terrible mindset to have. And at some point, my weeks had become focused on eating crazier and crazier every Saturday (in the summer it was multiple slices of bigger-than-your-head boardwalk pizza and deep-fried everything? Check!).
Personally, I can’t do paleo for 30 days like everyone seems to recommend, frankly because it makes no sense to, say, start on a Sunday and then end on a Tuesday. Neurotic, I know, but it’s kept me from doing it for a long time. I made the change to a 4-week program, where I take a progress picture in the morning of every 28th day (a Saturday). Also, on that 28th day, I allow myself to treat myself to taboo foods. This way, I feel as though I have actually earned my day and then I simply start back up on Sunday. In the span of a year, I’ll only have 12-13 treat days a year, which really is great when you look consider that it’s less than two weeks of the entire year. Granted, Holidays might be harder, but you’ve simply got to pick and choose – which holiday is more delicious, and how much do you really want it? If one wants it badly enough, you’ll maybe take Christmas and leave New Years, or vice versa. That’s just how it works for me though. I’ve really just started this approach two months ago, but it’s been amazing so far. Sure, I’m keeping a list of stuff I’d like to eat come that day, but in reality, I’d likely be unable to go hog wild. Psychologically, it’s a great approach. Oh, and if one were to go Slow-Carb diet, I would recommend the same approach – treat yourself once every 4 weeks, especially if you’re a sugar consuming beast like I was.
Secondly, Mat Lalonde smashed Ferris on this approach because of it’s strain on the liver. While I respect Mat, I certainly find him to be a little narrow-minded regarding any alteration of a paleo approach and I’m not sure how big of an issue eating legumes is in the long run. Personally, I had no issue in my time doing it, but it was only a few months. However, Ferriss just posted on his website the success stories of many who’ve had great results of the diet, so I can’t imagine it’s really all that bad. Hell though, if it even works as a stepping stone to paleo, it’s still a stepping stone to optimal health, so I find it to be a small trade-off.
So what do you think Abel?
Tim’s “slow-carb diet” gets quite a bit of attention. I think it’s on the right track: prioritize paleo-ish food, limit Neolithic food, and macronutrient cycling. However, his book and meal plans seems to imply that he’s not at all a “foodie,” and the foods he describes don’t sound terribly exciting to me. Also, the advice to eat the same things over and over again seems like it’s not a sustainable “lifestyle” choice.
Can you lose weight following his approach? Totally. It works for a lot of the same reasons that paleo/primal does. I think he overdoes it a bit on the beans, but nobody’s perfect.
Cheating is another issue. Eating like a horse on cheat days might work for him, but I don’t recommend it for most people. Having indulgences or treats from time to time is better than eating pure crap once a week (even if it does cycle your calories).
For a restrictive weight loss diet, it’ll work for quite a few people. But so will more enjoyable (in my opinion) choices – like the ones that Robb Wolf, Mark Sisson, and I recommend. Less crap and more real food.
When you say drink water, do you mean only water? Like no food consuming what so ever? If not, what foods do you reccommend?
Hi Skylar,
Don’t forget the food! I recommend a more flexible “paleo” template based on protein, high fat, and controlled carb from real foods.
Cheers,
Abel
Abel, , I heard about the Paleo lifestyle from a co-worker. I just love the way you simplify the entire process. I am starting it today! Mike F. Hobe Sound, Florida
Hi Mike, thanks for stopping by! So glad you’re enjoying it – no need to make it complicated. Give a shout if you have any questions along the way.
Best,
Abel
I’m going to definetly give this a go! im 16 and weigh 180 i mean i play tennis and everything but just can’t seem to keep off the fat. any other tips you can give me?
Cool! Cleaning up your nutrition is really the trick. Eat real, clean foods and you’ll be floored by how awesome you look and feel. Poke around the site – tons of fun to be had. 🙂
I am going to give this a try. Found this site and this post through a random Google search. Last year (August 19th) I was 264 pounds (btw I am only 5″10) and looked like a caramel butterball. I started to exercise lightly and got down to 228 pounds (June 29th 2012). Went to visit family for a month and did not exercise and drank far too many fruit juices (probably close to 20). Stepped on the scale today and I now weigh 241 pounds :(. I’m going to drink nothing but ice cold water starting today, in addition to my cardio work (which I started back up yesterday. I will update everyone Sept 5 with my weight. I am going to do my best to drop at least 20 pounds. My goal is to be under 200 pounds before 1/1/13.
Thanks for stopping by, and congrats on shaving off the pounds! You’re smart to stay away from fruit juices – don’t believe the commercials! Keep us updated with your progress and let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Cheers,
Abel
So, if I drink nothing but water and continue to eat the way I normally do, don’t excercise… I will lose weight?
Hi Scarlett,
Cutting out caloric drinks (especially sugary ones) can certainly help you lose weight. Soda is probably the most perniciously fattening thing on earth (next to beer). Can’t go wrong with water.
I’m 16, 5″5 and weigh roughly 137lbs (well this is what I was the last time I weighed myself on July 17th) although my BMI says that I’m at a healthy weight, I don’t feel comfortable with my body.. What would you suggest I do? Here is an image, the things I want to lose fat on are my upper arms, shoulders, thighs, stomach, waist and hips… (so pretty much everything?!)
I hope to lose the weight by September 5th!
Please help thank you 🙂
Hi Scarlett, eat nothing but real foods. Lots of fresh veggies, a bit of protein, and light on the carbs (and no processed carbs). Poke around the site and listen to my podcasts – lot’s of goodies here.
Cheers!
Hi Abel, Thank you for this wonderful post. I am definitely gonna try it and ensure I post about my results after one month. However, I have a few queries. I am 5’4” 93 kg (201 pounds). The main cause of my obesity is long working hours (10-12 hrs/day) and no control over what I eat (usually the office canteen food since I stay alone and don’t get time to prepare meals myself). The cuisine is typically indian and I try to avoid the fats (more of salad, 2 portions of rotis/ chapatis (thin pieces of roasted bread with no oil) with gravy (usually chicken after minimizing the oily curry that comes with it or boiled egg curry with yolks removed and lentils). Rice and dessert is an integral part of the menu but i have been consistently avoiding it (maybe having it once a week). The curry is usually 200-250 cal/100 g and i take a bowl of it. With this I think my daily calorie intake would be around 1600 cal, 400 less from what my bmr test suggests. Still I have been unable to lose weight. I tried p90 for a month and then was continuously travelling between cities so couldnt continue. During that phase I lost around 3 kgs but gained 5 kgs after quitting on it. I am not sure what I should do given my long work hours which leave me with too less time to exercise and no results even after cutting down the calories. My breakfast is either brown bread or white oats or corn flakes. I drink tea with no sugar and 2 tea spoon milk 3-4 times a day. Is that the problem? Also, whenever I increase my water consumption, all i can notice is frequent travels to the toilet. Any suggestions would be really helpful.
Hi Paras,
Thanks for the questions. Believe it or not, I’m going to recommend that you eat more healthy fat (like grass-fed butter, extra virgin olive oil, virgin coconut oil, and fat from eggs and healthy animals), and cut the rice, bread, wheat, and other grains. Take a listen to my interview with Dr. Davis, author of Wheat Belly – we give quite a few reasons there. Enjoy and let me know how it goes!
Cheers,
Abel
Thank you for your response Abel. Day 3 on only water as liquid source. Feeling a bit exhausted though much lighter ( used to having caffeine). just a query. Can i have 2-3 cups of tea with less milk (3-4 tea spoons) and no sugar?? Or milk and caffeine are totally off the list???
Glad you’re feeling better, Paras. A bit of caffeine is fine, but I’d stay away from milk. A little can turn into a lot!
Hi Abel James, i am an 18 years young female, 5” short and 130 pounds. since i am very short i appear very stocky and chubby. my legs are very beefy aka thunder thighs! All i been doing for the past year is drink only water and eat normal foods and i have not been losing an ounce. what do you suggest besides running every single day due to a busy a life. ???? thanks for you help
Hi Moni,
Thanks for stopping by. I just wrote a post about how to exercise more effectively (think short bursts of intense effort, not long runs) here: http://www.fatburningman.com/how-to-lose-fat-by-exercising-less/.
You can also sign up for my e-mail list above and I’ll shoot you tons of tips on how to burn fat, get lean, and get happy.
Cheers,
Abel
hi I had gastric by pass 4 years ago and lost 130 lbs. but I have gained 25lbs. back and I was wondering if the crystal light that I only drink has anything to do with the weight gain. What types of food would you recommend as i don’t like meats at all, and I need to eat protein.!
Hi Betty, thanks for stopping by. Stay away from processed foods like Crystal Light and switch for something real. How about making yourself a glass of sparkling water with a fresh squeezed lemon? If you’re not a big fan of meat, go for some eggs. Animal protein is superior to plant proteins… and eggs are awesome. 🙂
Hi Abel, I am wondering are fruits good for you, like apples, grapes and ect?
Hi Sami, great question. Yes, natural (organic), fresh, and especially local fruits can be great for you. If you’re looking for fat loss, I recommend limiting fruit to 1-2 servings a day. It’s nature’s candy!
Cheers,
Abel
this is great for people who drink their calories… but you can’t claim it will help everyone lose 25lbs in 30 days. I only drink water and my coffee, which is high cal (no sugar) because I want it that way (Bulletproof coffee).
Still wonderful advice, just saying it’s not really applicable to everyone.
Hi Emma,
That’s a good point – if you already have eliminated the majority of your liquid calories, you’re already getting the benefit. Unfortunately, most folks consume an enormous amount of liquid calories. I’d rather eat bacon! 🙂
I just read this and i see SOOO many good results so im gonna try ! hope it works i need that 25 pounds gone NOW!!
Hi Brittany, awesome! Let me know how it goes or if there’s anything I can do to help you along.
What are some things I can eat
WOW… Water… who knew!
So I have been now listing to your podcasts on my trip to and from work every day for the past 2 weeks, I have almost caught up. I now eat pink salt and cook with the crockpot and loving it. I am new to the paleo diet, I started by reading the book Wheat Belly and I could not beleive the info I learned in there. I am in the Canadian Military and its hard to change your ways in this enviroment, but i have to say you have been a great help. I am down 15lbs so far in the last 3 weeks and have lots to go. This is the first time I visited your site and i am sure i am going to be a regular.
I now have to search your site for a workout routine.
Thank you very much for every pod cast, this website and all that you are doing.
Hey Travis,
Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m so glad that you’ve already experienced weight loss and you’re going to be a regular. Here’s a recent blog post I wrote about how you can exercise effectively. Check it out!
Cheers,
Abel
Hi,
I am desperate to loose weight. I tried gyms, Zumba and some shakes to loose weight. But nothing was working, so i gave up. I love eating out a lot, especially fast food almost everyday. And I cannot stay without (mostly diet)soda even for 1 day. I weigh 160lb and I want to be 120lb. I am also bit lazy because I take antidepressants and they make me lazy and gain weight. And I have two kids. I don’t have self control on outside food at all. I would like to loose 40 lbs in 5-6 months in healthy way. Please help me by giving suggestions on what can I change in my lifestyle to loose weight. I am very desperate because I get very negative comments from my husband for being fat. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Sheeza
hi abel, i am 22 years old 5’4″ and 150 lbs. I am a mother i had my son 23 months ago, and have uet to shed any pounds. now my dilema is i was very athletic in school soccer was my sport:) so i have very big muscular legs… i do not want them to get any bigger, i would like to be 120lbs again mainly for my self esteem, my other problem is i am a stay at home mom my husband is gone 14 hours a day so i do alot of diffent cooking and when i cook i fet ssssooooooooo hungry… i drink water alot but should i bump it up ? i drink maybe 3 bottles a day im usually not thirsty just hungry. my son leaves me no time to work out especially with the terrible twos getting worse. what should i do about my eating? should i only eat 3 times a day small meals? i never ate much ad a teenager sometimes everyother day. sorry for the long message just been trying to find the diet for me, for what i have is belly fat …. and i need to tone my arms…. please help abel, thank you
Hi Abel. What if youre already drinking only water and nothing else and still not loseing? I am on a high protein liquid diet as it seems this is the only alternative i have. By the way i am breastfeeding and weigh 165/68″
Hi Cressie, thanks for the comment. I would not recommend a liquid diet. I outline my nutritional approach generally in this post: http://www.fatburningman.com/what-is-the-wild-diet/. Take a gander and let me know what you think!
