There are no surefire hacks to losing weight. That being said, diet and exercise can significantly enhance metabolism and promote weight loss. But that’s easier said than done.

Still, weight loss doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. The following are eight simple and natural ways to lose weight fast.

If you want to lose weight, then the first thing you have to do is ditch junk foods. Avoid grabbing processed foods that contain high amounts of sodium, trans fats and sugar. Grains that contain little to no nutrients like white bread, white rice and white flour should also be avoided. Additionally, you should ditch artificially sweetened beverages like sodas, energy drinks and commercially processed fruit juices.

Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated throughout the day can make it easier to lose weight. Drinking a tall glass of water prior to a meal can induce feelings of satiety, thus discouraging overeating. Water also rids the body of waste and toxins. Moreover, drinking water frequently induces urination, which prevents water retention that contributes to weight gain.

Eat breakfast

Meal timing makes a huge difference as well. For instance, eating breakfast jumpstarts the body’s metabolic processes, leading to weight loss. Failure to eat breakfast, or choosing to skip breakfast, can cause you to pile more food come lunchtime to compensate, which can lead to overeating. For that matter, skipping meals can have debilitating effects on the body as well. Generally, irregular meal patterns lead to a weaker body and a tendency to indulge cravings.

Move around

You don’t have to get a gym membership to exercise. Simply moving around the house and lifting improvised weights can prevent muscle atrophy and boost metabolism. Just be creative and look for safe and productive ways to exercise.

Go for a walk

Individuals who cannot lift or do physical exercises due to bone-related conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis can opt to take short walks every day. Walks can be especially beneficial during the early hours of the morning. Not only does walking burn calories but it also “wakes up,” so to speak, various bodily functions including metabolism, digestion, respiration and blood circulation.

Use small plates

If you find it difficult to avoid overeating, or if you tend to pile on heaps of food every time you sit down to a meal, switch to smaller plates. This makes it easy to keep track of portions. Plus, it lets you avoid overloading the plate. On a psychological level, small plate sizes also serve as visual reminders to limit food intake.

High levels of antioxidants can significantly affect metabolism. To increase antioxidant intake, load up on fruits and vegetables. Apart from the high micronutrient content, fruits and vegetables also boast high amounts of dietary fiber that aids digestion and promotes weight loss.

Increase protein intake

High amounts of quality protein enhance various body functions including metabolism. Protein requires more energy to digest, which prompts the body to burn more calories. Plus, protein is key to muscle building. As a result, quality protein consumption allows you to lose weight along the hips and belly while maintaining muscle mass. Healthy sources of protein include nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, eggs and fish.

There are lots of ways to lose weight that do not require fasting, strict portion control and strenuous exercise. Eat nutrient-dense foods, follow a regular meal pattern and avoid commercially processed foods that contain little to no nutrients to jumpstart metabolism and promote weight loss.

Sources:

LifeHack.org

NewsNetwork.MayoClinic.org