How To (actually) Lose Weight Fast

It’s no surprise to me that “How to lose weight fast?” is one of the most Googled questions today. Don’t believe me? Go to Google and start typing “How to lose...” and you’ll see it pop up immediately.

We live in a culture that craves quick dopamine hits, endless scrolling, busy schedules, hustle culture, and get-rich-quick schemes. This same mindset has unfortunately led many people toward weight loss programs that promise FAST results. And there are so many problems with these programs.

In this article, I want to do two things: first, explain the ACTUAL fastest way to lose weight, and second, break down the pitfalls of rapid weight loss programs.

And because I want to save the good stuff for last, let’s start by understanding the risks of rapid weight loss programs:

1. They don’t work long term.

Let this stat sink in: less than 3% of people are able to sustain weight loss. If rapid weight loss is achieved through habits, behaviors, and calorie deficits that can’t be maintained long term, the moment someone stops following them, the weight comes back—often with extra pounds added.

If your “diet plan” has an end date, so will your results.

This cycle of losing and regaining the same 10-15 pounds over and over again is exhausting and mentally defeating.

2. They mess with your mindset.

This cycle of weight loss and regain creates a mental battleground. Because instead of blaming the unrealistic plan, people blame themselves.

Cue the negative self-talk:

“I just can’t lose weight.”

“I always fail.”

 “I can never stick to a plan.”

 “Why do I always mess this up?”

“I have no willpower.”

And just like that, your inner voice becomes your biggest obstacle.

But here’s the truth: YOU DIDN’T FAIL. The overly restrictive diet plan failed you.

Did you lose weight quickly? Maybe. But does that mean the diet “worked”? No—not if you can’t sustain it.

I know these plans can be enticing. You might see people boasting about their results online, but unless they’re sharing those same results a year (or more) later, I’d be skeptical.

But I get it—

• You want to lose weight.
• You want to feel consistent.
• You want lasting results.

Which brings me to the fun part…let’s talk about the actual fastest way!

The Fastest Way to Lose Weight (For Real)

The fastest way to lose weight is the way that allows you to lose it at a sustainable pace and in a way you can maintain for a very long time (forever, really).

We want to create lifestyle change. And that isn’t something we can (or should) try to force overnight. That’s simply not how we work.

Instead, we want to create compounding habit changes. Start small and build momentum. At first, it might feel insignificant, but let it build for a month, six months, a year—and you’ll see massive results.

Step 1: Pick 1-2 habits you know you can execute with “relative” ease.

Choose habits that you’d give yourself an 85-95% chance of doing. Examples:

• I will work out once this week.
• I will get 3,000 steps a day.
• I will eat breakfast every day this week.

Pick one or two, max. Then, build on them slightly each week. That’s the CORE of my Well Fed Way habit transformation program—building sustainable habits over time.

When you do it this way, you not only get to celebrate wins along the way, but you also embed these habits into your life in a way that actually sticks. And that is lifestyle change GOLD.

Step 2: Learn what and how much you need to eat.

Aiming for as little intake as possible is a recipe for burnout. Long-term success comes from learning how to SUPPORT and NOURISH your body, not deprive it.

Sustainable weight loss means learning to work WITH your body, not against it. There are some fantastic macro calculators out there to get you started. And if you’re serious about understanding what YOUR body needs to thrive, a 1:1 coaching program or self-guided program like the Well Fed Way can be a game-changer.

No matter how you go about it, gaining knowledge about your body’s unique needs is a POWERFUL and necessary step toward fast, sustainable results.

Step 3: Get support.

Some people can thrive doing this alone, but for MOST, community and accountability are the keys to long-term success. Surround yourself with people who share your goals. If you don’t have that in your immediate life, seek it out!

If you don’t have a friend or accountability buddy in your circle, workplace, or gym, there are amazing online communities that offer support, accountability coaching, and other monthly bonuses. Ours at Well Fed Health is called Well Fed Persist. And yes, I’m biased—but it’s amazing. :)

The Powerful Truth

People often overestimate what they can achieve in a week and GROSSLY underestimate what they can achieve in a year.

Start stacking tiny wins. As many as possible. Get the support and education you need—it’s out here for you. And most importantly, KEEP GOING! 

Coach Ashleigh 🦈