Hey Abel, I’m 18, 5’10” and weigh 170/175 lbs. When i was younger, up until i was around 15/16, i was really fat. Now i have some muscle and I’m looking to get lean, but i still have some fat stored mainly around my hips, lower back and legs(i think the disproportionate weight storage could be from being overweight once…or just genetic). I have a few questions… (1). I’m guessing because I’m not over weight that my results won’t be too drastic?.. Maybe around 5-10 lbs? (2). Is it still possible to do an Asprey style coffee in the morning? (3). And this surely wont affect drinking protein shakes?.. i usually use low fat milk for protein shakes, should i use water instead? Thanks Man.
Hi Robbie,
Thanks for stopping by. In response to your questions: 1) at 170, I doubt you’d have a huge amount of weight to lose (it’s a great deal easier for someone who is carrying 40 pounds of extra weight to lose 25 pounds than someone who is carrying 10). 2) You bet! Buttered coffee is awesome. 3) Although they’re fine in a pinch, I suggest that folks don’t consume protein shakes regularly. Yes, use water. Low fat milk is junk!
Let me know how it goes,
Abel
thanka im really going to try this
Awesome!
Ok My main deal is gum. I was wondering if I can still eat gum because I dont want to give it up. So if you would tell me I would like that. Thank You
A little bit of gum is fine, but most of them are filled with artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and other junk. Try to find the cleanest gum you can and don’t go nuts!
Im 17 years old and I lost about 25lbs at the beginning of the year and then put it all on again slowly as i became unmotivated 🙁 i really want to lose it again as Im starting to see cellulite even though im so young! its horrid and it gets me so down. So im going to try this 🙂 do you have any other advice? do you know why im getting cellulite at such a young age?!
Hi Dannii, glad that you’re going to try it! Cellulite often becomes a problem when your body is carrying toxins. My best advice would be to eat high quality veggies, fruits, and meats and help your body detox from processed junk. Poke around the site and listen to a few of the podcasts and see what you think!
About 2 weeks ago, I decided to cut Diet Coke from my diet completely. I did this once before and I replaced my habit with tea sweetened with artificial sweetener, and noticed no real difference. This time I decided to cut artificial sweeteners as well as sugar (as much as I could) out of my diet. I never drink juice and the only other thing I was drinking was milk, but milk has been giving me stomach aches, so all that was left was water. So for 2 weeks now all I have been drinking is water. I have made some diet changes as well, since I cut out sugar, but the thing that is amazing me right now is this: I have lost 12 lbs. In 2 weeks. I even weighed myself on someone else’s scale because I didn’t believe that could possibly be right. But it is, and I fully intend to keep up with this, and reading this article has given me motivation to keep it going!!
Hi Dori,
Congrats on your success! Artificial sweeteners are nasty business – so glad you’ve cut the junk! 12 pounds – that’s fantastic. Let me know how else I can help. Actually, if you’d like me to feature your experience in a blog post, I think my readers would love it. Shoot me a note on the contact page if that sounds like fun to you.
Cheers,
Abel
That is so motivational! !!! I’m doing this, i have to great job to you <3
Hi Able… I am a bit confused, because you talk about eating healthy fats, but then you say to stay away from milk, Ive always thought that milk in moderation is good for you. I for the most part (aside from my saturday night martinis) only drink water, and about 1 glass of 1% milk a day, and a cup of tea at night with a tea spoon of agave nector. Have I been wrong all this time about milk? I am also a big fan of cottage cheese for my morning protein.
thanks abel!! that was really helpful. but i still have some questions like, is it okay to exercise as well as drink only water? will i get dehydrated and fall ill? will i lose weight faster if i do??
im not fat. but i just want to get a bit fit. please reply.need ur expert advise!! 🙂
I am seriously flipping out i need to lose 27 pounds in a month in order to leave for deployment (marine corp) and i really need help. This might help but i dont know because i really dont have a lot of time to experiment this is my career on the line and its all because i decided to lift again and bulk up.
Adrian, go low carb and ditch any processed foods and grains! The secrets to fat loss in a sentence. 🙂
Thanks!!!! This article really helps!!!! I was so surprised it’s as simple as that. I’m gonna try this at home but first, I have a question. Can you eat fruit? Because fruit have fruit juice inside of them so I was wondering just not to eat fruit at all. Also, can you eat dishes that have sauce in them? For example: Alfredo pasta. Please help I am trying to lose weight and I weigh 100 pounds!!!
Audrey, fruit is fine as long as you’re not eating tons of it.
Also, if you’re trying to lose weight pasta is probably not a good idea, especially with Alfredo sauce. Sauces in general tend to not do much more than provide extra calories but you can definitely find some that in moderation will not make much of an impact and should be okay. Just check the ingredients.
Hello. I’m 126 pounds and I need to be 100. I don’t drink sodas, energy drinks, etc. I drink water but I also drink milk and juice. If I cut out the milk and the juice, will I be able to lose 25 pounds?
hieee i just loved your post sir….. I really got a lot motivated through this….. I weigh 80 kgs wid 5’2 height. I am 18 yrs of age… I so much wanna loose 25kgs in next three months anyhow can you suggest me some very good tips to get to my ideal weight…… Plz help i so much need it
Hey Abel,
I heard you on Sean Croxton’s show. Very good job and really motivating.
Awesome, thanks Troy!
Hello,
I love this idea because I know it works! I’ve lost a whole pound in just a few days time because I have cut myself off completely from soda (was drinking 12oz/day) and even 100% fruit juice. I am still drinking my new Mocha Cappacino Smoothies (only 4 oz/day = 80 calories) but once they are gone from my fridge I wont be buying any more thanks to you. I am also no longer going to make kool-aid, sweet tea and such. I want my kid to eat healthy and drink healthy so I need to be an example or she’ll never learn.
Cassandra, I’m so happy to hear that! You’re an inspiration. 🙂
I have actually started to drink water and cute processed foods our of my diet. I learned from the book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, that we are all very dehydrated and that artificial sweeteners and diet pills cause us to be more dehydrated which in turns causes us to keep toxins in our body because our body is not able to get rid of it. I have so far lost a pound a day from changing my diet and walking a little bit within a week I lost 7pounds which is amazing. I thought at first that this was bad and too fast of a weight lost but then I calculated how much beer and soda I used to drink and it was about 1,000 calories this is not including my frequent visits to McDonalds and BK. Abel, I love the fact that you are pushing this information out there for many people to see and use it to try and become more healthy. I guess if I have any more great results that I will post it on here soon to up date you all on my progress. I was 184 pounds , 5’2 height and now am currently 176 pounds.
Deserea, congrats on your progress! I’m glad you’re shedding fat and feeling better. Water is SO important, and you’re right, most people consume far too much beer, soda, and diet drinks and not enough H20. Keep it up and let me know how it goes.
Cheers,
Abel
Hello I’m a mother of 3 children I’m 24 yrs old 5’11 weighed 245 2 weeks ago and now down to 230 from drinking nothing but water and working out at least 2 hrs a day (: I’m so glad I found this page. It gives me hope and motivation that I can get down to my goal weight 175 by June (: I will keep you posted on my progress <3
That’s terrific, Cindy, congrats on your progress!!! Keep us posted. 🙂
Do you know if it would work the same if a person only drank water everyday but didn’t drink much? I don’t get very thirsty and anything more than 2 bottles a day I have to choke down but water is all I drink.
You’ll probably want to get some more water in there, Kelly, even if you need to choke it down. If water is all you drink, you wouldn’t be cutting anything out so you’d need to try some other fat loss strategies. Listen to my show for plenty of free tips!
Hi,
I am about 6’1″ and weigh about 240lbs at age 18. Obviously, this is very bad. I would like to drop to 190 or maybe even 180 by June or July, and it is currently just before March. Is this even possible? If it is, what would I have to do to acheive this goal. I know it will take some serious work and determination, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to do this.
In a few words, ditch sugar, grains, and other carbs. Do some high intensity exercise and weight training and it’ll push you in the right direction. Listen to my show for TONS of free tips.
I am 35 years old, weighing around 175 to 177 lbs. and need to cut my weight to 156 for a professional boxing match in 5 weeks. I drink coffee (24 oz.) in the mornings with 2 tablespoons of almond milk and two packages of Splenda. Will this have an effect on my weight loss goal?
Artificial sweeteners can lead to metabolic slowdown – I’d swap your splenda for stevia. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep, as well!
Hi Abel
Just joined the world of Abel!
I am a Life Coach from England, fit & healthy not overweight have stubborn last 7 belly fat pounds to lose. Been drinking only water & green tea for last six months am a vegetarian paleo, 148 pounds. Can you help?
Hey JR – I’d be happy to help! Listen to my podcast for tons of tips, and you can also sign up for my mailing list and I point you to a ton of free resources for losing the last few pounds of belly fat. You can sign up here: http://www.fatburningman.com/free-stuff/
Okay-I’m convinced. I don’t know how many calories I’m drinking, but I’m sure it’s a ridiculous number. I’m going to give this a shot-although, I am concerned about going from 24-48 ounces of coffee a day to zip. But-it can’t hurt to try. Also-I thought your advice to the teenaged girl was spot on!
Thanks CJ! You can still have black coffee – in fact, that’s what I’m drinking right now! 🙂
Hi Abel,
Could you still eat the same foods as you used to?
I am 5’4″ and I weigh 154 lbs.-I am def. over-weight! I am drinking much more water during the day (8-10 glasses) and I have not lost one single pound in 2 weeks!!! I am very distraught about it! I eat well…I think. Example: BREAKFAST-plain oatmeal and coffee and a hardboiled egg; LUNCH: veggies, salad, protein; SNACK: yogurt; DINNER: same as lunch. I walk 1/2 hr a day. I am trying to exercise more but I have zero drive.
What can I do better?
Hi, I like your website. But I’m 208 lbs, 5’1″and I’m trying to lose weight for my 3 year anniversary this June. I want to lose at least 30 lbs. I want to be at least 170 lbs like I was when I got out of High school. Please help me and I really need some advice!!
Hi Bianca, check out my free newsletter here for tips to slim down: http://www.fatburningman.com/free-stuff/
I am lactose intolerant. I can’t drink regulate milk…I ADORE unsweetened regular almond mile. 30 calories per cup with lots of protein. Can I have this…since you say NO MILK…thought I should check.
If you want to cut out all liquid calories, you’d want to cut out almond milk, as well. But a little bit won’t hurt you!
My top weight in high school was 260 pounds my senior year and this was almost pure fat. When I lost a lot of weight in college I ate somewhat healthy and drank only water throughout the day and protein shakes after a workout. My workout routine was pretty intense as well for awhile during college and I was ripped. After I lost the weight, I could splurge at times because my routine was very intense all through college. After college I did not work out as often, but I was still in great shape because I went back to drinking only water and ate a semi healthy diet because my routine wasn’t as intense. Over the last year however, I fell back into the old trap of drinking sugary drinks. Even though I was eating the same as before I gained over 40 pounds. My routine wasn’t as intense and the sugary drinks caught up with me. I went from 195 to 245. My lowest weight after getting in shape was 185.
Last time I went to the Doctor he said I needed to lose weight, but I haven’t yet. I just pushed my lab work and appointment back until May in order to give me one month. I didn’t leave myself much time, but I have done it before and reading this reminded me of how simple it really was. I just have to break the habit and force myself to drink only water. I have struggled with weight in my life as you can see by the numbers above, but I know I can get back to where I was in college and be healthy for the rest of my life.
Black coffee is great to drink while doing this as well. I have at least 3 cups a day. I don’t want to drink to much cause of the crash. The funny thing is most diet pills have a bunch of caffeine in them, so drinking a couple cups of coffee (which is better for your body and has cancer fighting characteristics) will do the trick and not harm your body.
