What Are The Best Ways To Lose Weight Fast Without Exercising?

If you don't have the time to exercise and need to lose weight quickly, slash calories, drink water before meals, spend less time sitting and even log a little more sleep. You'll lose weight fast without setting foot in the gym.

Drink Water Before Meals

A study published in the Feb. 18, 2010, issue of the journal "Obesity" found that drinking about 17 ounces of water before meals resulted in increased weight lost. Water appeared to work in two ways. First, it creates a temporary feeling of fullness. Second, water slakes thirst, which you might mistake for hunger.

Cut 500 Calories

A pound of fat roughly equals 3,500 calories. You could burn 500 calories with an hour on the treadmill, but trimming the same amount from your diet takes far less effort, and if you do it every day, you can lose a pound of fat each week. Begin by eliminating empty calories from beverages, desserts and refined flour. Next, tackle mindless eating between meals, and plan healthful snacks with balanced nutrients. Finally, make sure you're eating breakfast, which will help you eat less overall throughout the day.

Spend Less Time Sitting

Even if you don't work out, you can keep your weight in check by spending less time lounging. A study published in the July 1, 2008, issue of the "International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity" found that people who received insufficient exercise but spent less time sitting had the same risk factors for being overweight as those who hit the gym daily but spent more time in sedentary behaviors.

Eat Protein

Plan your meals around this simple ratio of protein to fat to carbs (30 percent protein, 20 percent fat and 50 percent carbohydrates), and you could lose weight faster than you can say "pass the steak sauce." The "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" published a study in 2005 with promising results for protein's role in weight loss. Study participants who consumed a diet with 30 percent of total calories from protein lost a whopping 11 pounds during the course of the two-week study.

Sleep More

Getting adequate rest keeps your hormones in check. When sleep-deprived, your body produces excess ghrelin, leading to overeating, particularly of carbohydrate-rich foods. To make matters worse, sleep deprivation lowers the appetite-regulating hormone leptin. Adequate rest---at least seven to eight hours a night---reverses this hormone imbalance for reduced appetite and increased satiety. Also, although your energy needs are relatively low during sleep---50 to 100 calories---your body receives all of its energy from stored fat. Make the most of your resting hours by shutting down the kitchen a few hours before bedtime.