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The Best Way to Lose Weight Healthfully

Make Small, Sustainable Changes to Your Diet and Lifestyle.

By Osaretin ImarhiaPublished 3 years ago 9 min read
Anupam Mahapatra -unsplash

If you’re looking to lose weight in the healthiest way possible, look no further than making small changes to your diet and lifestyle over time. If you’re used to eating fast food, swapping it out with homemade meals and restaurant take-out will help you drop pounds faster than if you cut out fatty foods altogether. Alternatively, focusing on increasing the amount of physical activity that you do each day will also help to shed pounds while also improving your mood and energy levels. Here are some other ways to lose weight in the healthiest way possible.

Write down everything you eat

I wake up in the morning with a glass of iced water and I eat oatmeal with some fruit every day for breakfast. I also try to drink as much water as possible throughout the day because it helps me feel more energized throughout the day. Lunch is usually some kind of sandwich or soup that I pack myself so that I can control what goes in it. Dinner is a whole different story. There are times when I am too tired at night to cook so I grab something on my way home from work or if there’s nothing at the store near my house then sometimes, I just go hungry until tomorrow. When you don’t have time to think about food all day, it starts catching up with you by evening time. It's not always easy trying to find healthy options while running errands but thankfully these days most places offer healthier choices like salads and yoghurt parfaits. It's worth the effort though because it's been helping me drop pounds steadily over the last couple of months.

Consider calorie counting

It may be daunting at first but tracking calories can help you find a balance between the food you eat and the amount of exercise you do. It also helps identify what foods are not contributing to your weight loss goals so that you can avoid them in the future. Be mindful of how much sugar you consume by reading labels on processed food or by limiting how many servings of sugary beverages you drink per day. Track your progress by weighing yourself regularly and measuring your body fat percentage every few weeks. Aim for an intake level that leads to gradual weight loss (1-2 pounds per week). Finally, consider increasing the intensity and/or duration of your workouts if they're not yielding results after 3 months or more. If you don't see any change in weight over 6 months, talk to your doctor about other possible causes of obesity. Remember that it's never too late to start!

Understand the importance of exercise

Exercise is one of the most important components of any weight loss plan because it helps maintain healthy muscle mass and it increases the number of calories you burn each day. If you want to get the most out of exercise, try incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your workouts a few times per week. This type of exercise should be done for no more than 20 minutes at a time with only two days in between sessions. The idea is to alternate between intense bursts of activity followed by periods of rest. It's important not to push yourself too hard during these exercises, which may cause injury or make you feel exhausted afterwards.

To incorporate HIIT exercises into your workout routine: -During a 15-minute warm-up period, complete 10 repetitions of jumping jacks before taking a 60-second break. After this break is over, repeat this process until the end of the 15-minute warm-up period. Next, move on to the workout portion of the session. For a 10-minute interval, do 30 seconds of mountain climbers before taking a 60-second break. Repeat this process four times in total to reach a total of 40 minutes. Finally, take an active 5-minute cool-down period and enjoy how great you feel!

Drink more water

One of the simplest ways to start losing weight today is by drinking more water. This can be difficult for people who don't like the taste of plain water or have trouble resisting sugary beverages like soda or juice. But we recommend starting with a goal of drinking 8 glasses a day, even if you're not thirsty--you'll be surprised at how much better you feel as a result! Consider investing in a reusable bottle that will remind you to stay hydrated throughout the day. You could also try infusing your water with cucumber, lemons, strawberries or other healthy fruits for some added flavour. If you find that drinking water doesn't work for you, there are other options: try adding spices like ginger, mint leaves or lemon wedges to your tea; drink low-calorie broth, or add sparkling water with lime and orange slices. Experimenting with different flavours may help keep it exciting and give you another reason to stay on track! Eating protein: Protein helps build muscle mass so it's important to eat enough of it when trying to lose weight.

Don’t overdo it on junk food – treat yourself occasionally

It’s important not to overdo it on the junk food-it can be tempting when you feel like you deserve a reward after finishing a hard workout. But all that processed food will only set you up for disappointment if you don’t reach your goals. I recommend eating healthy foods 80% of the time and treating yourself 20% of the time with things like pizza or ice cream. This will help keep your cravings at bay while still giving yourself some fun treats! Don’t drink alcohol: It may seem harmless, but drinking too much alcohol has been linked to gaining more weight than staying sober. Drinking too much also has many negative side effects such as dehydration which are counterproductive in making sure your body stays in tip-top shape.

Don’t stop moving – including movement into your daily routine: Include some form of physical activity in your daily routine-even just taking the stairs instead of an elevator can have a huge impact on calorie burning throughout the day! You should always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program. A good rule of thumb is 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days per week.