I’m 13 5’2 1/2 and 140 Im trying to look hot in a bikini by June so I need to loose 30 pounds so if I eat aperagus and pinto beans for dinner and for lunch and yoplai yogurt for snacks and strawberries and a banana for breakfast and drink a lot of water everyday I can loose the weight and doing 40 crunches and 40 jumping jacks and walking for 30 minutes a day will it work?
Hi , I am boarder line diabetic its not because im over weight but I would like to lose a few inches. When my sugar goes low all that really seems to help is soda to give me that boost of sugar. Is there anyway I could start drinking water to were it wont lower my sugar? I walk all day at work and it seems im just stuck at my weight. But I also dont wanna get sugar pills otherwise whats the point? Any feed back?
Hi Tiffany,
Unfortunately, I’m not able to give medical advice on this website. However, I can say that real food ALWAYS wins. I’d suggest you get rid of soda and focus on natural sources of sugar/starches/carbs to regulate your blood sugar.
Ha ha ha ha, didn’t read this beforehand, but I just randomly decided to stop drinking milk and beer to lose a little weight. I told my wife to not buy milk or beer for a little while and weighed myself today. Sure enough, I have lost 25 pounds in the last few weeks just by not drinking so much damned milk and beer all the time. I googled something and it brought me here where you say to do this as an effective weight-loss strategy. Well, I guess I can vouch for it. I mean, within reason, cutting out some form of nonessential calories is a good way to lose weight.
I should throw in the caveat that I have, throughout my life, drank A LOT of milk.
Congrats on the success, Corey!
Hey Abel, I just turned 17 and a my teenage life I’ve been overweight I’ve decided to start this and drink water only , I’m 5″9 and 170-175 pounds I want to get to 150 or lower, I do cardio and light weight exercises. I’m wondering if this will help me with it. I’ve recently cut coke but drink a lot of ice tea(brisk) and juices. Ill tell you in a month how it went. Want to lose from my stomach, legs and face area a bit! Thanks!
Hay what if I want to eat cereal with milk is that ok ?
I’d recommend you skip cereal altogether – too carby!
Hi Abel I’m so happy I found this site I’m 16 years old and I weight 160lbs I used to be a sprinter and I’m trying to get back into it and I need to loose weight quickly. My question is while drinking the water alone do I only eat fruits and cut out all of the junk foods and meats and carbs or do I eat regularly?
Hi, I am 20 years old… My whole life I was skinny, had a great body. My mother had me in a sort of a diet, I was allowed to eat fast food once a week. Anyways, I got married about two years ago and moved out of the house, started going out to eat more than once a week, I was having so much fun. For once in my life I was eating and enjoying the food. I gained about 40 to 50 punds in those two years. I haven’t been able to go out comfortably in months because of my appearance. This tip seems to be very useful, I am definitely going to try it and stick with it. My question though, did you friend exercised while doing this “diet”??
Yes, he did. He was training for the crew team. Exercise is super important!
Interesting article. But I have one question. How many times day or how cups of water do you have to drink along with proper diet and exercise in order to see the quick results?
Until you’re not thirsty anymore, or 8-12 8 oz. glasses.
Hi sir, u inspire me. I have to lose weight. My doctor wants me to lose 62 lbs if im not mistaken. That is 20 lbs from what my BMI says l should wieght. l said that i would like to lose 25/30 in a month just to jump start my weight lost. After the jump start l will lose weight more healthier 2lbs a week. Can u be more specific on what type of foods u did and how often u ate? U have really inspired me . l go get fitted for my renewal dress in one month, let u know how my sucess going.
In a phrase, eat lots of fresh, natural non-starchy veggies and meats. Eliminate all processed foods. Poke around the site and listen to the show – you can do it!
Hi, I know I’m commenting so late, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to quit sugary junk snacks. I have successfully dropped 30 pounds and would like to drop 25 more pounds but I’m having trouble giving up certain junk foods. I’m good about not purchasing the junk foods, but my husband will go out and bring soda, cookies, or little debbies home and it just becomes so difficult to stay on track. Are there healthier and satisfying substitutes that will help me with this healthy life style change?
Hi Melissa, I hear what you’re saying! Check out this interview with Karly about how to beat sugar cravings: http://www.fatburningman.com/karly-randolph-pitman-on-sugar-craving/
Hey Abel my name is Flor and im 18 old I weight 220 and I want to look pretty I want to lose weight can you help me on what to eat and to lose this weight I feel fat when I see these skinny girls in school please help me
hi im 13 5ft 11 and i weight over 200 pounds luckily for me my height helps spread it out so i dont look too bad but i dont FEEL good. i have trouble starting to lose anything and whenever i do lose something (over the summer) i gain it back during the winter. as i mentioned im only 13 so my parents wont let me take any pills or anything of that sort. Can you give me some tips?
HELP PLEASE! Hi My name is Michelle, I am, 30 years old, 5’1 and I currently weigh 145lbs. This is the most I have ever weighed. My “normal” consistent weight has always been about 115-120. About 6 months ago I rapidly (over 3-4 months) gained nearly 30 lbs! My highest weight prior to that was 135, when I was 9 months pregnant. I really have never worked out, so I started doing both strength and cardio exercises (1 hour 2X a week). I have never really had to watch what I ate, it had never been an issue. I am a vegetarian (no fish, red meat, poultry). I eat lots of vegetables and I don’t drink sodas, alcohol, or caffeine/coffee. I never have, so that’s not a change. I eat lots of whole grains, fiber, and I eat out about 2 times per week. I feel that I am doing much more than I was before, when I was thin, and my weight has NOT budged (up or down) after implementing exercise about 4 months ago. My doctor says it may be hormonal weight gain, but no matter the cause I can’t seem to get control of the weight. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hey, I’m Reem… I’m 14 and I’m 5’3 and weigh about 130 lbs… I’m overweight… the least i’ve been down was last year when i weighed like 100 lbs, 5’2. I’m struggling everyday to lose weight and it wont work! The only exercise I’ve been getting was swimming and I have a problem controlling what I eat… Abel, I thought you could help me out and give me some advice on how to lose at least 25 pounds in the next month… I look terrible and chubby. Everyone in my family believes I’m fat and so do I…
I am 31 Years old single parent of four boys, I am currently weighting 280 lbs. with a Height of 5’8″ I feel totally exhausted once I get home from work and have no energy to play or do anything for my kids… I feel hopeless sometimes and it just creates me being more lazy and just sit down and watch TV most of the times, I will try this out starting tomorrow as I do believe it would be hard to stay away from all those and just drink water after living a crazy lifestyle and drinking a lot of beers most of the times… But I gotta do this for my health and for my kids sake I will keep you posted and Water would become my new favorite drinks.
Great! Stay hopeful and keep a positive mindset. Good luck to you and let us know how you do!
-Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hi I’m 12 and I’m 5″4 and weigh 150 pounds. Can I have a smoothie for breakfast with a little bit of milk in it? Also is organic milk okay for me to drink?
Also, can I eat yogurt as a snack?
When it comes to dairy, there are some people who tolerate it well, and some who do not! If you chose to drink/eat dairy, be sure to look for organic, full fat dairy preferably from grass-fed cows. – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hi, I’m a 12 year old girl and 125 pounds…. I used to be gymnast for 11 years,but I quit and gained about 30-40 pounds, the rest was muscle and my parents are ALWAYS nagging me saying that I need to stop eating this and that and sometimes I break down and cry, just thinking that I’m fat all my friends say I’m really skinny, but I don’t believe them… even though I’m only 12 would this work for me?
Sincerely, 125 pound 12 year old.
Mia, I’m sure you are going through a growth spurt right now, so your biggest focus should be on eating wholesome, unprocessed foods to help your body grow. DEFINITELY don’t focus on losing weight at your age. If you stay away from box, packaged, processed foods, your body will become healthy and strong. Try not to think so negatively of yourself. Enjoy being 12 🙂 – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hey guys! So I love this site and I wanna give this a shot. I am 16 and I weigh almost 190. I’ve always eaten healthy but I need to work harder on exercising more. With summer only a few weeks away, I really want to knock off about 25-30 pounds. Besides the water trick, what are some other tips you could give me? Also, when your friend lost the weight, was he exercising, too, or just drinking water? Thank you!
At 16 your body is still growing and changing quite a lot, so please don’t focus too much on the weight factor! If you are looking to get HEALTHIER, increasing your water intake while decreasing other empty-calorie beverages (soda, juice etc) is a great tactic. Be sure you are eating all whole, unprocessed foods and you’ll be doing your body a great favor! 🙂 – Emily, FBM Team Coach
I weigh 150 pounds ! I just recently read about this ! I need to lose my stomach and thigh weight ! Is this really possible to only drink water and shed off 25 pounds ?!? Would I still need to exercise ? And what are some good exercises to do to lose weight in a month ?
The idea is to replace any beverage you may normally consumer (ie fruit juice, soda, beer, alcohol etc) with water. Those empty calories add up! Exercise is still important of course, but the water factor is huge. – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hello,
I am 34, 6’1″, and float between 217lbs-224lbs – Id say I have a large frame (big shoulders). I look in the mirror and feel overweight in the abdomin area which I am, but my legs and arms are not. I feel that I drink alot of water – and dont normally drink soda, juice, coffee or anything else. I play tennis once a week sometimes twice for exercise and fun, but just cant seem to lose weight – all I do is maintain the weight Im at – which is really becoming very discouraging and disappointing! Please help me lose weight – I want to weigh 200lbs but nothing seems to work! HELP!
Chris
Chris don’t forget about how important good food choices are! Eating whole, unprocessed foods instead of packaged goods is a solid way to ensure a healthier body! – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hi
just want to know if its ok to drink protein shake after working out? or thats will slow down loosing weight?
As long as it’s a very high quality protein shake, I’m cool with that. 🙂
Hello,
I’m trying out this method right now. It works pretty well so far. My goal is to lose about 25 pounds. I’ve tried doing workouts everyday, but the weight doesn’t even move a bit. Pleeeeease help
Be sure to stick to whole foods, along with drinking the water! Your food choices will dictate more of your success than working out every day 🙂
– Emily, FBM Team Coach
hi…..
So I started to get real serious about my weight and health all together for like 5 months and I can not seem to loose weight. But my body is fairly proportioned I would like to loose some of my bust and just be toned all over. How would I do this ?
Your food choices are the most important part and will always dictate your success! Just keep trying different ideas until you find what works for your body and your lifestyle.
– Emily, FBM Team Coach
So you only drink water nothing else
What are a list of things I can eat.
The idea is to replace any “liquid calories” (like juice, soda etc) with water. You’ll want to stick to whole, real foods (things that don’t come in a package or box) to get the most nutrient dense food to help you shed fat!
– Emily, FBM Team Coach
can you provide list of safe food that dont come in box or package?james
Hey Abel.
I’m 20 years old and weigh 236 pounds. I want to try this water challenge. But I would like for you to give me some tips on how to keep myself motivated. And how much should I be weighing?
I realize this post is over a year old but I am desperate. I’m a 17 year old male, roughly 6ft1″ and weighing close to 350lbs. It is almost July and I want to try and lose 50lbs by the end of August, any tips on how to do so? Thanks.
-Brian Keiser
Work on eliminating processed, refined foods and sticking to real, WHOLE foods! Shop the outside perimeter of the grocery store for these items. And like the post says, instead of drinking your calories, switch to water. 🙂 – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hello Abel. I am 15 years old and trying to find a workout that is consistant and works quickly. I have tried many routines and none of them have stuck. I tend to be really motivated in the begining but then just end up giving up. Do you have any tips on finding a workout thats right for me and how I can get myself to stick with it for as long as I need to?
P.S. I love the water idea and am going to try it right away!
Your food choices are honestly more important than any intense work out. Make sure you’re eating real, whole foods instead of box, processed stuff and you’re off to a very healthy start! 🙂 After that, any exercise style that you ENJOY and can incorporate regularly is the workout that is “right for you!” – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hi I really need help loseing weight I weigh 168 pounds and I’m 5,6 is this gonna help me lose 25 or 30 pounds?
