Your Toughest Diet Dilemmas Solved

When Will I See It on the Scale?

"After two to four weeks of dieting, you should start seeing some real fat loss," says McManus. "Realistically, you can expect to lose about four to six pounds of fat in the first month." That said, you may begin noticing results even sooner. Since a pound equals 3,500 calories, as soon as you create a deficit of 3,500 calories, you'll see a loss of one pound. You could do this in a week by trimming 500 calories a day. But remember, weight fluctuates naturally, and people's calorie calculations are often imprecise, so don't be disappointed if the number on the scale doesn't budge right away. And if you do happen to drop several pounds in the first seven days, don't get too excited. It's most likely water weight, not fat.