Americans are obsessed with “quick fixes.”  Whether it’s get rich quick schemes or trying to lose weight fast without exercise.  The reality is that if any of these quick fixes actually worked everyone would be a millionaire with a ripped up swimsuit model body!

We’ve all tried the latest and greatest fad diet to try to lose weight without exercise, and some have even seen modest success.  The problem is that the 10 pounds that were lost, seem to creep back on with another 5 extra pounds!  Let’s just break face reality here and break the myth, fad diets don’t work!

Not that any health and fitness professional would endorse it, but the only way you’re going to lose weight fast without exercise is simply to reduce your caloric intake.  Many of the fad diets are not nutritionally sound and some can be downright unhealthy.  The human body evolved to rely on a variety of nutrients for optimal health.  Variety is key and a healthy diet includes a balanced mix of protein, carbohydrates, and fats to name a few.  By going on a fad diet, you excluded important nutrients that your body requires and can even put yourself at risk of getting sick!

Practicing portion control is a skill you should learn to master to help you lose those unwanted extra pounds. Most health and fitness professionals would agree that the current obesity epidemic facing the US today has more to do with the amounts of foods that we are consuming vs the actual food themselves. Portions have grown larger and larger in the past few years at ALL restaurants (not just fast food).  However, we can’t blame it all on the super sized value meals or jumbo soft drinks, you have a responsibility as well!  How often do you polish off a bag of potatoes chips while watching a movie and TV show without any thought?  We’ve all done it!  Try looking at the nutritional breakdown on that bag afterwards… it’s likely you consumed 1,000’s of calories with a second thought!  It might be helpful to read our other article about lifestyle changes to lose weight as well.

Here’s a couple great tips to help you be more conscious of portion sizes and hopefully lose weight “fast” without exercise!

–          Serve your meals on salad or smaller plates instead of large dinner plates.

–          A cup of fruit should be no bigger than your fist.

–          When ordering out, ask for a smaller size or share your entrée with a friend.

–          Store snack foods in sandwich bags so you never eat more than one portion.

–          One ounce of meat or cheese is about the same size of your thumb.

–          Three ounces of meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of your palm.

–          Fill up on salads, fruit, and veggies instead of breads, pasta, and high fatty foods.

Keep these tips in mind to help you become more conscious of exactly how much you’re eating.  When you achieve this mind body connection, you’ll be less likely to pig out or go overboard!

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