By the way I’m a 13 year old girl needing help and tips soo please reply as soon as posible please. “Thank you”.
Replacing water for any kind of soda, juice etc. will definitely help you be healthier and potentially lose weight. Be sure to eat whole, unprocessed foods and stay away from highly-processed (packaged or boxed) foods as well. – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Abel, i’m a muslim girl and Ramadan is here, in case you don’t know it’s a month where you don’t eat from like 4 AM until sunset. Would drinking alot of water when I break my fast become a disadvantage? I have a feeling that it’s not a good idea to drink 8 cups of water and then go to sleep because then I will gain water weight, right? And when I break my fast should I eat 3 small meals through out the night so my metabolism won’t get slower? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!
I wouldn’t go chugging water in between the time you break fast and before going to bed honestly (water weight isn’t the concern, it’s just overloading your body in general). It’s also generally not advisable to eat all the way up until you go to bed (same reason). Good luck! – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hi, I am facing weight gain around menopause and would like to lose it (about 20 lbs). I already don’t drink most of the things mentioned and work out 2-3 times a week, don’t eat much sugar. At this point I might have lost 2-3 pounds in 2 months, not much! What would you recommend to increase the weight loss? thanks
It’s really important to get your food options in order: real, whole, unprocessed foods first and foremost! Removing gluten can make a huge difference. – Emily, FBM Team Coach
I am 13 years old almost 14 I’m about 6’0 I think and weigh around 240lb I am fat and I want to lose weight for when school starts. I currently run 1 mile everyday and work out with push ups sit-ups and all the basic stuff I am going to cut out all drinks exept water, I would try a diet but I absolutely cannot handle it, do you have any tips that can help me. Ps I like to eat cereal for breakfast but I like it with skim milk should I cut out the milk with cereal, and I also like to eat soup and the spaghetti-o and meatballs should I cut those out or can they stay. Please reply
If I need to diet I can try but I’m not sure how long it will last tips please any help is appreciated.
That’s great you’re starting to exercise more. The best thing you can do to improve your health (including ditching sugary drinks for water) is to eat real, whole, unprocessed foods. If it comes in a box/bag/package, it’s likely highly processed and not very nutritious for your health! Stick to the outside of the grocery store for the REAL food instead. Good luck! – Emily, FBM Team Coach
So you have to drink ONLY water for a month.. Do you need to excercise too? If yes, what do you reccomend to do everyday? THANK YOU!
Nono, eat too! Switch out juices/sodas/beer etc for water. It’s the liquid calories that you’re trying to get rid of. Getting out and moving is important for your health no matter what, so yes, exercise is also crucial. – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hi so I read this whole thing and i can eat how I am now and just drink water, amd then I will loose weight?
The idea is to replace all liquid calories (soda, juice, sugary smoothies etc) with water. To optimize fat loss, it’s ideal to to eat real, whole, unprocessed foods while also replacing those liquid calories with water. You’ll get your best bang-for-your-buck that way! – Emily, FBM Team Coach
Hi!
Thank you for the great input! I am 14 years old and I weigh 160. I know I am over weight but I know I am not fat. I have been self conscious of myself lately. And I would like to loose like 30 pounds by the end of August because school is starting and I want to make a difference. Can you help me? Do you have advice?
At 14 I’d really advise you to not focus on weight loss! Make it a point to eat real, whole, unprocessed foods that nourish your body and brain, and help you develop a strong body. Weight loss is a dangerous thing at your age. Stay away from packaged/processed foods, and you’ll feel a whole lot better! – Emily, FBM Team Coach
I particularly do not like the taste of water but im in need of losing 20-30 pounds not to please anyone but myself so im definitely trying this!! thank you for an idea! 🙂
Great! I hope you find it helps you! – Emily, Team FBM
I’ve already lost 25 pounds cutting carbs, sugars and doing zumba, swimming ect… I need to lose 25 more. I took a break after hitting a plateau making sure not to gain any back. I’m starting back and definitely going to try this. Giving up red wine will be tough…Maybe I’ll just cut back a whole lot 🙂
Haha! Yes, red wine can be a tough one to say goodbye too! 😉 – Emily, Team FBM
Hi, I’m a 5’0 teenager and I just went to the doctor and discovered I was a bit overweight. I only have to lose about 10 pounds, but it want to lose 30 just to look in shape, increase metabolism, and be more active. I do sports such as competitive swimming, badminton, and volleyball, but this year I am only doing badminton because I want to focus on my studies. Will this work in a month for me?
Hi Summer, as a teenager I wouldn’t put your focus on losing weight right now! It’s so important for you to eat real, whole foods to nourish your body so that it’s able to grow strong, versus putting strain on it through “dieting.” With that said, it is always a good idea to avoiding “drinking your calories” through things like sodas, juices etc. So this trick is certainly beneficial to your health overall! Just have fun with your swimming, badminton and volleyball, and eat real, unprocessed/packaged foods! 🙂 – Emily, FBM Team
can I just drink water and eat salmon and salad I’m 160 rounding off I’m. 5’4 and my wedding is next month and I want to be able to feel good and be able to fit in my dress… any tips…. thanks
The idea is to switch out “liquid calories” and drink water instead. It’s not about NOT eating, or being restrictive in your food choices. Water trumps soda/processed fruit juice just about any day! Have fun at your wedding! – Emily, FBM Team
Hi i am 21 and i weigh 157 and im 5’4, i want to go back to weigh 130 like before but its soo hard specially now that i have kids all this belly fat is making me feel horrible. So im going to try this and hopefully i lose the 30lbs that i want, but will i lose them in one month?
The idea is to replace “liquid” calories with water instead. It will certainly help in your weight loss efforts, but for most people weight loss has many different facets to success. This will be one piece of it. Best of luck. – Emily, FBM Team
Hey, I am just reading whatever I can read or see in to how to lose atleast 25lbs. I am a 20yr old mama to a 2yr old and I runa fter him all the time! I used to carry him evryday, all day. Seriously I did. He was just about 30lbs at a yr nd a half, he was nd is a big boy. Anyways, I weigh 162.3 lbs. I still have his baby weight on me nd I do try ever so hard to lose weight. Lately stress nd job hunting has me gain a little more weight. I try to eat less, nd try to do the thing where I nred to count calories, but I can’t do it. I’m so busy with my toddler that it just wipes by. At night I’m so tired that I talk to my hubby, nd then pass out. I am going to try this drink water all month thing along with eat 5 small meals a day. Can u tell me what I can do?
Replacing “liquid calories” with water is the best place to start for sure. For food, try and replace box/bagged/packaged foods with more produce and unprocessed foods. It’s all about eating foods as close to their natural form as possible! – Emily, FBM Team
Hey Stu what about drinking whey protein or creatine. Do you nees to cut these out as well?
That all depends on your goals. The idea behind this post is to eliminate liquid calories that provide minimal health benefit at all (soda, juice, beer, alcohol etc). If you are looking to bulk up on muscle, whey protein may be a good option for you depending on your other food intake. – Emily, FBM Team
Sorry I meant Abel……stupid touch screen highlighted Stu’s name. My apologies.
Hi Abdel or anyone else can help ! i am a guy with 176 cm and almost 1000 kg weight ! i just hate my life ! because i am the only fat guy in class , i can’t wear anything i like ! i can’t play football like some of my team mates and i had personality problems because of weight ! i want to lose 20 kgs 🙁 I tried some tips for over year ! i drunk lots of water in the past but didnt’ work ! :/ i really need help ! 🙁 i beg u ! i hate being overweight and i just want my weight to be 40-60 like it was 4 years ago ! 🙁
100kg wait*
Do your best to eat whole foods, and try to keep processed (boxed/bagged foods, fast-food etc) out of the diet. Food choices can go a long way with getting your body in order! Good luck to you! – Emily, FBM Team
Hi
What about protein shakes (morning and after workout) , do u cut them out too? I use Vega one protein powder, mix it up with almond milk, banana and berries. Is almond milk also catalyst to belly fat?
It varies for everyone. This article was specifically speaking to liquid calories like soda/juice/beer/alcohol etc. Protein shakes can work for some people, for others the body doesn’t react as nicely. It’s all about experimenting to see what works. – Emily, FBM Team
Can I drink skim milk?
If you tolerate dairy well, we recommend sticking to whole-milk. If you can find raw milk from a local farmer, that’s even better. Skim milk is highly processed unfortunately. – Emily, FBM Team
Thanks for telling me. I didn’t know skim milk was highly processed.
Hi Emily,
Well, I’ve been trying to lose weight since like- forever. I prefer salty things to sweet things and love rice, which I know can be an issue if eaten in abundance. I have always found comfort in food but lately not even my “fat jeans” are fitting. In the past week I have gained 5lbs and a new stretch mark! EEk! I am 5’7 and 180lbs. 🙁 Will cutting out all my sugary drinks really help me lose weight? I have recently taken up yoga and am signing up for a kick boxing class… Please help!
Hi Sophia, I understand the weight loss battle! Sugary drinks are a boring way to get completely useless calories, honestly. I’d personally rather get my energy from some REAL food! 😉 I’d definitely recommend ditching the drinks for a while and see how you do. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised! – Emily, FBM Team
Thanks so much Emily!
I am really excited to try this out and I will kick my habit of sugary drinks like I kicked my cigarette habit two years ago! Thanks for the support. Have an amazing day!
Woop woop! Love it Sofia! 😀 – Emily, FBM Team
What are your thoughts on propel zero instead of just plain water? It has 0 calories and 0 everything else as well so is it just as good as water?
Just because it has “zero” in the nutrition facts doesn’t make it just as good as water! Check out the ingredient information. I just found this on their website, here’s what the Berry flavor includes: WATER, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE (TO PROTECT FLAVOR), NATURAL FLAVOR, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVES FRESHNESS), ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), SUCRALOSE, SODIUM CITRATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3), CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT FLAVOR), VITAMIN E ACETATE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE (VITAMIN B5), PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6)
As a general rule, if something sounds like a science experiment, it’s probably not “real food” and would be better left alone. What wrong with plain ol’ water anywho? 😉 – Emily, FBM Team
When you say no packaged food does that include frozen veggies? I need to lose 40lbs by 12/14/13 and I rarely drink water, think 40 is obtainable?
So I am confused how exactly did he lose that much in a month. ? Why did he eat and drink everyday?
He ate as normally, it was just a matter of switching water in for any other “liquid calories” that were previously consumed. – Emily, FBM Team
Thanks for all your help, its definitely working for me, Im 16 5’2 and 120lbs and i want to lose 20 pounds, not in a specific time range, not because i want to be skinny but because i gained 20 pounds like 3 months which feels so weird for my body, and its really unhealthy to gain a lot of weight in a short period of time. Do you have any other advice for me? Anything at all would be of tremendous help. Thanks
IF you’re 16 your body is likely putting on weight just due to growth! PLEASE don’t start concerning yourself with dieting at this age. Continue to eat nourishing, whole, unprocessed foods, move your body in fun methods of exercise and don’t stress about the scale weight. Seriously! – Emily, FBM Team
I can’t wait to try this! 🙂 I’m a 20yr old woman, I used to be quite athletic a few years ago. I used to swim a lot but for some reason I just got lazy and stopped. I’ve gained so much weight this past year by drinking fizzy drinks. The amount of Pepsi and hot chocolate I drink is unreal! I drink a minimum of 6 x 330ml cans of coke/Pepsi a day! It’s going to be hard with the withdrawal of Caffiene, but I am determined to do this! 😀
The soda can definitely have quite the effect! I think you’ll be pleased with the results once you’re able to remove it from your diet 🙂 – Emily, FBM Team
Hey I’m 23 about 5 feet 2 inches and 185 pounds. So clearly I’m very over weight. I need a boast to motivate me and I’ve already cut myself off the coca cola 🙁
Is there any special exercise or diet plan I can follow as well?
