We should all aspire to be in shape, not only for the health benefits, but also for our own confidence and sense of wellbeing. If you're currently out of shape, you might wonder how long it would take you to get into shape with the right plan.

So how long would it take? And how much effort would it demand from you?

What Does It Mean to Get in Shape?

First, you need to figure out what it means to get in shape, because this phrase means something a little different to everyone. For some people, getting in better shape means losing weight. For others, it means building muscle. For some people, getting in better shape is an ambitious goal in which you want to totally transform your body. For others, it means small, incremental changes to tweak the body you already have. For some people, getting in better shape just means being average or slightly better than average, but for others, it means becoming a bodybuilder or an elite athlete.

Where you land in these spectra is going to have a massive bearing on what types of goals you set for yourself as well as the steps you plan to take to achieve them. That’s why it’s so important to talk to a professional about your nutrition and weight loss goals. Together with an advisor or a consultant, you can get an honest assessment of your health and fitness, work to set an appropriate goal, and then come up with a totally personalized plan for how to achieve that goal.

At the very least, you should have a solid understanding of what it means for you to get in shape – and how you might ultimately get to that destination.

The Accelerated Timeline

Hypothetically, you can start getting in better shape in a matter of weeks. If you start eating less junk food while simultaneously exercising more, it's only a matter of time before you start both losing fat and gaining muscle, which are ideal circumstances for most people trying to get in better shape. Some people might start noticing results after several days, but it's not uncommon for people to only start seeing the real momentum of their work after at least a few weeks of consistent performance.

It's hypothetically possible to see even faster results, but this usually involves unsustainable and counterproductive tactics like crash dieting. That said, sustainable and healthy strategies can lead you to start seeing significant changes in your body after just a couple of weeks.

The Impact of Your Choices

Your choices have a massive impact on how long it's going to take you to get into shape.

· Existing conditions. The path to getting in shape is different for everyone, since people are already at varying levels of fitness. If you're extremely obese, it will take you longer to get in shape than someone with an average body. In some cases, working with a healthcare provider to explore options like weight loss medication can be part of a medically supervised plan. According to Dr. Michael Snyder at FuturHealth, “These medications aren’t shortcuts, but when used alongside lifestyle changes, they can help certain individuals jumpstart progress, especially if traditional methods have fallen short.”

· Diet. Diet is arguably the biggest factor in determining your overall weight and form. Making substantial, healthy improvements to your diet can help you get in shape faster.

· Exercise. Some people trying to lose weight don't exercise at all; they typically see inferior results to people who incorporate both diet and exercise into their plans.

· Sleep. Make sure you get enough sleep at night, or you may compromise your ability to get in shape quickly.

· Stress. Heightened stress levels can also complicate your fitness journey, making it harder for you to get in shape and stay in shape.

The Dangers of Going Too Hard, Too Quickly

Note that it's certainly possible to do too much too quickly in pursuit of getting in shape. There are several risks associated with this, including:

·  Malnutrition. Crash dieting or being overly restrictive with your nutritional intake could lead to malnutrition and a host of side effects.

·  Physical injury. If you work out too much, too fast, or with too much weight, you could end up with a physical injury, precluding yourself from exercising in the future.

·  Burnout. Eliminating all your favorite foods and going hard at the gym every day is a recipe for burnout. Getting in shape doesn't mean much if it only lasts a few weeks.

·  Lack of meaningful results. No matter how much work you put in or how quickly you put that work in, it’s still going to take time for your body to adapt. Going crazy with extreme strategies for a few days is unlikely to produce a meaningful difference in your body.

For many people, getting in shape is an admirable goal, as is getting in shape relatively quickly. However, if you want healthy and sustainable results, it's important for you to understand what you're trying to achieve and the best course through which to achieve it.