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How long to lose 5 lbs for men depends on your weekly pace and daily calorie deficit. At 1 lb per week (500 cal/day deficit), it takes 5 weeks. At 2 lbs per week (1,000 cal/day deficit), it takes 3 weeks. The table below shows all four common paces with exact numbers.
Each row shows how long it takes to reach your goal at a given weekly pace and the daily calorie deficit required. 1 lb of fat = 3,500 calories.
| Pace | Daily Deficit | Weekly Deficit | Weeks | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 lb/week | 250 cal/day | 1,750 cal/wk | 10 wks | 2.3 mo |
| 1 lb/week(recommended) | 500 cal/day | 3,500 cal/wk | 5 wks | 1.2 mo |
| 1.5 lb/week | 750 cal/day | 5,250 cal/wk | 3 wks | 0.7 mo |
| 2 lb/week | 1,000 cal/day | 7,000 cal/wk | 3 wks | 0.7 mo |
One pound of stored body fat contains approximately 3,500 calories of energy. This is the foundation of weight loss math. To lose 5 lbs, you need to create a total calorie deficit of 17,500 calories.
2,500
Average male TDEE (cal/day)
-500
Daily deficit for 1 lb/wk
2,000
Target intake (cal/day)
These numbers are based on an average male TDEE. Your exact target depends on your current weight, height, age, and activity level. Use the FitCommit app to calculate your personalized TDEE from an AI body scan.
5 lbs of fat = approximately 3.0% body fat reduction for an average male.
This estimate uses a reference body weight of 170 lbs (male). If you weigh more, each pound of fat represents a smaller percentage reduction in your body fat. If you weigh less, each pound represents a larger percentage. Use a body fat measurement tool to track your actual composition, not just scale weight.
A 500 calorie daily deficit from a 2500 calorie TDEE means eating 2000 calories per day
For a man eating 2500 calories, cutting 500 calories means skipping one large meal or eliminating alcohol and dessert
A 500 calorie daily deficit produces 1 lb of fat loss per week and takes 5 weeks to lose 5 lbs
Swapping a restaurant meal (800-1,000 cal) for a home-cooked option (400-500 cal) creates a 400-500 calorie daily deficit
0.5-1 lb/week. Lower deficit, better muscle retention, easier to sustain. Best for lean individuals or those new to dieting.
1.5-2 lbs/week. Larger deficit, faster results, more hunger and higher muscle loss risk. Requires careful protein intake and consistent training.
Week 4: ~4 lbs lost
Water weight drop is mostly complete. True fat loss now shows on the scale. Energy may be slightly lower than normal. This is normal and improves as your body adapts to the deficit.
Week 5: ~5 lbs lost
Visible changes in clothing fit and body shape. First plateau may appear around this time. If progress stalls, take a 1-week maintenance break to reset hunger hormones, then return to your deficit.
The timelines above use average TDEE numbers. Your actual timeline depends on your personal TDEE, which requires knowing your lean mass. FitCommit scans your body using your phone camera to measure body fat percentage and lean mass, then calculates your exact daily calorie target. You get a personalized deficit number, macro breakdown, and food scanning to track every meal. No guessing.
The safest rate of fat loss is 0.5-1% of your current body weight per week. For an average man weighing 170-190 lbs, that is 0.85-1.9 lbs per week. Most guidelines recommend 0.5-2 lbs per week as the safe range. Faster than 2 lbs per week increases muscle loss risk. Slower than 0.5 lbs per week is fine but may feel unsustainable over the 5 weeks needed to lose 5 lbs.
Losing 5 lbs at a slow to moderate pace (0.5-1 lb/week) significantly reduces the risk of loose skin. At this amount of weight loss, skin elasticity typically allows it to tighten over 6-12 months. Staying hydrated, maintaining muscle mass, and losing weight gradually all help. Age, genetics, and how long you have carried the excess weight are the main factors outside your control.
Weight on the scale includes everything: fat, muscle, water, bone, and organ mass. Fat loss means specifically reducing adipose tissue. When you start a calorie deficit, the first 1-2 weeks of scale weight loss is mostly water and glycogen, not fat. True fat loss is slower and steadier. For 5 lbs of actual fat loss at 1 lb per week, expect 5 weeks. Scale weight may drop faster initially, but sustainable body composition change follows the fat loss pace.
Yes. Losing 1 lb per week is the most commonly recommended rate for sustainable fat loss. It requires a 500 calorie daily deficit, which for a man eating 2500 calories means targeting 2000 calories per day. This pace minimizes muscle loss and is maintainable for most people. At 1 lb/week, losing 5 lbs takes 5 weeks.
Get your personalized calorie target based on your actual lean mass, not averages. AI body scan, food tracking, and macro breakdown. Free 7-day trial.
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