Thanks a lot
Starting with body weight exercises can be a great launching point. Squats, push ups, lunges, planks etc. – Emily, FBM Team
Hi i weigh 76kgs,i drink lot of water n eat well.i d like to lose 30kgs more can u help me out.i work out in the gym as well.it hasnt been much of use.need help
Are you incorporating whole, unprocessed foods as your main fuel sources? Weight training can also be helpful, along with incorporating sprinting into your workout routine. – Emily, FBM Team
Hi my name is felicia I weight about 155-160 I am 5’3 and I’m 20 years old. I have an average body but my main concern is my mid section I have a hyper lordotic spine which is kinda like scoliosis but not. It curves so it looks like I’m sticking my butt out and somewhat leaning back. Anyways in nov of 2013 I had a miscarriage at 4-5 weeks and have then put on some weight.. My back is starting to hurt more because of it.. I’ve tried numerous things to lose weight but then give up.. I really need to lose at least 30-35 lbs ( tighten up my stomach and lose my “love handles” and back flab I guess. You could call it.. ) to help out my self esteem and my back.. Any ideas. Please email me back!
Thank you 🙂
Hey guys, here’s my case:
Be 22, mother of two. Weight before kids- 130lbs at 5’1″. Used to weigh 115-120lbs between middle and high school. Ran the mile in 6mins.
Started gaining more weight, struggling; learned I had Hypothyroidism causing increased stress, Insomnia, and Chronic depression.
Went on medication to regulate my thyroid, it worked. Due to traumatic events in life, however, Insomnia and Chronic Depression remained. Adopted postpartum after my first born.
I’m still trying to lose weight bit it seems no matter what I do, I can’t. I’ve gone on a healthier diet, exercised five days a week- still, no change.
Any suggestions?
Hello, I’m 5’1 and 216lbs I’m really trying to lose weight from being on birth control. Since birth control I’ve gain 20+ pounds and need to lose this weight before march of 2014 is up and it’s hard for me to just get and excerise what can help me with this weight!!!! Please help!!!!!
Eating real, whole foods that are unprocessed/unpackaged can be really helpful in getting hormones to regulate back to healthy levels. Start there and see how you do. Stay positive! – Emily, FBM Team
Hi.. Ive put on 15 kilos in the last year. Three days ago i started the water diet. (First day I ate two apples, second day one mango and one apple and the third day i thought i was going to faint at the shopping centre so went and bought meself a patato cake.) Would this feeling go after some time?? Or does it happen at all times?? I lost three kilos so far.. Is it normal to drink 6 litresof water a day. Its summer here in melbourne with at top of 36C today.
Also I heard theres a medicine called duromine which controls your appetite therefore doesnt make you hungry.
Would you advise taking duromine and drinking plenty of water.
So I’m 17, I’m trying to loose weight for prom. I don’t know what foods to eat & I’m totally going to try drinking water more, but I also want to see what foods I can eat without having to starve myself.
Hey, im 16 years old 5’9 and weigh about 200lb and I want to loose 50-60 pounds in 3 months. I never been this weight before. But because I’m really tall it doesn’t look like it. Is it possible to loose that amour of weight? And what can i do to Reach my goal. I gain and loose weight really fast. And I need to be fit before the summer.
At 16 yrs old, the LAST thing you should be thinking about is dieting. Seriously! Your body is changing and adapting with new hormones. To restrict or diet for extreme weight loss is not what your body needs at all. I encourage you to feed your body whole, unprocessed foods so that you can keep up your energy and help your body to have a sustainable and healthy weight. PS Don’t pay attention to the magazines 😉 – Emily, FBM Team
Hi, i’m looking to loss 30 pounds but i want it to be real fat loss with minimum muscle loss, i weight 200 lb aprox. i need to achieve 165/170 lbs getting cutted as much as i can. i need to do this in 40/45 days as much.
my food routine is like you explained atop, a lot of proteine, meat, chicken, pork, salmon, white fish, tuna, with green veggies steamed or cooked, i’m also drinking almost a gallon per day of water, but for my breakfast i’m having milk with coffee and whole bread with light untable cheese. and my gym routine is weight lifting (high speed for bumping cardio) + 1/2 hour of HIIT cardio post training.
I’m in the right way?
Sounds like you are already quite strict with your diet. This “trick” mentioned in the blog post is really aimed at those who have not ventured down the whole-foods path yet. 30lbs in 45 days when you’re already fine-tuned with your eating is a really drastic drop. I would keep up what you’re doing and take it day-by-day for the most sustainable, and safest way to drop the weight in the way that you want (not sacrificing muscle). – Emily, FBM Team
Hey! I’m 19 and I live the pipeline life and travel all the time. I’m almost 215 and I want to lose 20 to 30 pounds. Can I eat whatever I want as long as I drink nothing but water? And do I have to workout while doing it?
Your best bet is to always eat the most whole-foods you possibly can (minimizing process/packaged junk), and replace sugary drinks with water. This is a great start! – Emily, FBM Team
Ok so I posted on here in December and still haven’t got round to trying this and I am continuing to pile on the pounds. I am starting tomorrow! No more soda for me! Just water 🙂
I’m 21 years old I weigh 230 and am just shy of 5″1. I hate being fat I’ve been drinking water and nothing seems to help.
hello! my name is alice nd am 13 yrs old..i weigh about 80 kgs…plz tell me some tricks..best tricks to lose 40 kgs in 3-4 months….i hope that u can help me!
no orange juice? I love orange juice.
Please reply, i’m 15 weigh 190 pounds and I am 5-11 and next month i’m going to vacations, and I need to loose 20 the least, and I was wondering if this diet really works. I need to loose weight fast and now. Does only driking water really looses you 25 pounds? Please reply and help
I dropped weight when I had to take a medication that had side effects with any type of carbonation. I am a soda “Pepsi” addict. I did really well when I HAD to give up soda, I lost about 30 pounds and kept it off over the entire time I only drank water, and hot tea without sugar. I was taken off the medication and then had a really bad week and had a soda and now I am having a horrible time stopping drinking it again. I do really well but Pepsi is my go to when I am stressed. I started drinking soda again, working nights, and being sedate due to my job and sleeping hours gained 30 pounds in less than a month, and I feel like crap all the time. I am going to put my best foot forward and stop drinking soda, avoiding processed sugars and bored eating.
Thanks for the article, its a great reminder that if you have a motivator to stay on task even if it is just drinking water, the rewards can be great.
I am starting my diet tomorrow and my current weight is 185lbs and I am 5’6 . Yup, I’m fat. Well, my goal is 140lbs. I don’t think I could loss that in the next 30 days but i do plan for it to be gone by the middle of July. I am only going to drink water. No snacks, and eating 6 meals no bigger then a soft ball. nothing fried, microwaved or had eye balls for the next thirty days. I will let you know how things go.
Hi Amber,
OMG you must be me. I am the same weight, same height and want 140 to be my goal weight. I am going to try this because you have inspired me. Thanks, Tammie
I’m 14 years old and i wiegh about 105 lbs and i really want to get down to at least 85 lbs(preferably 75 lbs) which is only losing 20 (30) lbs. Will just drinking water help me get there or will I need any other tips?
Thanks Abel!
I’m 14 years old and i weigh about 105 lbs and i really want to get down to at least 85 lbs(preferably 75 lbs) which is only losing 20 (30) lbs. Will just drinking water help me get there or will I need any other tips?
Thanks Abel!
Hi I’m 12 years old and weigh about 128 pounds. I would really like to get down to 90 pounds in 4 weeks. So would drinking water only help. Thank you so much. God Bless You.
Hi!I’m 13 and 5’1. I weigh 150 pounds and would like to get to about 120. Could that be possible by just drinking water? How long would it take?
Hi, Im 13 and I weigh 140 pounds I want to know if Drinking water will help me lose weight to about 110-120 (also doing sports such as Basketball and Baseball and bike riding). Also my mother always would tell me to dilute sugary drinks such as something like iced tea… would that actually help much?
So do you have to workout or do any fitness routines throughout the day or do you just drink water and thats it?
It sounds like you’re on a plateau. Either you eat less calories than you currently do or pick up the intensity in your work outs. You can do both which will aid. Everyone in their weight loss endeavors goes through a plateau where their weight just stops going down. Continue to drink water and work out…picking up the intensity while cutting about 200-500 calories from your diet. In a few weeks, you’ll begin to lose weight. Another method (which I haven’t done, but I see people do) is to pig out for a day to boost metabolism and then cut calories significantly the next…this is calorie cycling.
Hi Abel can you please send me a list of good foods to eat to lose weight and how much of it to be eating a day thanks!
I have a juicer. And I usually juice greens with fruits (celery, apples, kale, lemon, oranges etc…) Can i drink that as well? If I’m not juicing it i would be eating it, so it’s the same. Yes?
Does this work for chest fat
Was wondering if carbonated water is okay, I have a Soda Stream and drink the water and add lemon extract. Is this Okay?
Hi..
I’m 23 n 5’4 inch n 65 weight as I need to reduce my body weight upto 50 kg. N also need to burn my tummy fat.
Is drinking lots of water will burn d fat. M confused as I don’t wanna go gym or heavy work out I used to do skipping daily. And eat regular meal propery. Even drinking root beat juice daily as I was having anemia problem is daily havva beat root juice is fine? . Give me suggestions to reduce belly fats n weight
Thank you
Krima
I’m about 50 pounds overweight. Im only 5 feet tall but I weigh about 165-170. I have an intense fear of being obese and have been working out 4-5 days a week. In high school I had a bit of an eating disorder. Im terrified I’ll go back to that. When I workout, Ill take a few seconds in between different exercises for some water or to breathe. I smoked for about 6 years years and as of a little over a month ago, I’ve been tobacco free. I haven’t lost a single pound in the last 2 weeks. I’m down to at most 1 soda a day. I get severe caffeine migraines but it’s been getting easier. I drink probably half a gallon of water a day. I use sugar free flavor packets because I hate the taste of water. I won’t touch mio because one of their ingredients is like 1% away from being anti-freeze. Harsh shit. I have allergies to all seafood and all nuts. I can’t eat too many fruits because of the citrus acid. (disease that is affected by acid) what can I do? I’m working on getting off soda completely. I need to lose this weight in 2 months. Any suggestions??
I literally have drank nothing but water for 2+ years and have not lost any weight because of it. The only way I was about to lose any weight was when I changed my diet and exercise routine.
I am at boarding school, and would Like to lose weight, I have a lot I need to lose and was wondering if you had any Ideas.
I’m definitely going to try this, I’m about 30% overweight and am really self conscious about it. I think that just drinking water seems pretty easy, thanks and if you have anymore simple weight loss tips please email me I’m pretty motivated
Im 230 and want to lose 30 pds in 30 days for a wedding.i currently drink about a gallon of water a day and exercise 30 mins 3 days a week with weight training. Is my goal possible?
Hey guys, I’m a 37 year old guy who desperately wants to loose some weight ideally I’d love to get back down to 165 or 170. I had a devastating injury in 2011 where i completely shattered my right knee and dislocated left shoulder. My shoulder still gives me grief from time to time but I lost range of motion in my right knee so now things are even harder on me especially trying to workout. I have a stationary bike now because i cannot run and not sure if i’ll ever be capable of again due to destroyed cartilage which was removed after my second surgery. I’m 225 pounds now and need some helpful tips on what i need to do since i’m limited. It’s hard for me to get up and down out of the floor and sometimes need some assistance. It’s been difficult on me but i do not wanna see myself in even worse shape than i am now.
First, I came across this blog via a Google search. I like what I was reading and read the entire blog thru the most recent post. I noticed Able basically bailed from the blog, with Emily stepping in, but she pretty much duplicates her replies with the ‘go whole foods/no boxed, processed…’ – I’m serious about my own desire to drop 30# and will start adding a gallon of water, though I hate it; but I have some questions… is this blog still a priority, being monitored and something I can look to for serious answers, etc.? I’d like to, so I’ll start with one item; I use a Ninja extractor with mostly fruits, working on aging veggies: so far Kale… Will this void my weight loss chances of doing ONLY water for daily drinks? (One fruit smoothie a day, and I believe it has improved my health, plus I’ve begun losing weight doing this, but only about a pound and a half daily). Please email me so I know where to pull up the blog at) Thank you for the information so far… I’ve always known I needed to drink water, now I have a good reason to get myself to to do it!
