How to Lose Weight without Diet or Exercise

Introduction

Have you ever wanted to lose weight but got stuck counting your carbs or your strides on the elliptical machine? I dieted and exercised rigorously for four years and lost NOTHING. Then, I stopped doing these things and lost 22 pounds in the past year!

Steps

1 Step One

Weigh yourself and determine why you want to lose weight. If you are looking for a quick fix, this article is not for you! My tips provide long-term weightloss and a healthier lifestyle overall. Notice your eating habits and how much you generally eat in one meal.

2 Step Two

Start eating a little bit less than you normally do. I started off leaving three bites on my plate at each meal. I always felt satiated but never stuffed. Then eventually my body became used to this, and I started leaving 4, 5, and more bites there because my stomach has shrunk!

3 Step Three

Portion control, portion control, portion control! This is an extremely effective way to lose weight. Learn to have a good eye for portions: 1 serving of cheese should be about the size of your thumb, a portion of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards, etc, etc. Look up tips online to make it easier to "guesstimate" certain portion sizes.

4 Step Four

Start to add tasty fruits and vegetables into your lifestyle one at a time. Fruits and vegetables give you lots of fullness and satisfaction for very few calories. An apple has the same amount of calories as a bonbon, but which one will make you fuller for longer? Would you rather have a snack-size bag of 6 to 7 chips or a plate of carrots, celery, brocolli for the same amount of calories?

5 Step Five

Read up about nutrition. If you aren't used to eating fruits and vegetables, you will learn that you are getting more "bang for your buck" when it comes to getting lots of vitamins and nutrients for very few calories. Dr. Shapiro's book "Picture Perfect Weight Loss" is very useful for gaining perspective on this tip and the one above. After only a couple of weeks, your body will learn to prefer these healthy foods to junk. Learn to appreciate the decadent flavors of nature.

6 Step Six

You can eat anything you want, but only in moderation. Won't you get as much satisfaction from one portion of that delicious chocolate ice cream as you would a large bowl? If all else fails, fill up on fruits and veggies before you indulge, so you will still get the taste that you are craving but you will be full before you get all the unnecessary calories.

7 Step Seven

When I go out to eat, I am very selective about what I order. Often, I will order a full sized entre and split it with a friend or take half of it home. Or, I will order a few things off of the 1 dollar menu. Generally, the 1 dollar menu has small sizes, so that automatically means fewer calories right there! I generally order a burger, a fruit (lots of places nowadays offer yogurt or a fruit cup), and maybe fries. Sounds yummy!

8 Step Eight

Stop, stop, stop drinking caloric drinks! This is my number one rule. Drinks that are not smoothies are packed with empty calories- calories that don't provide you with any nutrition or a feeling of fullness. Switch to diet drinks, or drink water. Purchase light lemonade mix and fill water bottles with that- only 5 to 10 calories a cup, and you still get a great sweet juice taste!