Last Updated on June 15, 2016 by Michael Brockbank
You don’t need fancy exercise equipment or diet pills that claim to “burn fat overnight” if you want to quickly lose weight. Although some of these things can be very helpful, they’re not necessary to drop a few pounds. The human body is an amazing vessel if you give it a chance to do what it needs to become healthy. All it takes is a few changes in your daily routine.
How to Quickly Lose Weight
Since I created this site, my record weight loss was 10 pounds. This wasn’t done with special pills or state-of-the-art workout machines. It was done by allowing my body to be as natural as possible. Here is what I did to quickly lose weight without drastically changing my lifestyle.
1. Increase Water Intake
Water helps you digest food. The more liquid you consume while eating, the easier it is for your body to absorb nutrients. This also helps you pass that food by allowing it to move quickly through your digestive tract. More water can keep your body flushed of toxins as well. While you’ll find yourself in the bathroom more often, drinking more water is one of the easiest steps to take to achieve greater health.
2. Portion Control
I preach this a lot on this website. Portion control is vital to quickly lose weight. Many of us eat way too much in the grand scheme of things. If you limit yourself to proper serving sizes, you can reduce your carb and calorie intake. For example, one or two slices of a medium pizza is more than plenty of food for a single person. I use apps like MyFitnessPal to keep track of the foods I eat. It’s a great tool to use if you’re trying to monitor your portion sizes.
3. Increase Physical Activity
The most important aspect to quickly lose weight is to increase your physical activity. Even if you wind up taking 1000 more steps throughout the day, it’s beneficial to your health. You need to burn off those excess carbs, fats and calories. Anything above your normal routine is better than nothing at all. However, you may want to get into the habit of dedicating 30 minutes a day to exercise. For instance, a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood will burn some fat while getting yourself out in the fresh air. Set some distance goals within that 30 minutes.
4. Meditation
Yes, meditation can be indirectly linked to weight loss. When you meditate, you may become less stressed and more energized for the day’s events. The less stress you feel, the less likely you’ll be affected by cortisol. This hormone is responsible for creating deep tissue fats especially in the mid-section. It’s also a great way to clear your mind of negative thoughts and help you relax.
5. Replacing the Snacks
You don’t have to completely remove snacks throughout the day. However, you do want to include some snacks that are healthier. For instance, I was keen on cupcakes galore when I weighed 280 pounds. I am at 260 now by trading a few of those cupcakes with string cheese, carrots and ranch, light salads, pineapple or other sweet fruits. For me, this has made the greatest impact on my health. I have a terrible habit of snacking, but it doesn’t have to contribute to fat if you pick foods that are better for you in the long run.
6. Sleep
Sleep deprivation can cause a wide range of problems within the body. It can affect everything from stress levels to internal organ failure. I know some people “believe” they can work off of four hours of sleep. However, the human body needs more rest than that. Eventually, it will shut you down one way or another. Most people will show signs of sleep deprivation through mental processes before the organs are affected. If you want to be healthier and quickly lose weight, you’re going to need a full night’s rest.
Essentially, this is how I lost my first 10 pounds. I didn’t spend extra money on things that claimed to be fat burners. In fact, I saved more money in the long run because I decreased the amount of food I was eating. Hell, moving from fast food to home cooked meals saved my family hundreds of dollars that first month – there are seven people in my house. The power is within if you want to quickly lose weight. All it really takes is motivation and dedication to a better lifestyle. Health isn’t about looking sexy; it’s about increasing your lifespan and giving you a chance to enjoy all of what life throws at you.