The blog is still a priority (notice the frequent posts!) and definitely monitored (I’m Abel’s assistant, the new Emily!), but Abel is focused on so many other things (his book, audio/video products, travel) that he has a couple of his team members instead. The BEST way to get ahold of Abel is emailing him at abel@fatburningman.com or posting on his Facebook page.
As I’m sure you’ve read in previous blog posts, Abel and Alyson live off the grid, and aren’t connected to Internet often (purposefully), so his presence on the blog is minimum (other than the content creation, obviously). But his email and Facebook are easy for him to pull up while on the road or barely on the grid.
Prior to looking into this, I drank water and only water beginning halfway through January and around that same time, I weighed myself and weighed 180lbs. at 5’10”. Now, I don’t exercise at all and usually sit around doing nothing. Only difference was that I stopped touching every other drink except for water (with the occasional milk and juice intake.) This past Friday (Feb 6), I went to a physical I had and when I was weighed, I saw I lost 6 lbs.! I was actually kind of surprised when I saw the number because I was not aware of the fact that I stopped drinking so many unused calories! Reading that my craving for a crisp refreshment with 0 calories is what caused me to shave off several pounds, in less than a month mind you, really inspires me to actually give dieting and exercise a try to see what I can really do with myself!
Yeah and drinking water also shrinks your heart, weakens the heart muscle. I’ve done it – 27 days at one time. I also did not move nor try to work out. Last year I asked my physician about it. Nope. Very bad for the heart. If you’re going to try and lose weight fast, do juicing, at least you get some nutrients. Protein as well. Work out.
Stupid article, very misleading.
I m 17 and i weight 70 kg i m 5.8 inches tall n i Look considerably good but i want to look a little slim and then i would love to have abs
So if i drink only water and cut off some calories by avoiding fats and a little exercise liky running and skilping can help me in acheaving this? Pls reply fast
I’m a 31 year old male who had a gym membership for well over a year and even though I felt fit and was heading in the right direction however I never dropped below 215lbs. My max weight was 222 and I’m 6’1. I was working out 4 times a week at high intensity and my conditioning was good. I could do a 60 min class that was extremely tough at a high pace. The problem was, Apple Juice / Beer and other snacks stopped me from reaching my goal and I never managed my diet so the weight loss never happened even though I felt very good.
I ended up getting bored with the classes being very similar and invested in gym equipment at my home. I know, that never works! And you’re right, it never….I gained the weight back to 220 and my conditioning was terrible.
Then I got injured and never worked out at all, and I’m still injured, however i changed my diet 2.5 weeks ago and went from 219 down to 208, by just drinking water, eating clean, eggs, brown rice, fish,chicken,steak, salads, whey protein, cereal has pretty much been my meals. Ive managed my diet, eliminated the juice, beer, snacks , etc….however, Ive still had a couple of “cheat snacks” but for 90% of my intake has been healthy food with water or tea only.
Hoping to get below 200 by the end of the month and slowly hitting the gym again. Much more motivated than I have even been in my life to get to my goal of under 200lbs.
How’s a cup of hot chocolate once in a while? How do you make up for Calcium and Iron, besides eating greens and fish, that are carried in dairy products, such as milk? Also, is it okay to drink home-made smoothies, which only contain fruits and vegetables?
Anything is fine once in awhile, I think, as long as you can tell it’s not messing you up.
I’m going to try to do a blog post on your calcium and iron question!
The more great stuff you can add to your smoothies, the better. Try chia seeds, hemp seeds, etc.
I wanna lose bulges around my belly within a month and I have already started to drink plenty of water but sometimes I think it’s not enough and I have to cut down my food,I really want to flatten my tummy and also wanna look great,I easily lose motivation but not fat or pounds.
So should I go further or just drinking water would help me?
How much water should we drink.
As much as makes you feel better, but it’s probably more than you think you want!
How much exercise should we be doing while eating and just drinking water? I’ve got two months to lose 25 pounds but id LOVE to do it in one if I could! Also, should we also have a very balanced diet too?
hey everyone, at this time I’m fasting for lent and also for health reasons. I generally drink frozen raspberries, mangos, bananas, strawberries, spinach, mint, etc etc. I grind them up in a really good blender and add a little bit of healthy yogurt, some milk, protein supplement powder, and flak seeds. This is the usual drink, sometimes Ill mix it up and just have simple drinks of this, maybe two fruits instead of all of them, sometimes blueberries or more vegetables, and sometimes oatmeal. I have about 5 shakes per day and a meal at around 6pm, most of the time a salad with chicken maybe a bit of bacon, and healthy croutons. sometimes I’ll add beef to that. Sometimes Ill have a bowl of noodles, the real healthy kind, with beef or chicken with some good tai sauce. Oh and one day a week with breakfast, like eggs and two pieces of bacon and brown toast.
I still drink 2 cups of coffee per day and lots of water. I decided to do just this for two weeks with barely working out, although I walk a lot during the day and lift things a lot too. I use to be in construction and my body is built really strong, I have no issues with heavy weight lifting, but I don’t do it often, not yet anyways. I can run 10 minutes at the hardest level on a treadmill and bike probably 25 minutes with some difficulty added. I know I’m strong but I have at least 20 pounds of fat in my stomach, and barely a pound on my legs or arms. My chest isn’t perfect but almost to the right size. My butt has some blubber on it, but I think it wont be a problem to get it to the right size.
I went from size 34 when I was 18 to 38 in a short few years due to fast food, and generally depending on what I’m doing I go from 38 to 36, but back and forth. I am 28 yrs old now
The reason I’m telling you all this, is because I want to be simply healthy and fit. The shakes I mentioned above will stop when lent is over but I will gradually stop doing that in the following week after lent which will be April 6th. After the fasting is done I have formed a 5 week routine meal choice for day to day intake and exercise routine in between. Then a 6 month routine afterwards. I know I have the will power to do all this, I just want to make sure I do it right.
What I need to know is what everyone thinks of this, especially anyone who is a nutritionist or trainer. I’m approximately 224 lbs and have lost 10lbs in two weeks so far on the fasting and only worked out twice, both times working so hard I felt like throwing up, and I think I did a bit 🙂
I want to push myself, but in a healthy way, I can send my routines to anyone who wants to help, and more or less want to see if everyone agrees with what I’m doing or if the majority suggests an alternative to what I’m doing, as long as they all say similar ways of doing it right. To many times I have heard different ways of doing it and its driving me nuts, I want to do it right and I hope everyone agrees with one or two ways of doing it right.
I’ll be honest I don’t trust trainers at the gym, maybe they know the way of doing it, but they all say different things, and any runners or weight lifters say this is the best way or that is the best way, I’m tired of it and scared to spend money with no real results that benefit me in the figure I’m in and health state.
If its easier to email me please do…….. belisle_richard@hotmail.com or please post on this, I would love to hear your advise
How many gallons of water i need a day to lose 25 pounds im 193lbs and does runing helps if si how many miles a day
Would lemon water speed be okay?? And what type of tea would be best. What about food?
How many miles and gallons of water should running/consuming per day to achieve 25lbs weightloss goal?
Hi Abel,
I started listening to your pod-casts about 2 weeks ago – great stuff! – Thanks!
Question(s)
1. How does a product like quinoa fit in to all this? I would think a complete protein with no fat would be acceptable.
2. Beans? Black, Kidney(chili?), Garbonzo(Hummus?)
I would be interested in your comments.
I am 5’11” 35 year old male 176 lbs. 6 months ago I was 250lbs I cut portion intakes in Half cut fat lemon water in the morning plenty of water throughout the day and workout every second day half hour cardio 45 minutes weight training I still drink plent of beer but it doesn’t effect me, but I only drink light beer such as coors light or slew an 2.0. I do t think it’s a problem to drink beer if you lead a healthy low fat regular workout lifestyle, and yes I agree lots of water is the key.
There is simply no way that diet soda is more fattening that sugar laden regular soda. Yes, diet soda probably has some negative effects. But it can also keep some people from eating far worse things — like sugary drinks.
Zero sugar drink worse than 150-300+ sugary drink? C’mon 🙂
You could also try Green tea, ItS Like the Second best thing other than water. drinking green tea and water helps a lot, also try to like cut out on the sugary stuff esp the temping ones
So, not even meal replacement drinks like Herbal life with water and no milk?
What about sparkling water
Wouldn’t drinking just water make you faint? Water doesn’t have any impact on your energy, so just drinking that would make you weak and dull. Right?
Drinks like soda, fruit juice, and sports drinks sap your energy, while water helps to restore it by hydrating. As long as your diet is full of real food, water is just about the healthiest thing we can drink!
So am I allowed to eat cereal with milk if not can I use 2 percent milk
Cereal is totally fattening, so stay away from that. Read more here: http://fatburningman.com/never-feed-children-breakfast-cereal/
Stay away from tropical fruits like pineapple and mango, but 1-2 servings a day of berries or other lower sugar fruits is just fine for fat loss.
And can I eat fruit
What about for the people that already only drink water :0
Hi Abel ! I am a 18yo teenager and i am a little obese. Can you please help me out that if i should focus on water and proteins alone for fat burning and muscle building ?.
Hi Abel! I currently need to drop 26pounds in as many days. I was planning on doing some diet pills from “It Works!” and drinking nothing but water. Normally I drink only water, but a half cup of milk in the cereal in the morning.
So I have two questions for you:
1. Would the half cup of milk be okay for breakfast, or do I need to substitute for this to be the most effective?
2. Will diet pills make this worse for me?
Hi Tristan, I would not recommend diet pills or going without food! For breakfast, go for high-protein like eggs or a green smoothie. Cereal is actually not great for you: http://fatburningman.com/never-feed-children-breakfast-cereal/
Hahah, I didn’t actually mean without food! I just meant cutting out any teas and coffees and stuff. Food is too vital to me! I will definitely try switching to eggs and stuff… I’ll let you know how it goes! Thanks for the reply!!
Haha, ok cool. Some people commenting on this post have been getting the wrong idea. 🙂
You don’t need to cut out coffee or tea, no. But ya, go for protein and fat over carbs for sure! And let me know how it goes…
I am 58 years old and need to drop 20 pounds. I’ve worked out pretty regularly the last 20 some years, but the last three have been hit and miss in addition to my metabolism slowing I think. It has been MUCH harder to lose and maintain my goal weight. Work and diet I know contribute to this. How can I get back to my weight of just 3 years ago? Simply water, cardio, weights and diet? I can and have done that, with no results.
Hi james ive been training for to long its almost been a year and i havnt reached my goal ? im going to try an give it my best on this tip you have given . I was wondering if you could give tips on toneing an hope to tighten up saggy skin
Hi Abel,
I got to the lowest weight during my senior year of highschool, for being morbidly obese at 179lbs 5’1 to 142lbs at 5’2. however, once I started college, I gained back a TON of weight and am now stuck at 168lbs. Talk about that freshmen 15, huh?
Anyway, I’m going to try this. My ultimate goal is 122 as that seems like a good middle ground for me. I hope to reach 145-148 in the next month by attempting the no water, no fast food challenge. Let’s hope I can do this.
I need to loose 25lbs in a month in order to qualify for knee replacement. How much water should I be drinking a day? I am 5’4″ and weigh 258.
Most people do better when they drink more water, as long as you’re replenishing electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium). 2 liters a day can be appropriate, especially if you’re exercising or sweating.
Hi, Abel. I just stumbled across your article here (while I was searching for specific weight loss info…) and I love it. I already drink a ton of water (maybe not a gallon a day, but about 2/3 of a gallon), I quit drinking soda years ago, I rarely have any kind of sports drink, and I drink milk about 3 times a week (about 16oz at a time)…and I don’t drink any kind of diet drinks or anything else. I have torn cartilage in my right knee (work injury from about 2 years ago and I refused to get surgery on it) and sometimes it gives me some trouble, so no squats or it goes without saying that I’d be screwed. But I have been riding a bicycle around my city for about 8 years now so the extra muscle stabilizes my knee and it only slightly bothers me.
