Lazy Girl's Guide To Losing Weight

According to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Associations, women must exercise for 60 minutes per day, seven days a week, to maintain the same weight. You read that correctly: an hour daily just to stay at your existing weight.

Yikes.

You, like many other women, may have work and family obligations that prevent your being a full-time exerciser. Or perhaps you're just a bit lazy. Either way, you can lose weight without losing your mind.

Walk It Out

You can burn calories during your daily routine and without breaking a sweat. When you go to the mall or the grocery store, avoid the temptation to hunt down the closest parking spot. Instead, park toward the back of the lot and walk to and from your car.

When at work or any multistory buildings, don't take the elevator. Always take the stairs. Burn some calories and avoid having to listen to Muzak, as a dividend.

Cut Down on Junk Food

Another easy way to shed poundage is to skip some of those trips to the local fast-food drive-through, and resist the temptation to by that candy bar when you're gassing up the car.

Fast food is not only chock full of fat, calories and salt, but it tends to come in large portions. In a 2003 study published in Lancet Medical Journal, participants who ate fast food regularly gained 10 more pounds than those who didn't.

If you can't resist the urge to eat out, try to choose restaurants that offer healthy alternatives.

Cut Down on Salt

Food items high in sodium, such as salted meats and potato chips, lead to water retention. Always check the packaging for detailed sodium information. The FDA suggests a daily sodium intake of roughly 2,400 mg. Throw away the salt shaker and look for unsalted snack items.

Drink Water

Water can flush unhealthy toxins from your body, which may keep a few pounds off, especially in the digestive tract. But that's not the only way it can help you lose weight.

A 2010 study by Virginia Tech University said that people middle aged and older who gulped down a couple of cups of the clear stuff immediately before meals ended up eating 75 to 100 fewer calories than those who didn't. Drink a couple of glasses of water before meals, and you may find yourself feeling full quicker than before.

Complex Carbs

Despite the advantages of cutting down on starchy and sugary foods with no nutritional benefit, not all carbs are bad for your body. Focus on getting the complex carbohydrates that come in unrefined grains such as non-instant oatmeal and whole wheat pasta, along with beans and other legumes. Such foods will fuel your body for longer than foods with simple carbs and you'll feel fuller longer than usual, leading to less eating.

And of course, the fewer calories you eat, the leaner your body will be.