Natural Ways to Lose Weight

Many of us are in a never ending staring contest with our bodies: watching our weight is a perpetual thing. But, unfortunately, this often involves a diet or - as many people like to call it - a "die with a t." Shakes, powders, herbs, even surgeries have inundated the market and spoken to the desires of so many of us. Still, when it comes down to it, there are no better ways to lose weight and keep it off than the natural ways. Doing what comes naturally may prove to work where other weight loss plans have failed.

Get Enough Sleep: Most of us love to sleep, curled up under the covers and letting our dreams whisk us away. Fortunately for snoozers, a 2004 study by researchers at Columbia University concluded that sleeping was a great way to manage weight. Theorizing that a lack of sleep alters metabolism, and affects the hormones which dictate appetite, researchers found that people who slept only two to four hours a night were 73 percent more likely to be overweight. Those who slept only five hours a night were 50 percent more likely and those who slept only six hours a night where 23 percent more likely. On the flip side, people who regularly got over ten hours of sleep a night were 11 percent less likely to have excess pounds.

Exercise: We know, we know: getting yourself out of bed in the morning to run five miles isn't your idea of a good time. But, for those who want to lose weight or even maintain weight, exercise is necessary. Not only does exercising burn calories, but it sky rockets your metabolism, burns fat, and builds muscle mass. It also gives you the ability to feel healthy overall, a feeling that helps you stick to your weight loss plans. If you can't bear the thought of running five miles, start with something easier: walk, ride a bike, or join an aerobics class. Keeping your exercise plan varied will increase your ability to stick with it.

Eat More During the Day: Sure, it sounds too good to be true: eating more to lose weight can't possibly work. But, it has been proven that those who graze over several small meals instead of two or three large ones have an easier time losing weight. The reasons behind this is that "grazers" keep themselves somewhat full throughout the day. Thus, they rarely sit down to a meal, half starved, and gorge themselves on a plate of ribs or a bucket of chicken. Simply, they aren't hungry enough to do that.

Drink Water: The easiest way to lose weight may be found in - of all places - a bottle of water. Drinking water helps a person feel full, curbs hunger cravings, and helps the body detoxify by eliminating excess waste. Oftentimes, a person's cravings for food can be met simply by drinking a bottle of water. Replacing other drinks - such as sodas and juices - with water is a sure fire way to cut calories and lose plenty of weight in the process.

Jennifer Jordan is an editor and staff writer for http://www.phdrinkingwater.com. A fitness buff, she simply could not live without consuming a lot of water everyday. Yes, she prefers water even to wine.