How to Lose Weight Naturally

Obesity is a medical condition which, if not kept in check, is potent enough to turn into a giant killer. Nutritionists and dietitians have repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping obesity at arm's length. However, in today's fast-paced, competitive life, rarely do people have the time and energy to exercise, pay attention to their diet and remain active. Weight gain and obesity is a natural consequence of all this. It is no wonder then, that weight loss and weight control clinics have sprung up by the dozen in every neighborhood locality. Some of them advocate fasting, a few come up with some fancy-named wonder diets, others swear by intense aerobic exercises, while a couple claim to have invented some mumbo jumbo tonics and concoctions which are supposed to act as magic potions for quick weight loss.

I am honestly tired and fed up of all these people who shout from their rooftops and blow their own trumpets about their's being the best way to lose weight naturally. Each one claims their weight loss method to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Instead, I choose to be clear and to the point. Here's how to lose weight naturally.

How to Lose Weight Naturally
First, I would like to clear another misconception that most people have about losing weight. Losing 'weight' is different from losing 'fat'. 99 percent of people need (or intend) to lose fat, however they misunderstand fat as weight. Weight is NOT fat. Well, actually it is, (sorry 'bout that), but it is not ALL fat. Your body's total weight comprises the weight of your fat, muscles, blood, organs, bones and tissue. You cannot (and you should not) aim at lessening the weight content of your muscles, blood, and certainly not that of any of the other above-mentioned things. Fat is what you must reduce. Therefore, from here onwards, when I say weight, it means fat.

Calorie Counting
I will put it in simple words. Calorie counting is nothing but basic mathematics. Assuming, your daily intake is 3000 calories whereas the amount of calories that you burn is 2500, the end result is +500 calories. What this means is that 500 calories have been stored in your body at the end of the day. Now, a considerable percentage of these 500 calories get converted into fat. Multiply 500 calories a day by 30 days and what do you get? Yes, that is the amount of fat that your body has accumulated and stored in a month. Now, consider another scenario. Your daily intake is 2500 calories and the amount of calories that you burn is 3000. That makes for a net difference of -500 calories. What this means is that 500 calories have been removed (healthily) from your body at the end of the day. Since a certain percentage of them exist in the form of fat, it goes without saying that you have burned a little portion of fat. Now, multiply this by 30 days and what do you get? Aha! You suddenly find yourself a few pounds lighter, don't you? And it's all healthy, since your weight loss is actually nothing but fat loss. Now wouldn't you love to know how you can actually go about achieving this? I bet you would. Here's the fastest way to lose weight naturally.

Eating Right
It sounds extremely easy, but it's really one of those things that are easier said than done. Eating right does NOT mean:

• starving yourself
• skipping meals
• eating with your right hand (Don't laugh, a few brilliant people at that seminar actually thought it meant this!)

Eating right means eating food which is healthy, nutritious and yet low on calories. It requires a good amount of discipline and self-control. You need to fight that urge and the constant temptation of indulging in a tub of ice cream, or gorging on those sumptuous pieces of fried chicken. Have a healthy diet that is rich in protein, moderately low in carbohydrates, high in fiber, minerals and vitamins, and negligible in fat. Cut out all junk food, fast food, fried foods, and substitute red meat with chicken or fish. Eat a lot of salads, greens and leafy vegetables. Drink lots of water.

Exercise
Sorry folks, if you want to lose weight, there's no way it's gonna happen unless you get up and out of that couch. Exercise is MANDATORY if you want to lose weight naturally. Doing it is compulsory, how do you do it is up to you. If you like water, go for swimming or water aerobics. If you are a potbellied man who was once a hardcore athlete way back in college, reignite the athlete in you. Think of cycling, sprints, running and jogging. Those having issues with running can opt for an hour of brisk walking every day. Those of you who enjoy music and dancing can combine the two with some high intensity aerobic exercise sessions. Adding a bit of yoga to that will only benefit you as certain yoga exercises are known to assist natural weight loss.

These were some tips to lose weight naturally without having to resort to magic potions, thinning lotions and whimsical notions. Following these tips sincerely will surely fetch you the desired results.