Losing weight naturally is the best way to go about it. Crash diets may work for the time being but are never a permanent solution to your problem. In fact, they can slow down your metabolism and hinder normal cell functions. So, you must tweak your lifestyle in the way that you lose weight effortlessly. In this article, we have listed 30 ways that will help you ditch the fad and shed some real fat. Let me show you some light.

1. Set Realistic Weight Loss Goal

The first step to losing weight is to know that you need to lose weight. That you have accomplished. Now, you must set realistic goals. Suppose, you need to lose 10 kilos then set your goal saying, “I must lose 2 kilos in 4 weeks.” If you want to lose 10 kilos in 1 week, first, you will not be able to do that; second, not being able to lose weight can make you doubt yourself, which ultimately will demotivate you. Break down your biggest agenda into smaller agendas. Take small steps to reach your final weight.

2. Record Your Three-Day Diet

This is one of the best ways to find out and see for yourself where you are going wrong. Are you consuming too much junk? Are you not drinking water? Are you eating too less? The answers to all these questions and many others will be revealed in the three-day diet record. Simply note down your daily meal habits – when you eat, what you eat, and how much you eat. Consuming too many calories and eating too less can also lead to weight gain. Check what you are eating during the weekends, record what you are snacking on, etc.

3. Find Out How Many Calories You Should Consume

You know that you are eating too much or too less. Next, find out how many calories you should ideally consume. To do that, you can register an any of the fitness websites/apps where you can enter your age, weight, height, activity level etc. To find out how many calories you should be consuming. Suppose, your three-day diet record reveals you are consuming 3000 calories per day while your intake should be only 2200 calories per day – it means you are consuming 800 calories extra. Try to cut back on calories slowly. Start with cutting back 200 calories and then gradually consume 2000-2200 calories. However, if you start working out, you may need to consume more calories. Check with your fitness trainer or dietician to know what your calorie intake should be if you have increased your activity level.

4. Cut Back On Sugar

We consume sugar in many different forms – refined sugar, cake, pastry, cookies, biscuit, sweet treats, candy, muffins, ketchup, packaged beverages, etc. If you look at your three-day diet record, you will find out exactly how much sugar-loaded food you are consuming. So, first and foremost, cut back on sugar. But do it slowly. For example, if you drink tea or coffee with sugar, you should start by reducing the amount of sugar you take in your tea or coffee. And then finally add no sugar. If you love cookies, try cookies made with brown sugar and oatmeal. Try cakes or muffins that contain less sugar. Gradually, you will not have the urge to eat sugary foods, and you will lose weight without even sweating in the gym!

5. Your Kitchen Needs Makeover

Your body can only get a makeover when your kitchen gets a makeover. Because it is true, “out of sight is out of mind.” Remove all the unhealthy foods from your kitchen and give it away or toss it into the bin. Yes, take few drastic steps if you really want to lose weight. You may feel like you are tossing your money into the bin, but it is way better than tossing your health away! Go to the market and get veggies, fruits, high-fiber foods, herbs, spices, nuts, flaxseeds, etc. that will help you lose weight.

6. Eat Homemade Food

We are too busy to cook. Sometimes just doing nothing makes us feel tired. Right? Well, of course, some of you are really busy and always on the go. But you must know, you can cook at home without having to make an elaborate lunch or dinner. It can be simple and quick. What about a salad or a stew? What about brown rice and oven grilled mushrooms and veggies? What about boiled lentils with sauteed veggies? I strongly advise you to cook your meals at home because restaurant foods contain invisible calories in the form of sauces, taste additives, etc. Moreover, eating out every day ruins the once-in-a-while eating out experience. If you don’t get time during the weekdays to cook, make your home cooking easy by storing chopped veggies or homemade sauce or salad dressing in air-tight containers or ziplock bags.

7. Drink Water

You will be surprised to know that 95% of the times when we feel thirsty, we actually start feeling hungry. So, instead of drinking water, we grab a cookie or two. Ideally, you should drink 3-4 liters of water (or more if you work out regularly). But we all miss that mark. Not drinking enough water leads to metabolic slowdown, toxin buildup, pH imbalance, and hinders normal cell functions. So, make a conscious effort to drink an adequate amount of water. You can add cucumber or mint to your water to make it look and taste better.

8. Consume Veggies

For me, veggies are like math – the more I run away from it, the more it chases me! I don’t know about math, but veggies do help reduce weight. I can say that because I also struggled to lose weight until I started consuming veggies in the right proportions. Eat spinach, kale, lettuce, collard greens, radish greens, celery, carrot, beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli, chives, scallions, yam, okra, eggplant, tomato, onion, herbs, and spices. These will help you load up on vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Veggies are low in calorie and high in fiber. So they can help you feel full for longer. Have 3-5 servings of veggies per day.

9. Consume Fruits

Fruits are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, fruit sugar, and other phytonutrients that help flush out toxins, improves digestion, aids weight loss, keeps hunger pangs away, and improves skin and hair health. Stock up your fridge with different kinds of fruits and consume at least 3 different fruits and get a total of 3 servings of fruit per day.

10. Say No To Fried Food

It is strange how dangerous things attract us the most. Fried foods have zero nutritional value, high in cholesterol, and is toxic to the body. Fried foods like fried chicken, potato chips, fries, etc. are mostly fried in used oil, which, to be honest, is poison for your body. These foods will make you more prone to heart attack, inflammation, constipation, etc. So, be mindful and take care of your body, like the way it is taking care of you.

Written by : Charushila Biswas