7 Simple Green Ways To Lose Weight Without Dieting

     When it comes to long-term success, you're far more likely to stick with small, doable changes that will lead to steady weight loss. Let's face it. Dieting just doesn't work. You're either constantly grumpy from depriving yourself of the food you really want, or you're cheating, which defeats the entire purpose. Losing weight can be stress-free and fun. Use these simple ideas to shed pounds without the dreaded "d" word.

1. Sleep is more than just a pretty-making mechanism. While you get your beauty rest, your body is working away to regulate your systems and heal any damage done from daily wear and tear. More than the necessary mending, your digestive system is also pumping hard to process your food, metabolizing carbohydrates and breaking down fats. Some studies have linked sleep deprivation to weight problems, with the likely culprit being changes in hormone levels梒ortisol and insulin in particular. Cortisol's main responsibility is the regulation of sugar, protein, fat, mineral and water metabolism.

2. When you're out to dinner and they bring around the dessert menu (or worse yet, the dessert tray), it's hard to say no. So don't! Instead, order one dessert for the table and share. Divvying up the calories lets everyone satisfy their cravings for the sweet without doing too much damage to the waist line.

3. Cut back on high-fat, high-cal foods that offer few or no nutrients. Start by dividing your usual portions by half, or even a third, and then work your way down. (Going "cold turkey" often backfires by prompting a binge.)

4. Eat when you抮e hungry. If you think restricting your intake is the right route to go to get rid of some extra weight, think again! Researchers at the University of Toronto found that women who kept themselves properly satiated have a lower average body-mass index than those who eat for other reasons (such as stress or emotional eating). Tune into your body and start to listen to what it is telling you.

5. If you want to start shedding pounds tonight, toss an extra clove of garlic into your crock pot. The Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco showed that spicing up your meals with garlic and pepper can help curb overeating. Research revealed that overweight people who added extra calorie-free and salt-free flavors to their meals lost an average of 30 pounds in six months.

6. Drink at least eight cups of water a day. Carry around a hard plastic water bottle and fill it up whenever you see a water cooler or drinking fountain. Water really does help flush toxins out of your system, not to mention that it speeds digestion. This is one of the best natural weight loss.

7. Find a way to become more active, even if it's a simple walk at your lunch break. Just 10 to 15 minutes a day can make a difference and is better than no activity. Working your way up a little at a time can help you create the habit of getting at least 30 minutes of exercise in a day within a matter of months.

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