6 Weight-Loss Tricks That Don’t Involve Dieting or (Much) Exercise

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Yes, if you are overweight, cutting calorie intake in your meals can help. But you have to exercise moderately and watch your fat consumption. I started with 219 lb three months ago and right now I am on 198 lb. I cut calories (meal size portion), exercise moderately, reduced pasta and breads, etc. All that was OK but my big problems with HBP and bad cholesterol were slightly changed for better. My mom told me how to make simple and effective, old fashioned drink used in coastal Bosnia and Croatia regions. Main ingredients are lemon and garlic. One liter of that particular drink is enough for 25-30 days. I finished my first 25 days and results were encouraging. My bad cholesterol dropped and HBP stabilized to almost normal for my age and weight. My doctor still recommended use of medication three more months and to lose 15-20 more pounds. I will continue to keep my diet alive because I am used to it now. Exercise is still moderate and next batch of my drink is started this morning.

Mustafa of TX 3:13PM March 24, 2010

As a 41 yr old woman who just started exercising a little over a yr ago...it's a daily struggle. but it is getting easier. I am 5'1 and weigh 135. When I started exercising I weighed 147. While I lost 10lb in 8 weeks, not much has changed..except my body. I complain about not dropping pounds, but my husband constantly reminds me that muscle weighs more than fat. I have gone from a size 8 to a 4 while my weight has not changed. Over time with exercise the body will reconfigure itself. I eat every 2 hours and carry a lunch box with me at all times. Dieting is not about starvation; its actually about feeding the body consistently. I love my body now!!! While I still show the signs of having 2 children and nursing them for a total of 4 1/2 yrs...I think I'm pretty hot. It takes time and it doesn't happen overnight. And it's not all about how much you weigh.

CB of LA 10:04AM March 24, 2010

I found that I was always eating too fast, hence my brain never caught on that I was actually full. Now I take a bite, put down my fork, breathe and just slow it down. Brain is tricked, I feel full, and the dogs get a little extra treat every night in their bowls (my left-overs). I also had always been under the assumption that I still needed to be a "clean-plate cleaner", which was a throw-back from my childhood (Don't eat everything on your plate, no dessert). I neede to lose a stubborn 12 pounds, and this system is working for me. Such a simple concept++++slow down +++ and it has really made a difference.

Susan O'Neill of OH 8:34AM March 24, 2010

I weighed 216 pounds at 5'5" tall about three weeks ago. As of this past week, I've been weighing myself once daily, keeping a food diary (just so I am conscious about what I am putting into my mouth), cut back on caloric beverages, stopped eating right before bed and started drinking a cup of hot chicken broth (5 calories) before lunch and dinner. I have lost 5 pounds already! My goal is to get back within a "normal" weight range which for me is around 125-130. Ways to go to get there but off to a great start. Oh, BTW, this has been with no exercise, only diet changes.

Jade of NH 6:38AM March 24, 2010

I am 208lbs and need to loose 100lbs. I am short and have a small frame. But after my second child i could get the weight off (5 years ago.) I found an exercise program called Insainty. Thee video's are super intense and some are so exausting that I have to take several breaks but I am starting week 2 and I have dropped 6lbs I haveen't been on the diet plan yet (baby steps) I will start that this week though.

TT of MI 6:16AM March 24, 2010

ye

chofor edith 4:29AM March 24, 2010

ive been doing the wii fit, and wii active since january.. been watching what i eat and i also go hiking for at least an hour and i ride horses i've lost 15 pounds since january. but i have yet to actually loose my extra stomach fat, and its getting discouraging. i have ran out of ideas if somebody has any ideas please let me know

jo of WA 6:46PM March 23, 2010

I weighed in at 155 lbs on January 1st of this year. Started a 'Biggest Loser' program at work where all participants pitched in $50 for prize money. We weighed in front of everyone every week. We also sat together and ate Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones etc and talked about what we had for dinner or over the weekend. This way we felt too guilty to cheat on our diet. We also talked to each other about exercise activities and went for a walk during our break. I am now 129 lbs on March 23rd, wearing size 3 jeans that fit lose. I don't think I was that size even before my 2 kids.
Aside from the one meal, I drank 5 Pro-cal shakes, totalling 800 calories per day (5 shakes x 100 calories + 1 Lean Cuisine not to exceed 300 calories). The diet was agressive yes but I have hypothyroidism and hence the liquid diet. Others had a higher calorie intake than me.
For exercise, I did 20 minutes max of Tae Bo everyday. I can't last for more than 20 minutes. I also ended up adding 1 more walk when I got home and took the dogs for a walk. So 800 calories + 2 walks (10 minutes each) + 20 minutes of Tae Bo = Size 13 to Size 2!

Pat of CA 5:55PM March 23, 2010

We tried JC Food for a week too expensive, so we are trying to do the same with Healthy Choice and Lean Cusiune meals for breakfast we eat either Smart Ones or Jimmy Dean D-Light, the trick is eating 45 - 50 grams of protein and keeping you total calories around 1200 or less.
Breakfast 160 - 230 calories
Snack Yogurt 50 - 100
Lunch - 170 - 220
Snack 1/2 cup fruit - 50 - 70 calories
Dinner 220 - 250
Snack - High protein like cheese or snack bar 80 - 150 calories
Losing weight like crazy

Happy Eating of CA 1:06PM March 18, 2010

As you age you need both a very healthy diet and exercise to be fit and slim. Without both components you can be one or the other but unlikely both. Also your body generally likes to keep itself in balance and about the same weight unless you do something dramatically different. Staceyann Dolenti

staceyann dolenti of NM 6:33PM March 12, 2010