How to Lose Weight Fast in 3 Simple Steps

1. Eat protein, fat, and vegetables

Aim to include a variety of foods at each meal. To balance your plate, your meals should include protein, fat, vegetables and complex carbohydrates.

The following are the recommended amounts you should eat by age according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025:

Proteins

Eating a recommended amount of protein is essential to help preserve muscle mass while losing weight.

Diets with adequate protein may also reduce cravings and snacks by helping you feel full and satisfied.

The following are examples of foods that contain protein with amounts and servings from the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Data Central databases.

Vegetables

All vegetables can be nutrient-rich additions to your diet. Aim to eat about 2.5 cups of vegetables daily.

Examples of vegetables include:

• leafy greens
• tomatoes
• bell peppers
• green beans
• squash

If you are deciding what foods you should eat, note that certain vegetables — like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn — are considered carbs or grains when on the plate because they’re higher in carbs and calories. Be mindful of your portion sizes when adding these vegetables to your plate.

Healthy fats

Healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds are great choices for your eating plan.

Note that the oils are composed of 100% healthy fats. Although some, like olive oil, are considered healthy, they also provide 9 calories per gram, compared to protein and carbs, which provide only 4 calories per gram.

For this reason, it’s important to eat healthy fats in moderation and limit saturated and trans-saturated fats.

The following are examples of other foods that contain healthy fats:

Butter and coconut oil should be enjoyed only in moderation due to their high saturated fat content.

Summary

Try to assemble each meal with a protein source, healthy fat source, complex carb and vegetables.

2. Move your body

the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend combining cardio workouts with weight training for optimal health.

Cardio workouts include things such as walking, jogging, running, cycling or swimming. Learn more about types of weight training exercises.

Be sure to talk to a doctor before starting a new exercise plan.

Summary

A combination of aerobics and weight training is good for your health. While each type of exercise is good on its own, together they are better at helping you lose weight.

3. Eat more fiber

Fiber moves slowly through the digestive tract and can help you feel fuller for longer to support weight loss.

It might also stabilize blood sugar levels, promote regularity, and protect against certain chronic conditions.

Food groups like grains and fruit that contain a lot of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, breads, and legumes. Aim to eat 2 cups of fruit and 6 oz of grains daily. Many vegetables and legumes also contain fiber.

The following are examples of foods that contain fiber with their recommended daily servings:

Summary

Increasing your intake of fiber-rich foods could promote weight loss and support overall health.

4. Eat mindfully

Having a good understanding of how your body responds to food and eating can help you make sure you’re not overeating. This is known as mindful eating. It can involve the following:

• eating more slowly
• learning to recognize when you’re hungry vs. when you’re craving food for emotional reasons
• cooking colorful foods with a variety of textures to lengthen and enjoy your meal

The reason eating quickly can be problematic is that it doesn’t allow your brain to consciously register when you’re full.

Eating slowly gives your stomach more time to tell your brain you’re full, which helps you learn to distinguish the feeling of genuine hunger vs. fullness. this can result in you eat less.

Try minimizing distractions while you eat and follow these strategies for mindful eating to slow down during your meals. Learn more about mindful eating and weight loss.

Summary

Practicing mindful eating can help you feel fuller and avoid overeating.

5. Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of water can help promote weight loss by reducing your food intake, especially if you drink water before a meal.

It might also work by increasing fat burning, which can help enhance long-term weight loss.

Be sure to choose water or other low-calorie drinks rather than sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, which are high in sugar and calories and could to weight gain.

Other benefits from drinking water related to weight loss include helping you stay hydrated while you exercise and helping remove waste from the body. In general, drinking water helps your body run more efficiently.

Summary

Drinking water or other low-calorie beverages can reduce food intake and increase fat burning.

6. Get plenty of sleep

In addition to changing your diet and exercise routine, getting enough sleep each night can be beneficial for weight loss.

One study found that people who regularly sleep less than 7 hours per night are more likely to have a higher body mass index and develop obesity than those who sleep more.

Plus, sleep deprivation might also alter levels of hormones that control hunger and appetite.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended to aim for at least 7 hours of high-quality sleep each night.

Summary

Not getting enough sleep may be linked to a higher risk of obesity and might negatively affect hormone levels.

What’s the fastest way to lose weight?

Reducing your calorie intake and adding more physical activity to your routine can help you lose weight quickly and sustainably. That said, each person is different, and there may be other factors that need to be considered, such as your diet, what medications you’re taking, your hormones, your mood, and genetics.

How to lose weight in 7 days?

Decreasing your intake of processed foods and added sugar can help you lose weight in 7 days. Drinking plenty of water and adding fiber to your diet might also help. That said, many factors influence your ability to lose weight, and it’s better to aim for a slower and more sustainable weight loss of 0.5-2 lbs per week.

How to lose belly fat fast?

Exercising, staying hydrated, and enjoying a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods can help reduce belly fat. For more tips, check out this article.

How can I drop 10 pounds in 10 days?

Losing 10 pounds in 10 days is not realistic or sustainable. For safe and healthy weight loss, aim for 0.5-2 pounds of weight loss per week by changing your diet and lifestyle.