Losing weight is difficult.  If you are like most people, you have probably tried every fad diet there is and still find yourself at square one, or frustratingly close to it.  Nevertheless, with  just four easy changes to your daily routine, you can lose weight without even thinking about a diet.

1. Exercise regularly—this does not mean hit the gym every day for 3 hours.  This simply means increase your level of activity every day.  If you are already fairly active, great.  If not, start out slowly, by taking a 15 to 20 minute walk after dinner.  Ideally, you want to increase that time to at least 30 minutes per day.  Once you get used to an easy walk, begin increasing your speed, so that you really get your heart pumping.  If you do not have time to take a 30 minute walk during your busy days, try adding more activity at work.  For instance, walk a memo down to a coworker instead of emailing them.  Or while you wait at the copy machine, try walking in place.  And of course, take the stairs whenever possible.
2. Practice Portion Control—this is probably the most difficult of the tips, but once you start, you will be amazed at how much you used to eat.  Once again, start out slow.  You do not want to cut everything you eat immediately in half, or else you will be hungry most of the day and find yourself snacking all of the time.  Instead, cut your portions slowly.  If you used to eat an 8 oz piece of meat, go down to 6 oz for a few meals and then eventually 4 oz.  Do the same with vegetables and side dishes.  If you find yourself still hungry, increase the amount of vegetables you eat, but keep you meats and sugary starches down.  While eating at a restaurant, do not order an appetizer, or if you feel you must, then split an entrée with someone else.  Forgo eating the bread, chips and salsa or any other freebee that they give to you, so you can truly enjoy the meal.  And of course, skip dessert, but if you must cure that sweet tooth, consider sharing a dessert amongst the table.
3. Drink Water—drinking water has many benefits; first, it is good for our bodies.  Considering that our bodies are almost ¾ water, it seems obvious that we need it.  Drinking water also helps flush out the many toxins that we consume throughout the day.  Nevertheless, drinking water will also help with portion control.  If you have a glass before, after and during your dinner, you will find that you feel more full and satisfied without eating as much.
4. Finally, cut out sodas.  If you cannot bear to live with out your daily intake of carbonated drink, then switch from regular to diet.  This will cut down your sugar and calorie intake dramatically, and it is also much better for your teeth.  Do you cringe at the thought of drinking a diet soda?  Try this challenge.  Drink only diet for one week (I know it sounds impossible, but just try it) and then try to go back to regular.  You will probably find that after a week regular seems extremely syrupy and you will prefer diet.  If that doesn’t work, then try to limit yourself to one regular soda a day.

 At first, it may seem impossible, but once you commit yourself to making these lifestyle changes, you will begin to lose weight, feel better and have more energy, and you will start to wonder how you ever lived the way you did before.

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