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“You can live a healthy lifestyle and do the best to be aware of your body and conscious, and that’s what I attempt to do.”
(Hill Harper)

If you want to lose weight, you’ve no doubt considered going on a diet. The trouble is that dieting for a couple of weeks really isn’t going to benefit you in the long term – in fact, there’s a good chance you’ll simply put on any lost pounds as soon as you go back to your normal eating habits. Consider the following nutritional tips to lose weight without dieting.

1. Plan your meals and environment

Even if you don’t want to commit to a diet, you should still be aware of what you’re eating. Plan your meals ahead of time, and think about having a meal preparation session during the weekend, so you’re organized for your week ahead. Ensure that your kitchen mostly contains healthy, nourishing food rather than foods that are just empty calories. Additionally, if you’re planning a meal out, decide ahead of time what you’re going to eat – and if possible, visit a restaurant with healthy choices rather than a fast food joint. You don’t have to be on a diet, to think about how what you’re consuming affects your body and health.

Eating nutritious food will give your body the nourishment it needs to work well. Planning your meals will also help you feel organized and prepared, which is great for your mental health – an organized life leads to an organized mind! Planning ahead instead of buying things on a whim will be a lifesaver for your wallet, too.

2. Track your exercise

There’s really no drawbacks to regular exercise, whether you’re looking to lose weight or not. Track your steps with a pedometer – being aware of how you’re exercising will help you to think about what you’re eating, too. Particularly efficient exercise routines for quick weight loss include running, swimming and cycling. Eventually, you won’t even want to eat that bowl of ice-cream in the evenings – exercise will serve as motivation to continue to improve your overall health.

The benefit of exercise to your physical health needs no introduction, but it can help you greatly with your mental health, too; regular exercise is correlated with reduced levels of stress and anxiety. Getting out into nature is also a great way to get in touch with yourself spiritually, as nature reminds us that everything is connected. As far as your finances go, exercise is much cheaper than other activities – simply don your running shoes and step outside, and save the money for family expenses or activities!

3. Commit to a long-term lifestyle change

The best way to lose weight long-term is to make and commit to a complete lifestyle change. This doesn’t mean cutting out everything you enjoy eating – it simply means knowing what’s good for your body, only eating processed foods and foods high in sugar in moderation, and providing your body with the fuel it needs. If you change your lifestyle and focus on your health, you won’t have the problem of gaining back weight quickly like you might with a diet.

Switching to a healthier lifestyle will do wonders for your physical and mental health – you’ll have more energy and feel more alert, among many other benefits. Why not include a spiritual aspect to your new lifestyle, too? Set daily intentions, try a bit of meditation, and practice mindfulness, and you’ll soon find it becomes second nature to live a healthier, spiritual existence.

Despite what the diet industry will have you believe, diets are generally only a quick fix rather than a long-term recipe for success. Work on your overall health and lifestyle, and you’ll be able to see changes you can be proud of.


Harper Reid is a freelance writer from Auckland, New Zealand who has a passion for healthy living and fitness. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her sweating it out in the gym, practicing yoga or checking out the latest fitness trends. You can find more of her work on her Tumblr.

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