56 Ways to Start Losing Weight Today

This article was republished with permission from POPSUGAR Fitness.

Losing weight isn't easy, and whoever tells you differently is lying. It takes commitment, hard work, and for many, a complete lifestyle makeover. But these 56 techniques will make losing weight much easier:

Limit Your Calorie Intake
Losing weight boils down to simple math. To lose one pound weekly, burn or cut out 3,500 calories in the course of seven days. That breaks down to 500 calories per day. It's difficult to cut out that many by dieting alone, especially for someone who loves to eat. The most effective approach is this combo: each day, cut out 250 calories from your diet and burn 250 through exercise. Choose to either cut out one 250-calorie item such as a serving of ice cream, or omit a few small things that add up to 250 calories a day. 

Check out this calorie calculator  to figure out how many calories to consume each day, based on your current weight and your weight-loss goal. Don't dip below 1,200 calories to prevent going into starvation mode, which makes your body hold on to weight. 

Get Up and Out—No Matter What
Even when you're swamped, stay active with a 10-minute break to rev up your body. Taking a walk at lunchtime is a proactive way to promote weight loss. Bonus: You'll also get some sunshine. 

Stop Skipping Evening Workouts
At the end of a hard day, it's easy to find an excuse to skip the gym or your run. To stay committed, tell yourself that an evening workout is not optional. And honestly, who couldn't use an extra boost of endorphins after a tough meeting? If it's too dark to head outside to exercise, these at-home workouts  will do the trick.

Focus on Intense Cardio 
Doing difficult 45-minute cardio sessions a few times a week can boost your metabolism. Better yet, a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise showed that each intense cardio sessions can elevate your metabolism even after you stop sweating, burning additional calories post-workout. Some intense cardio workouts to try: running, indoor cycling, or interval training (like this pyramid treadmill workout).

Travel Smart 
Just because you're going on vacation doesn't mean you have to halt your exercise routine. Travel smart by packing a few workout-related items that don't take up too much space, like these five fitness accessories.

Stop With the Scale 
It may be tempting to step on a scale whenever you see one, but if it's making you feel bad, then give it a break. Keep in mind that the number is not going to change overnight. Allow yourself weekly weigh-ins, but remember that your weight isn't always the most accurate measure of success. You could be building fat-burning muscle, which could push the number up.

Drink Water 
Aside from keeping you hydrated, regular water consumption may aid with weight loss, according to recent studies. Drinking water before a meal ensures you're hydrated (and being dehydrated can make you think you're hungry, causing you to eat more). What's more, eating foods that contain a lot of water (like fruits and veggies) will fill you up faster so you end up eating less. A small study found that drinking cool water might even speed up metabolism and discourage cravings for sugary drinks like soda and juice. Now that's a reason to stay hydrated!

Eat Your Veggies 
Eating five to seven servings of fruits and veggies a day is important for everyone, but dieters who go heavy on the produce are more likely to lose and keep the weight off. Fruits and veggies are low-calorie and often loaded with filling fiber. So make one of these 51 vegetable-focused recipes  for your next meal.

Eat Breakfast 
Eating early in the day can help your body burn more calories. Read on for more tips on how to boost your metabolism.

Shorten Your Workouts—But Make Them Count 
Short, intense cardio workouts can be just as effective  as longer ones, which means you reap the calorie-burning rewards. Start with one of these 10-minute workout videos.

Enjoy the Food You Eat 
One of the worst things you can do when you're trying to lose weight is eat too little. Instead of depriving yourself, enjoy small indulgences or schedule a cheat day—and don't obsess over it. After all, eating high-calorie foods every once in a while won't wreck a healthy diet. In fact, allowing yourself to indulge on occasion can help you develop a healthy relationship with food that may help you from bingeing later.

Play the Calorie Game Correctly 
Losing weight is about simple math; don't fool yourself into thinking that a workout is a free pass to splurge. This mindset could lead you to eat more calories than you burn, which will result in weight gain instead of weight loss.

