Learning how to lose weight naturally starts with the basic premise that your body wants to be a healthy weight. Your body has a set point – the weight your body normally hovers around, plus or minus a few pounds. You are born with a healthy set-point weight, but if you gain weight and keep it on, your body adapts to this new, higher set point. From here, it becomes more difficult to lose weight naturally or even through surgical or drug-induced means, since your body’s been tricked into thinking it must retain the excess weight.
But even if you’ve been overweight for years, it’s still possible to shed pounds, keep them off and restore a healthy set point. The key to accomplishing this is learning how to lose weight naturally.
10 NATURAL WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT
Weight loss experts agree that there are a plethora of natural ways to lose weight, all of which hinge on lifestyle and dietary adaptations. Here are proven strategies for working with your body to lose weight and keep it off.
1. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Changing your habits around eating and exercise can be daunting. If you’re struggling to lose weight, it can be a source of shame. Empower yourself with positive thinking and supportive friends. Being aware of the problem takes a lot of strength, and it’s your first step to finding solutions.
2. CHANGE YOUR MINDSET
Changing your mindset toward your body and food unlocks the internal resources you need to lose weight. Achieving lasting weight loss means embracing food as fuel for life and exercise as a source of strength. As you identify the limiting beliefs holding you back, learning how to lose weight naturally becomes second nature.
3. DON'T OVERACHIEVE
If you lose more than 10% of your body weight at a time, your body thinks it’s starving and retains weight as a protective measure. You’ll find that, as you implement natural ways to lose weight, your body will naturally shed pounds within that 10% threshold. Set SMART goals that are reasonable and attainable, and you’re setting yourself up for success.
4. MAKE A BEHAVIOR PLAN
Medical literature is clear that your behavior ultimately trumps your physiology, putting the power to lose weight naturally squarely in your hands. Write down the behaviors that are causing weight gain. Be specific – instead of “I eat too much,” write down “I overindulge on sweets because I’m bored at work.” Then write down a replacement behavior that meets your physical and emotional needs, like “When I am bored at work, I will take a walk around the block before eating.” The goal isn’t perfection – it’s becoming more mindful of your habits.
5. ADOPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Your mindset, diet, and exercise form a triad that’s the backbone of lasting health and vitality. Part of your strategy for learning how to lose weight naturally is nourishing your body with nutritious food and strengthening your body with exercise. Start small with exercise and food items you find appealing.
6. EAT LESS AND EAT WELL
Cleaning up your diet is critical to learning how to lose weight naturally. You want to eat well-balanced, delicious meals that satisfy your hunger and your taste buds. Replace processed foods with high-quality, high-fiber, low-fat foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and lean meat.
7. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
Staying hydrated is one of the quintessential keys to weight loss. When you’re dehydrated, it’s common to mistake thirst for hunger, which leads to overeating. Drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water a day. Sodas, coffee, and alcohol don’t count, since they dehydrate you and add toxins and calories to your diet.
8. MOVE YOUR BODY
You can learn to love exercising without stressing out about it. The idea is to transition from viewing exercise as a punishment to seeing it as the health-promoting, joyful activity it is. As you learn how to lose weight naturally, you’ll feel more comfortable in your body, which creates an upward cycle of momentum.
9. GET RESTFUL SLEEP
When your sleep is not restful, your body is not able to rejuvenate itself. It then relies on excess calories to sustain itself in lieu of sleep. If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, learning how to lose weight naturally will help, since your new diet-and-exercise regimen facilitates deeper, more restful sleep as well as weight loss.
10. MANAGE YOUR STRESS
Stress is a common culprit when it comes to weight gain, poor sleep, and emotional eating. Managing stress is one of the most effective natural ways to lose weight since it calms your mind. From here, you’re able to make smart, healthy choices that further your weight loss goals.