Longevity logo

The Secret to Losing Weight Naturally

shed pounds without risking your health!

By Happy Life OfficialPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
1

You want to lose weight, so you decide to change your diet, go to the gym more frequently, or eat more fruits and vegetables instead of junk food.

You do this for some time, but the scale doesn't budge much despite your efforts.

It's tempting to give up and eat whatever you want, but it doesn't have to be that way!

If you're going to lose weight naturally, here are some valuable tips to help you shed pounds without risking your health!

Eat-in Season

When foods are in season, they tend to be cheaper, so eating seasonally can save you money.

Additionally, opting for in-season produce makes you more likely to get a more nutritional bang for your buck.

That's because fresh fruits and vegetables typically contain higher nutrients than their out-of-season counterparts.

For example, local farmers often pick apples and pumpkins at peak ripeness and full nutrient potential.

Whereas imported produce is usually picked before it is ripe and then allowed to ripen during transport or storage—resulting in less vitamin content overall.

Don't Skip Meals

Skipping meals is one of the biggest dieting mistakes you can make.

Skipping meals slows down your metabolism and teaches your body to stop burning fat as a source of energy, so you start eating more calories.

On top of that, starving yourself leaves you at greater risk of binge eating later in the day or overeating at other meals because starving isn't healthy.

When you eat regular, balanced meals throughout each day while working out regularly, you can lose weight safely.

And if you want help getting started on your weight-loss journey, don't miss these tips for losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks.

Exercise Strategically

Exercise doesn't burn as many calories as you might think—studies suggest that walking briskly for an hour and a half only expends about 650 calories.

But it's still an effective tool for weight loss because it encourages you to move more, which burns more calories all day long.

Exercise can also help boost your metabolism: A small study in 2012 found that exercising just once a week increased participants' metabolic rates by 30 percent.

While 30 minutes of cardio is great, interval training may be even better—studies show that high-intensity interval training (where you alternate between short bursts of all-out exercise and short recovery periods) is one of the most effective ways to lose weight fast.

Drink Water Before Meals

Water helps fill you up and makes food taste bland, making you less likely to overeat.

A study published in Obesity Research found that people who drank two cups of water before eating a meal lost five pounds over 12 weeks.

You might want to avoid plain water—after all, it does not contain any nutrients or caffeine.

Add lemon slices and cucumber for a refreshing zero-calorie drink to make your flavored water. Flavored sparkling waters are also available in stores.

See Your Doctor Regularly

If you are overweight or obese, talk with your doctor about how to best manage your health condition.

Many people who are not being treated for their weight may have co-existing medical conditions that can make weight loss more difficult or even dangerous.

If you see your doctor regularly and get routine tests done, they will be able to watch for any symptoms of illness that may result from being overweight.

Being overweight is often linked with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea; talking with your doctor regularly helps keep these health problems in check.

As you work toward losing weight and keeping it off, you must maintain an overall healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise.

Get Enough Sleep

In a study conducted at Baylor College of Medicine, researchers found that dieters who got four hours of sleep or less a night had an easier time shedding pounds than those who slept for eight hours or more.

The researchers concluded that there's a metabolic benefit associated with getting enough sleep.

Those who didn't get enough shut-eye also had larger waists and a higher incidence of depression, which can lead to a vicious cycle. Sleep deprivation leads to overeating; overeating causes weight gain; and weight gain leads to... not sleeping enough!

For your best health, aim for seven or eight hours every night.

Have Good Posture

Maintaining good posture is an easy way to increase your metabolism and burn more calories.

Not only will you look more attractive, but you'll also be healthier.

Follow these tips from a trainer on developing great posture:

  • When standing, make sure your shoulders are back, and your core is tight.
  • When sitting, spread your feet to form a 90-degree angle with knees at right angles.
  • Avoid slouching when sitting or standing.

If you need support for your lower back while sitting, place a pillow behind you and keep it there by putting one hand on it throughout the day.

It's amazing how just having good posture can help burn off those extra pounds!

weight loss
1

About the Creator

Happy Life Official

I write about relationships, health, happiness, and much more to ease your life routine.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.