Stop Eating Junk Food 
It may seem obvious, but junk food is your weight-loss enemy. Worse yet, eating foods full of sugar and fat will make you feel irritable and sluggish. To get all the junk out of your system, consider doing a two-week elimination diet by cutting out gluten, refined sugars, dairy, caffeine, and alcohol. From high energy levels to glowing skin, here are five reasons why an elimination diet can work for you.

Eat Tons of Blueberries 
Blueberries aren't just full of antioxidants. They may play a role in reducing belly fat , too. Blueberries are loaded with anthocyanin, which alters the activity of genes found in human fat cells and makes it more difficult to put on weight. So go ahead and try one of these healthful blueberry recipes.

Get Stoned 
With your fruit, that is! Stone fruits like nectarines, plums, peaches, and cherries contain natural substances that ward off obesity. Pretty cool, right? Added bonus: They also protect against diabetes and act as an anti-inflammatory. Dietician Cynthia Sass recommends eating the fruit on its own in a raw, natural state.

Keep It Fresh 
Maybe you don't eat a ton of junk food, but there are still some seemingly healthy —but highly processed—foods out there. Get as close to nature as you can and eat a diet filled with all-natural whole foods. They'll help you maintain energy levels, promote healthy sleeping habits, and provide ample fuel for all of your workouts.

Stick to Your New Habits Even After You Lose Weight 
You used to devour a big bag of potato chips with your lunch, but when you decided to lose weight, you replaced it with a side salad. Now that the weight is off, don't go back to your chips habit. Losing weight is a lifestyle change, not something you do until you reach your goal. Once you go back to old eating habits, the weight will creep back on. Give yourself room for indulgences, but make sure it's all in moderation.

Push Your Body 
If you don't feel like trying something new in your exercise regimen, there are still ways to step up your current routine. Adding an extra few minutes to a workout, sprinting at the end of a run, or choosing heavier weights may make all the difference. 

Eat Fiber in the Morning 
One key to losing weight is eating foods that keep you full. The strategy can help you ward off hunger pains and temptation. To start your day off right, make sure your breakfast includes at least eight grams of fiber. Try these 10 high-fiber cereals  or these breakfast meals that contain at least 10 grams of fiber.

Live an Overall Active Life 
Physical activity, be it training for a half marathon or hitting the gym, is important for losing weight—but scheduled sweat sessions aren't enough. Take the stairs, walk your dog, vacuum vigorously, bike to dinner, and garden. All these things will help burn calories and keep you in an active frame of mind. 

Pack a Lunch 
Packing a healthful lunch  is one of the best ways to stay committed to a healthy meal plan. When you order in or take out, it's hard to assess how many calories your meal contains. Prep your own meals, and you'll know exactly which ingredients you're eating. 

Eat Chickpeas and Grapefruit 
These foods might as well be a dieter's best friends. Chickpeas have been found to help dieters break bad snacking habits, and eating half a grapefruit before every meal has been shown to help dieters drop more pounds than forgoing the citrus fruit.

Tune in to Your Workouts 
It seems like everyone is attached to cell phones these days. Even if you're use yours to stream your workout playlist, you shouldn't be texting or chatting while you're at the gym. Giving each workout your full attention allows you to maximize results for an even greater payoff. 

Monitor Your Progress 
If weighing yourself gives you anxiety, then monitor your progress by looking in the mirror or noting how your clothes fit. 

Exercise in the Morning 
Studies have found that people who exercise in the morning work out harder  than those who exercise at other times in the day.

Switch to Blue Plates 
The color blue is considered a natural appetite suppressant. You don't need to don a pair of blue-lens shades  before you eat; just use blue plates. 

Always Pay for Food in Cash 
The next time you head to the grocery store, stop at the ATM first. A study showed that individuals buy fewer indulgent foods when paying in cash.

Build Muscle 
Muscle burns calories at a higher rate than fat. (Depending on which study you read, a pound of muscle burns anywhere from 15 to 50 calories per day, compared to fat, which averages about two calories per day.) Even if you consider yourself active, it's important to make strength training a part of your fitness routine. Here are some beginner strength-training moves to get you started.

Click HERE for 28 more weight-loss tips and tricks  from POPSUGAR Fitness!

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