How Much Weight Can You Lose in 3 Weeks Doing Pilates?

Pilates is an effective way to keep your body flexible and strengthen your muscles, but with the right approach, it can also help you lose weight. The ability to lose a noticeable amount of weight by doing Pilates for three weeks depends on several factors. These factors include the frequency with which you practice Pilates, the intensity of your classes and the type of diet you consume.

MayoClinic.com recommends being realistic when setting your weight loss goals. Although you might have a lofty goal of losing 10 pounds per week, doing so isn't typically possible and can even be unsafe to attempt, much less sustain week after week. The clinic suggests a weight-loss goal of 1 to 2 pounds per week, but notes you might experience more rapid weight loss if you make realistic lifestyle changes.

Pilates burns calories at a low rate, which can make significant weight loss through this type of exercise alone difficult. HealthStatus notes a 155-pound person will burn 130 calories in 30 minutes of advanced Pilates, 181 calories in a 30-minute intermediate class and 223 calories through 30 minutes of practicing Pilates at the advanced level. Sports such as jogging and cycling can burn calories several times faster. Because you won't burn calories quickly practicing Pilates, set your weekly weight-loss goal closer to 1 pound.

The key to losing weight is to create a calorie deficit, which means burning more calories than you consume. Creating this deficit is typically possible through frequent exercise and healthy choices at mealtime. Because 1 pound of fat is equal to 3,500 calories, a daily deficit of 500 calories will help you lose 1 pound in a week. Tracking your calories burned each day can be challenging, as your body continuously burns calories at various rates. If you want to create a daily calorie deficit through Pilates, practice the exercise frequently and at length. If you're short on spare time, consider supplementing your workout regimen with more vigorous exercises such as jogging and bicycling.

An hour of Pilates a few times per week is unlikely to lead to rapid weight loss, but by evaluating your daily calorie intake, you can achieve weight loss with Pilates. Because counting calories can be a challenging process, the American Council on Exercise recommends reducing the size of your meals by 10 to 15 percent, filling your diet with healthy, low-calorie foods and cutting out your consumption of alcohol, which is loaded with empty calories.