We all know that if we want to lose weight and stay in shape, eating well and exercising are pretty essential.
But did you know you could lose weight without exercising or always eating healthy food?
I’m not suggesting that following these tips means you should cancel your gym membership and go on a food splurge (don’t).
But doing some or all of the things in this roundup can certainly complement your weight loss efforts.
Are you ready to have some fun and get weight loss done?
1. Drink more water
Water does not burn fat, but it can definitely help you lose weight. Staying hydrated can help you avoid overeating. We may well be confusing thirst with hunger. So next time you’re hungry, drink some water first and make sure you aren’t just thirsty. If you want to burn even more calories, fill up your reusable water bottle and leave it in the freezer overnight. Mmm, ice water.
2. Drink green tea
Green tea boosts your metabolism and its active compounds bolster the effects of some fat-burning hormones that cause fat cells to break down fat. This releases fat into the bloodstream and makes it available as energy, which is essentially how fat burns.
3. Weigh yourself
Weighing yourself can help keep you on track. Knowing the number on the scale can help you figure out if you need to make adjustments to your diet or daily routines. You may think that weighing yourself is depressing but the reality is that it gives you a reality check so you can meet your targets.
4. Have more sex
I like this one the best, oh, yes. On average 25 minutes of good old sexy sex burns anywhere between 80 and 100 calories — the equivalent of doing a light workout at the gym and a lot more fun to boot. If you have sex regularly, it can curb carb and fat cravings. Having sex also helps you sleep better, which of course, helps your body shed more fat. So have more sex. And keep it safe.
5. Eat smaller meals more frequently
Having five to six small meals throughout the day rather than three large ones has its benefits. The longer you wait between meals, the hungrier you may get, and the likelier it may be for you to overeat. Eating a small portion every few hours will keep you from getting so hungry between meals that you overdo it. Research has shown that eating smaller meals throughout the day can also lower cholesterol.
6. Use smaller plates
If you have the same amount of pasta — that is, the same exact portion — served each on a large and small plate, the larger plate looks like it doesn’t have as much food on it. Even though you know it’s the same amount of food, it’s tempting to add more food to the larger plate. Anchor your portion to your plate. Using smaller plates means that over time you can teach yourself to eat less food.
7. Acupuncture
According to proponents of acupuncture, weight gain can be the result of disturbed energy flow to and from the regulating center of the brain — our good friend, the hypothalamus, which regulates the body’s temperature, circadian rhythm and more important, thirst and hunger. Some believe that acupuncture balances the flow of energy in the body, allowing the hypothalamus to better regulate our thirst and hunger. Hey, if you think it works for you, let us know.
8. Walk at least 15 minutes a day
Want to burn calories without joining a gym, buying an elliptical or having to pop in that exercise video you dread? Go outside and walk for 15 minutes. And we don’t mean stroll. Walk briskly, my friend. Pretend you’re late for work and your boss is about to give you a hard time for being five minutes late.
And if gadgets are your thing, well go ahead and use them to give you motivated. Having a walking buddy is always great, so if a walking club is not your thing, walk with your dog — or volunteer at your local dog shelter to help walk homeless dogs. Win-win!
9. Add spice to your food
If you’re a fan of spicy food, then good news! A study conducted in 2010 found that cayenne pepper may help burn calories and curb appetite. Do note, however, that one of the study’s supporters (read: funders) was the McCormick Spice Company, so, erm, grain of salt. Still many spices have multiple health benefits that, paired with a healthy balanced diet and moderate exercise, can certainly lead to eventual weight loss.
10. Stand up at work while at a computer
Your body burns calories even when you exert no physical energy. Sitting burns calories. Lying in bed burns calories. And — ding, ding, ding! — standing burns calories; in fact, it burns more calories than sitting. So if you’re a desk jockey and can change your workspace around to make it work, stand up.
11. Go dancing
Dance is cardio, and cardio means serious calorie burning. You don’t need to join a Zumba class or be a choreography wizard. You know what to do. Put on your favorite song or cue up your favorite playlist and dance like no one’s watching.
12. Cut back on artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes
Artificial sweeteners have come under fire recently. Some research has suggested that artificial sweetener and other sugar substitutes may be having the reversed desired effect — rather than cutting back calories they may be causing weight gain. The jury is still out, as more definitive studies are needed. Still, another possible pitfall of using artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes is that it makes it very tempting to cheat a little since you’ve “saved” some calories with the artificial stuff — which can lead to the slippery slope of overindulging.
13. Get more sleep
Some studies have shown that sleep deprivation could lead to a change in the way our bodies regulate our appetite, which can in turn, lead to more food cravings and therefore weight gain.
Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night helps your body regulate hunger. And we do mean restful and deep sleep, so break out the nature noises machine or turn the radio on to the classical music station to drown out annoying loud neighbors who are only going to keep waking you up every other hour.