Use smaller plates/bowls

One of the easiest ways you can start eating more healthily is by using smaller plates or bowls. You'll be less likely to overeat as it's easier for you to see how much food you've consumed when there's a lot less of it in front of you. A study in the International Journal of Obesity found that when people used smaller plates, they ate 14% fewer calories throughout the day than those who used regular-sized dishes. Similarly, a Cornell University study found that people using taller glasses (the kind you might use if you were drinking juice) drank 12% less fluid than those who were given shorter cups. And on top of all this, the Cornell University researchers concluded that making these subtle changes encouraged participants to eat slower and resulted in them feeling fuller quicker! Furthermore, increasing your water intake will also help with hunger levels - try swapping high-calorie drinks like sodas with fruit juice which has more vitamins and minerals. Or alternatively, have water with added fruit slices - this will provide you with some healthy sugars without taking up too many calories. Plus, adding lemon or lime to water will make it taste better without increasing its calorie content.

Eat fruit with every meal

There are many benefits of eating fruit with every meal. A study found that people who ate two or more servings of fruit per day were less likely to gain weight over time than those who didn't eat fruit at all. Fruit also provides fibre which helps keep you full for longer periods of time. It's important to get enough fibre in your diet because it can help lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation in the body.

Fruit can be incorporated into breakfast, lunch and dinner by adding it as a side dish or topping. It can also be juiced in the morning or used as an ingredient in oatmeal or pancakes! In addition to being good for you, the fruit has an amazing sweet taste so there's no need to cut out sugar from your diet completely. Try cutting back on sugar-sweetened beverages like soda or juice so that the natural sugars from fruits will satisfy your cravings. By doing this, you'll automatically start eating healthier without having to give up something you enjoy. Next time you're craving dessert after dinner, skip the ice cream and have some whole milk yoghurt with strawberries instead. You'll save calories while still enjoying a sweet treat!

Start getting 8 hours of sleep each night: Sleep is essential for maintaining healthy hormone levels in your body. It’s recommended that adults sleep eight hours each night, but 60% of Americans don't get close to that amount on any given night.

Consume less bread and pasta

This may seem like an obvious suggestion but it’s more difficult than it sounds. Bread and pasta are the staples of many cultures around the world because they’re cheap, filling, and easy to prepare which makes them a staple in many diets. However, these two foods are not what we should be consuming in excess if we want to maintain a healthy lifestyle or weight. The goal here is not to cut out carbs completely but instead limit how often you eat bread and pasta. If you eat one serving of bread per day, try having that serving once every two days instead. Similarly, if you typically have two servings of pasta per day then switch this up by only eating one serving every other day or so. It can take a while for our taste buds to get used to the change so don’t give up! You'll find yourself craving less bread and pasta as time goes on. Another option is to substitute with lower-carb alternatives such as quinoa, whole grain pasta, and brown rice for example. Remember: it's not about cutting anything out but instead being mindful about when and where you're eating certain foods. For example, if you crave dessert after dinner then instead of making brownies from scratch why not go with something lighter like fruit? There are endless ways to fit your favourite food into a healthier diet while still satisfying those cravings.

Switch white bread for brown bread, regular pasta for wholewheat pasta etc...

-Avoid food that you don't need, such as snacks between meals or desserts after dinner.

-Eat a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables; lean protein; whole-grain carbohydrates; and healthy fats like olive oil.

-Exercise regularly by walking or cycling for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. -Keep active in other ways too, like taking breaks from sitting at work with stretches or going upstairs instead of using the lift.

-To manage stress better, take time out each day for relaxation activities like listening to music, reading a book or taking a long bath. -Don't skip breakfast! Eating breakfast may help you avoid overeating later in the day. -Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

-Remember that every little change counts, so start where it's easiest for you and build on those changes until they become habits. -Finally, remember that these tips will only work if you're realistic about what you're trying to do. You won't be able to change everything overnight but over time you'll see results and feel much healthier and happier.

-If things are getting tough, remember how great it will feel when you reach your goal weight.

Don't let others bring you down (weight loss isn't about how others look at you.)

Many people are quick to tell you that you can't lose weight because they themselves have not been able to do so. However, the keyword in that sentence is they. Losing weight isn't about how others look at you; it's about being healthy for yourself and the ones who love you most.

Losing weight doesn't happen overnight, but with patience and perseverance, it will come off. There are many different diets out there which can be very confusing, but I recommend starting with a plant-based diet. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, less processed foods, and more water (as much as 64 ounces per day) will help the pounds fly off! As far as exercise goes, try walking 30 minutes a day 5 days a week or doing 30 minutes of yoga on one of those days you don't walk. Doing this every day should cause your body to release endorphins which promote weight loss. Once you've reached your goal weight, feel free to experiment with other types of workouts like jogging or going to the gym. And remember: You're beautiful just the way you are! We all have our struggles, but we also all have beauty within us. Love yourself and take care of your mind and body by giving them what they need to live happily ever after.

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