In a culture obsessed with fad diets and gimmicky weight-loss machines, it can be easy to get sucked into a diet and weight-loss program that is hard on your pocket and not so effective on your waistline. While everyone wants to sell you something to help you lose weight, the best way to lose weight is good sense and using things you already own for diet and exercise. You don't need a special machine or an expensive diet delivery service to lose the extra weight, just some hard work and dedication.
Step 1
Use a free online calculator to decide how many calories you need to consume each day to lose weight. The calculator, found in the Resources section, takes into account your weight and height, fitness goals and activity level to decide how many calories per day would be ideal.
Step 2
Consider your refrigerator as your greatest partner for weight loss. Eating a healthy diet that is filled with fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains will help keep you full so that you can reduce your caloric intake to match the one that the calorie calculator gave you.
Step 3
Take a walk around the block. You'll find plenty of ways to exercise without buying machines if you just step outside. A study published in a 2002 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders" found that simple walking helped overweight subjects decrease their weight. Jogging or walking is free, or you could dust off an old bike and take it for a spin.
Step 4
Do strengthening exercises on your own at home, like push-ups, crunches and squats, all of which use your own body weight as resistance and don't need any fancy equipment.
Step 5
Incorporate a weight-loss journal in your efforts. A simple notebook that you already have can help you lose more weight than diet and exercise alone. A diary gives you something to be accountable toward, and an article published in a 2008 issue of "Contemporary Clinical Trials" found that those who recorded their exercise, diet and weight loss in a journal lost significantly more weight than those who did not. Use an online journal, word processing program or simple piece of paper to jot down what you're eating and how much exercise you did.
Step 6
Find a free support group to join. Getting a weight-loss buddy can help give you a push to lose the weight quickly. While you don't need an expensive trainer to lose weight, a friend or confidante can be a good way to check your progress and find support. Sites like My Diet Buddy offer free networking for those looking for support while losing weight.
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