If you're trying to lose weight for a special occasion or by a specific time, you might be tempted to jump into a fad diet or to starve yourself to help the pounds melt off. The problem with extreme diets is that they're inherently unhealthy and they're not meant to be kept for a long period of time. This means that while you may lose weight in the short term, you can end up with serious side effects and you're likely to regain the weight once you go off the diet. There's a safer way to lose weight quickly.
Step 1
Eliminate all sweets from your diet. Start by giving up all baked goods, desserts and snacks that contain sugar in any form. This includes products with corn syrup, molasses, maple syrup or fructose. Sugar provides no valuable nutrition but adds calories to your diet.
Step 2
Cut down on processed foods to the minimum. Avoid anything white (such as white bread, white rice or potatoes) and instead opt for whole grains or healthier options when available. Processed foods that should be eliminated for maximum weight loss include packaged snacks (like chips), canned foods, processed and cold meats, frozen dinners, and sugary cereals.
Step 3
Eat at home. One of the most effective ways for fast weight loss is to avoid restaurants. Restaurant foods tend to be high in sugars, fats and calories. Eating at home gives you the ability to control what you eat and how much you eat. Brown bag your lunch to work as well to avoid being tempted by the vending machine.
Step 4
Drink only calorie-free liquids. Stop drinking all sodas, fruit juices, gourmet coffees and shakes. Black coffee and tea are fine. If you crave soft drinks, have a diet soda. Otherwise, concentrate on water, either plain or seltzer. Cold water is better, as the body has to work harder to warm it up, speeding up your metabolism in the process.
Step 5
Eat lots of fiber, which is low in calories but very filling. Vegetables are especially high in fiber and can easily be added to every meal to help fill up on less calories. For breakfast, try adding broccoli and peppers to scrambled eggs. For lunch or dinner, add chopped vegetables to sauces, soups or pies. Or use them as pizza toppings (on a whole wheat crust).
Step 6
Exercise for at least 30 minutes everyday. If you can't afford aerobic classes or a gym membership, go for a jog or ride your bike around town. Since your goal is to lose weight quickly, you will need more intense activities than just walking. However, walking and moving as much as possible throughout the day can also increase calorie burning. Mix up cardio and resistance training. Weight training helps build muscle, which in turn speeds up metabolism and helps you burn more calories.
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