I’m 5’9″ and I just weighed myself last week @ 202lbs…I was shocked. Yes, I have a skinny guy gut, but I didn’t see how I weighed that much. I just started going to the gym in the last 2 weeks (I do drop sets of bench press, pull-down bar–I don’t know what it’s called, and Cable-Cross curls. I just stopped drinking all alcohol (man, I really love my beer, but my favorite 6-pack went down easy @ about 180 calories in each 12 oz beer) about 4 days ago and I don’t plan on drinking any alcohol for at least 3 weeks because I’m wanting to get into pretty good shape for an independent movie role.
So, knowing all of that, can you recommend how I might kill off my gut (at least mostly) in the next 3 weeks when we start filming the first scenes? Tomorrow night is my next workout night.
Sorry for writing a “book” here…and thank you in advance.
-J.
Hi JT, thanks for the questions. When I want to lean down quickly, alcohol is the first thing to go. Ditching your beer, milk, and other liquid calories will help.
In addition, try a high-intensity workout as part of your exercise program. Check out details here: http://fatburningman.com/how-to-lose-fat-by-exercising-less/
Hi Abel,
Is this only for a month or until we reach our ideal weight and we can introduce “healthier” liquid eg Kefir and kombucha back? Or would you recommend that these drinks should be reduced to only as treats (for life)?
Great question, Jessica. Kombucha and Kefir are excellent daily probiotics, especially once you’ve reached your goal weight!
I believe you said in the article that you could drink as much coffee or tea as you want, but what if it has non sugar sweeteners like clover valley stevia extract? would you still lose this much weight while eating healthy foods like vegtables, fruits, chicken, and fish? If not, then how about without the sweetener? Or is pure water the only solution to dropping this much weight in such a short time span? I think you said red wine from time to time is ok too. I usually drink one or two glasses before I crass to help me sleep since I have insomnia. Is that too much if I do it every night? Curious about what advice you might have.
Hi Abel, i’m a 13 years old And i’m 5″9 and198 pounds my doctor said I first need to lose about 29 pounds and I want to do that to prove to everyone that I’m really ready to change I have the determination but it’s hard because not everyone in my house is very interested in the healthiest life sytle . The problem is like I’m just tired of being the big girl or the thickest out of all my friends because most my friends are just sticks I was just wondering if this would work for me
Hi Abel, I wanted to know if I get a cup of hot tea from Duncan Dounuts and I asked them for lemon and sugar is THT ok to drink to
Oh and I am 15 so do you think this could work for me
I need to loose 30 pounds so badly,i just have 40 days before traveling…
How many cups of water should I drink per day?12 is ok?
Can I have just one meal per day like tofu ?
Hi Nancy, thanks for your comment.
Just to clarify, this article isn’t saying to only consume water and nothing else. Rather, it’s meant to illustrate how many liquid calories our society consumes. By making water the only liquid you drink, you may be surprised by how much good you’ll do for your body.
By continuing to eat food and making water the only beverage you consume, you may find you drop those extra pounds.
For more information on what foods to eat (and avoid), be sure to check out The Wild Diet: http://amzn.to/1VBMwpF
It’s packed with all our of best information and some really tasty recipes. And check out page 25 for some information on why eating soy isn’t as good as the media has lead you to believe.
Here’s an article you may be interested in: http://fatburningman.com/the-top-8-worst-gmo-foods/
As for how many cups of water–at least 8 8-ounce glasses per day is a good place to start. 12 is probably even better!
Hi my weight started at 190 10/15/2015 I just have not been able to cut all sugar yet started with soda I’m down to 1 can at supper!! I love coffee in the morning I have at least 2/3 cups a mother of two needs the uplift it gives me… Then water all day till my 1 can of soda I’m down to 178 today 11/20/2015… It may not sound like a lot but I was a soda addict not to mention the gas station coffee that is loaded with sugar.. My goal of 150 by 01/11/2016 needs to be met to meet doctors criteria to start fertility treatment… Working harder on cutting all the soda out this week but leaving coffee on board and hoping to also leave coffee by two weeks time!! Ahhhhhh need tips on how to help my discipline!!
Hi! I just turned 31 yesterday. I am exactly 5’0 and weigh 160. Approximately 40 of those lbs, I’ve gained in this past year. I am considered obese and until this year have never exceeded 135 lbs. What would you recommend, other than drinking water, for me to lose 35-40 lbs?
Any exercises?
Hi Umang, if you want to get the most bang for your buck, try this 7-minute workout: http://bit.ly/wild7wo
You can also get fast results with weight training. Use the heaviest weights you can safely lift and get in some squats, deadlifts, or get a kettlebell and do some kettlebell swings.
hi, after reading your article I have a few questions:
>can I add flavoring to water bottles like the fit active ones?
>is drinking only water the only thing no exercise?
> is it possible that I gain weight from this if I drink too much water?
> how much water is too much?
that’s it I found this article very interesting!!;-)
Hi ive got til January tenth to lose about 33lbs possible?
Oh I forgot need an operation but above the weight catchment I’m thirty if that matters
Is it ok to add pure honey to my oolong tea?
Sure, a little bit won’t hurt just keep it to a minimum. 🙂
Hey Abel, I am definitely gonna try this… I am 5’0 and weigh almost 165 pounds. Need to go down to 120… Very interesting article… Very motivating… 🙂
Okay so I’m 5’4 and 180 pounds. Are there any recommendations on what to eat? I already only drink water but i haven’t lost any weight. Do i have to exercise with this as well?
Hey Lucy, it sounds like you just found us. So happy you did! The best place to start is by reading The Wild Diet book. It’s extraordinarily entertaining, I promise (especially for a diet book). I’ve read it over a dozen times, and still enjoy it. You can grab it on Amazon here: http://amzn.to/1VBMwpF
Or if you prefer to listen to the audio book, you can get it on Audible here: http://adbl.co/1MPh1l4
Here are a few quotes from the book to give you a little taste:
– “Big Food is expected to police itself, which it does just about as well as Wall Street.”
– “Keep in mind, the only reason zero-calorie artificial sweeteners don’t count as calories or carbs is because they’re not technically food – they’re chemicals.”
– “If you could put the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of fasting in a pill, you would make billions.”
– “Cheesecake is good for the soul.”
Here are a few episodes of the Fat-Burning Man show that I recommend you check out to learn more about which foods to eat and avoid:
– Interview with Dr. William Davis: http://bit.ly/wheatbely
– Interview with Dr. David Permutter: http://bit.ly/drperlmutter
– Interview with Dr. Tom O’Bryan: http://bit.ly/fbmgluten
Eating the right foods and avoiding the junk is going to do amazing things for your body. And if you want to take it to the next level, try to get in a quick 7-minute workout at least once a week: http://bit.ly/wild7wo
I have heard that individuals that eat this type of food tend to eventually lower blood pressure to a very safe level, is that true? And I’m curious does the cholesterol and and liver enzymes blood test also improve? Thanks
Hi, I’m 48 and I would like to lose about 20 lbs. I already don’t drink most of the things mentioned. I run about 2 miles 5 days a week and lift weights 2-3 times a week. I don’t eat much sugar, very limited gluten and have eliminated anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup as I also have colitis. What would you recommend to increase the weight loss?
Also, what are your thoughts on fatty coffee/tea, kombucha and keifer? Should I refrain from them until I reach my goal weight?
Thanks!
Can you drink like flavored water such as propel or flavored Aquafina
Hi Abel,
Thanks for this piece of information. I have 30 lbs. I’d love to get rid of within 30. I’m already weightlifting 4x per week, & am currently doing double cardio everyday. I drink at least a gallon of water, if not a gallon & a half, each day.
My two questions are: a) is it OK to use stevia drops in the coffee? & b) should I then replace the two protein shakes I have each day with solid foods?
Thank you!
The greater issue will always be what someone does after they lose the weight. In this scenario, the person needed to lose 25 pounds for a specific event and date. It sounds like he achieved that. Congratulations. Now what? Will he continue to not drink all of those things for the rest of his life. Let’s check in with your buddy a year from now and see how it is going. All diets follow a simple equation; take in less calories than you burn. It doesn’t matter if you eat snicker’s bars. You will still loose weight. The greater question is whether or not it’s sustainable for the rest of your life, and in most cases, it’s not because society doesn’t support healthy eating. Just ask Oprah. Here is a woman with all of the resources at her disposal and she still couldn’t keep the weight off. If someone needs a short-term fix then this plan probably works. If someone would like a permanent fix for the rest of their life then they need a lifestyle change. Sadly, hardly anyone can sustain this kind of change; especially when we are under constant siege by the junk food industry. Anyways, good luck. I hope it works.
hello I am a 23 year old woman I am 160 5.7 I need to loose 20 pounds at least I am addicted to soda I try so hard but its the first thing I reach for! I need help please I so badly want to be beach body ready! in 3 months!!
Ok. I’ll try this. I may not achieve the exact results because currently I am not exercising. Just doing Physical Therapy due to a back injury. But It most certainly will & can help, considering being inactive has made me gain some weight. Ill post back in 30 days time with my results. 🙂
Hi Abel, My name is Ephrata I am 5’3 and 154 pounds…. 6 months ago I was 132 pounds and I lost control. Water is my worst enemy and I finish half a litter in two days no joke. I am graduating from college in May and I want to be a knockout at my graduation. My plan is to lose 24 pounds until then, do you think its doable? Also, I make my own juice at home from scratch usually berries and mango juice… Is that doing me more harm than good?
Hi I’m 335 pounds and I’m trying to get down to 180. I already dropped 10 pounds cutting out soda but what else can I do? I really wanna get into the police force but I have to be able to run fast and I need to knock all this weight off. What would you suggest I do?
I’m also 5,8 if that helps
I think this article is great. I’m 5’6 and I am overweight by a whopping 40 pounds. However, a friend who’s in med school told me that the kidneys could only take about 10L of water a day. Any more than that could have bad effects on one’s body (such as electrolyte imbalance). I’ll try this and see if I can lose at least half of my weight in a month or two.
Not gonna lie I need help bad I used to be 330pds now I’m 220pds I’m working alot my biggest struggle is caffine in soda It keeps me up for my kids i know it’s bad but it’s like a drug so hard to quite I get head aches and dizzy and shaking.. I wish I could get my self to drink coffee to wake up…. I gotta work on the soda to loss the rest…Sorry for so much just with a battle with myself.. Thanks for the tips… ?
Does this really work because I’m over weight by 40 pounds.
Hi I’m 175 pounds and i want to loose 25 pounds. I would like to know if I drink a Gallon of water a day and drink protein is that good? Or would another type of protein source be better?
But I love milk
Hi, what about protein shakes? I regularly use Carnivor.
Hi was wondering is sparkling water and flavored water ok?
Hi I used this method and ate fruit for breakfast and snacks and salads for lunch. Grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies for dinner before 6pm. I took a gallon of water with me throughout the day. I also walked 45 mins at 5am before work and lifted weights after work. I lost 40 lbs in a month.
What about things like kombucha and plain coffee?
I am fourteen years old and I am really overweight I have tried exercises and cutting back on sugar but I just can’t follow through so I was just wondering if your plan would work for someone like me and if I could still drink the fruit smoothies that my school gives out for breakfast.
Hie Abel,
I really liked your article about your friend. I am 5’2″ tall and weigh 187.4 pounds and would like to lose 55 pounds so I am going to go with it, water only for 30 days and see where that would live me. Thanks a lot for the article and I would appreciate it is you would help with the best foods to consume for weight loss.
Hi Abel, so I’m a 184lb 5’7ft 17 year old who wants to join my football team again but I’ve put on some weight after an accident put me in casts, do you think I should lose my weight and then work out or just go straight into working out like I used to?
Hi. I’m 5’7′ and I weigh 75 kg. I need to reach atleast 60 kg by July. Besides drinking water, can you suggest any exercise I should do, or food that I should eat? Thanks’
Hi, I’m 6’0 260 and i want to lose about 40 pds. I like what you wrote and will try it. I’ve been eating somewhat good and trying to stay away from sugar, bread,rice,pasta and so on. I know running or cardio helps out the process but I wanted to know. Are you taking any kind of supplements. I’ve lost 10 already and i go to the gym regular for about 30=50 min and I already feel good but are supplements a necessity. Thanks
hi Abel James i cut out beer all together. drinking water all the time fruit for breakfast salad lunch jacket potato tea time now ive lost 1 stone and 8 pound in one month thanks for the advice
What about fruit infused water?
Fruit infused water is great. One can consume 1-2 servings of fruit and still see fat loss.
I’m a teenage girl, 5″9, and 150 pounds. My BMI is within a healthy range, but I feel that my image is wide/unhealthy. I would like to be around 130 pounds or less. What do you think of my plan for 1-2 months?- Run 2 miles, drink TONS of water, eat salads w/minimal dressing, and when I’m hungry, anything that’s healthy.
Just a question can you do this with exercise and loose more weight/ gain muscle?… and what if you diet as well as just drinking water… im gonna try something called the military diet but as well as just drinking water…
I’m 14 and weigh 235 pounds , I need to loose weight quick before school starts, will this work?
If you were to run a marathon again, how would you train?
Long runs mixed with sprints? How long would the sprints be?
Much appreciation.
This sounds incredible! I had knee surgery few months back, and before that I was around 150, then after the surgery I’ve put on weight to 165. I’m back to exercising, walking, and nothing is coming down. before surgery I could eat and still loose couple pounds a week. I know I’ve got into a bad eating routine, so the water and no other liquids other than tea or coffee, and watch my food intake, I should loose? How about silk,I’ve got away from dairy other than yogurt….are they ok?
what about taking pre workout? I know you recommend natural and organic but I just love the way pre workout affects me
Hi, I’m interested in trying this diet, but I was wondering if milk in cereal and fruit smoothies with a little bit of orange juice are ok?
Hey there.
A ton of comments on this post. To Lili – Cut out the cereal please! And the orange juice. I am totally onboard with Abel about replacing soda and other sweet drinks with water, but it is also important to take a fundamental look at what one is actually eating.
Sure, if you are cutting out a litre of Pepsi a day, great, but continuing to eat foods like cereal which are essentially devoid of any nourishment (other than the vitamins they have to add!) is definitely not going to be a route to long term, sustained weight loss, and more importantly, HEALTH.
How about poaching a couple of eggs in the morning, on a bed of spinach and asparagus. or a bacon omelette?
Drinks aside, replacing your breakfast cereal with a protein/fat based alternative is going to be a far better solution than trying to get lean drinking water but eating a ton of crap.
Lifestyle and dietary change isn’t an easy thing to get one’s head around, especially with the garbage advice we are given by the government and nutritional institutions, but if you want to be lean all year round, not have to get into some yo-yo dieting with calorie counting, and all the misery that involves, better food (and drink) choices have to be the way to go, whether we like it or not.
Good luck, poached eggs rule! 🙂
S
Okay I’m freaking out. I’m going on a cruise for my birthday in just over a month but I wanted to lose as much of this little stomach as I could. I plan on drinking straight water everyday until then. If I work out every other day, is there a chance that I may lose a little more than what I anticipated? Cause that’d be great.
This just doesnt work, I only drink water since I moved into my new place since the fridge doesn’t keep milk from spoiling , and ive gained 25 lbs
How much water should I drink per day to lose weight fast in a month
Hi Abel. You have quite a lot of blogs and i hope u are not too busy to answer an easy question. Water has no taste but im determined to follow the rules. Can i put Mio in my water that has no calories and no fat?
Hey Kim – you may want to try a squeeze of lemon or lime in your water instead.
Mio is full of junky ingredients, including Sucralose and Yellow #6.
Sucralose was discovered by two lab students while experimenting with a new type of chlorinated pesticide.
Yellow #6 caused adrenal tumors in animals and occasionally causes severe hypersensitivity reactions. It contains the chemical benzene, which is a known carcinogen. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23026007
Here’s a quick excerpt from The Wild Diet on the topic:
“Before you’re enchanted by the suspiciously low calorie or carb count on the nutrition label of a packaged food, keep in mind that the only reason zero-calorie artificial sweeteners don’t count as calories or carbs is because they’re not technically food—they’re chemicals.
But don’t be deceived—these substances have side effects (remember Olestra, which caused “anal leakage” in thousands of unsuspecting dieters?). While Big Food invents proprietary artificial sweeteners to make a quick buck, remember that many artificial sweeteners marketed to us, like saccharin, are eventually exposed as what they really are: carcinogenic chemical compounds that have no business being called food.”
There are a ton of health benefits from adding a squeeze of lemon to your water. Might be worth trying that instead! 🙂
I have disabilities, exercise is out of the question. I have never ever and ever been this weight. I end up crying cause the clothes I used to wear can’t fit into. Plus I am fighting 21 diseases. Because of my depression I was hospitalized, but I lost weight before I went into the hospital. I have absolutely no idea how I put in all the weight especialy me belly. I am crying right now. What can I do to lose this weight fast. Water, how much do I drink in a day. If I am allowed to eat, what food should I be buying…………………..Please help……..I am so unhappy that I do not want to leave this house because I don’t want people knowing that I gained several pounds. I gave tried so many of advertisements, like Dr. Oz, garcinia cambogia. I felt I was gaining more weight. Please email me back as soon as possible. Thank you,
I’m a soccer player i am “5,7 1/2” and i weigh 195 lbs. so if i do this for a month or two do you think i can get ripped and be able to get more stamina or are there other things that i would have to do?
Some people asked about coffee & tea. I think the caffeine in both of these has a impact on your hormones, specifically adrenaline & cortisol, so if you’re trying to lose weight drinking strictly water would help your hormones achieve an equallibrium. Decaf coffee wouldn’t be a great option either because some coffee (i.e. non-organic) the caffeine is removed via chemical means. Organic on the other hand is removed with natural means…that’s a lot of info I’m not getting in to… but decaf is never 100% without caffeine… so there is that to consider. (I only read a few of the comments, so if someone else said this I’m sorry about the repetition)
So do we still need to eat just fruits and vegetables while just drinking water?
Hi so I have a few school events coming up in which I have to lose about 30 pounds. I just had a few quick questions. 1.) Do I change my regular eating habits? 2.) Does this have to be accompanied by any extensive physical workout as well? Thank you!
just got instructions from WooPep diet website and I’m ready for the my diet 😀
I hope this works because it sounds like a lie but if it works I will be soooooooooooooo amazed
I drink Electro Mix; it is water with electrolytes. May this be my water?
Sounds like an awesome plan! I’m going to try it! Thanks! ??
Ìd love to try this I’ve tried other diets.
Hi James! Great article. Thanks for posting.
Will I shed the fat off though? I’m overweight and I need to lose the weight fast. I haven’t always been overweight but life hit a hard spot and I did what lots of people do, I ate poorly and stopped exercising. Now I weigh 172 and I’m only 5’2. I’m nearly obese and I can’t stand to look at myself. I try working out like I used to and I’ve been doing it and dieting for a month with no results so ive turned to this. The only thing I want is the fat to be gone or even smaller so I can get a push on things.
Here is a good question for you! How much is enough water for someone who is 258 lbs. How much water per day is needed to loose the weight. I know for a fact that it has to do with weight and how much water our bodies need, different weight requires different amounts of water. I know they say 8 glasses of water a day is great, but I know that it is not enough for those that are overweight! As we all or most of us know, water is good for you. But I know there is the math in it to do right.
I read some articles about that water could help with weight loss, Is it right ??
hello there i have a wedding in mexico july 11,2017. andI would really would like to lose at lease 25lb by them do you think is possible. pls help me out,I’m been drinking fruit smoothies in the morning but i don’t see a different. I wait 216 lb now and Im 5’9
Hey Abel so I’m 5’10 and i weigh 216 I’m on varsity football and I’m trying to lose body fat and get more lean and strong so is it okay to drink protein shakes only after i lift which is only on Monday Wednesday and Fridays or will that mess up this diet
I really need help, I eat all of these good organic foods and fruit,
and my friends eat junk and stay lean. I work out every day and it does nothing.
I’m 14 years old and need to lose fat I was invited to a pool party and i need to lose weight. And in geneneral i get bullied over my weight.
Can you please help me i need help a lot.
i also wanted to buy this vidio thing that is 47 dollars that u have and i dont have the money,and my parents wont allow me to get it. is there any other way????
I want to do the same thing. I’m very excited to start.
Do I have to give up coffee? ??. Even if I drink it black without any kind of sweetener?
Hi, I have a question about this. While your doing this is there any foods you should avoid and about how much water should you consume in a day for it to be effective?
Can we eat food though? Or JUST water.
Eat food too!!!
what about 1 can of seltzer water a day?
I don’t drink anything except water.. no soda, no juice, no beer .. so someone like me who doesn’t drink wasted calories, how can this help me?
Ditto & following
Hi Able. I would just like to know…how much water do you suggest one drink per day to lose 25 pounds?
can i take milk?
I already do this. In fact, i’ve drank nothing but water (or bitter herbal tea) for the last 6 years. I drink 4 – 6 litters of water a day. It’s never helped me lose weight.
Hi,my name is neris I weight 140
My height is 5’1
My bmi is 26
And I wanna lose 25pounds
So u say drinking only water and
Eating proteins
Make u lose weight in 30days
I’m a very very picky eater so I like to eat certain proteins like bananas,eggs.i like to eat plain yogurt cereal for breakfast and lunch blackbeans rice.chicken ceser salad.dinner chicken Alfredo spaghetti is that fine.
will this work for a 11 year old i want to lose weight this summer but i haven’t found a way that actually works
Hi My Name is Abdullah. I want to know that would you suggest some exercise or how much time I have to do to lose weight. This information will be helpful for me. Thanks
Hi,
My name is Yolanda and I was on steroids prior to my back surgery for two years. It has caused me to gain 60 lbs! My metabolism is high and I have a poor appetite, however I can’t lose the weight. I want to lose 70lbs. Any help would be great!
No coffee or tea!!!??? This hurts my feelings so much. Hahahaha… Glorycloudcoffee.com Thanks for the great info. If you must drink something other than water, drink our stuff with no goop added and no processed pretend food-like substances. Abel, you helped me in a lot of ways to be a lean, ripped, healthy powerlifting/bodybuilding grandpa of 53. Peace.
Hey Able James,,
I need to lose 150 pounds by December does this work.
Darn, I only drink water and black coffee but still managed to gain back 10 pounds I lost from cutting out all sugar wheat and dairy. Within a few months of adding those items back I gained 10 pounds:( maybe because I’m a 5’5 female. I don’t have a lot of cals to spare to stay thin.
I loved this article, it was really helpful for me. Thanks for posting it. I am following your tips with some other awesome diet plan that helped me lose a lot of weight.
For me this guide parental-love.com/weight-loss/the-just-cut-it-method was like an epiphany! When you are a lazy old man, everything which needs consistency and is a hard work, has no chance to succeed. Only slow process, and max 7-8 pounds a month!
Does sparkling water count?
overall a great suggestion definetly going to try i also want to lose my weight any other suggestions
Im starting today. Will comment back with results. Thank you
Hey I need to lose weight fast but do not really drink a lot of things other than water so do you think that this would work for me if not is there some thing else I could try please help.
Wow I wonder if common sense was counted in calories if we would live in a big fat world ? Wait , we do.
Did anyone actually read the story?
Many diets can help you lose weight. Some of the most well-researched diets and eating plans include intermittent fasting,plant-based diets, low-carb diets, low-fat diets, the paleo diet, the Mediterranean diet, WW (Weight Watchers), and the DASH diet…etc.This is what is helped me to losse weigh,and i hop to help you: shorturl.at/xQZ35