8 Tips to Help You Lose Weight Without Using Chemicals

The use of chemicals to lose weight seems like an easy way out, but you’re actually doing your body harm in the long run. While some methods may work in the short term, you’ll eventually find yourself back at square one and worse off than before, since diet pills cause many harmful side effects to your health in addition to potential addiction. These 8 tips will help you shed those extra pounds without resorting to diet pills or other chemical remedies.

1) Avoid All Processed Foods

Processed foods are full of additives, preservatives, colorings, and other chemicals. Eating a healthy diet that consists of natural whole foods is the best way to lose weight because it prevents hunger pangs and reduces sugar cravings. Your body will feel better and you'll have more energy. Plus, eating natural food promotes weight loss because your digestive system can absorb nutrients so your body doesn't store them as fat. And lastly, processed food has been linked to causing heart disease and diabetes.

2) Don’t Eat Past 7 pm

Eating late in the evening can cause your body to stop burning fat. When you’re not sleeping and digesting, your metabolism slows down and you’ll likely reach for high-sugar or high-carb snacks when hunger hits. Keep eating times within a six hour window of each other.

3) Eat Regularly Throughout the Day

One of the best ways to lose weight is to follow a routine that consists of eating three meals per day with healthy snacks in between. Include these items on your grocery list: a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains such as breads, cereals, oats, rice and pastas, protein-rich foods like eggs and low-fat dairy products. Keeping consistent meal times will prevent you from binging or overeating when you're hungry.

4) Stop Having Sugar/Fatty Drinks

Replace your soft drinks with water. Replace your fruit juices and sugary juices with water. Replace ice cream and pastries with fruit and a handful of nuts. Work out regularly, at least three times a week for about 45 minutes each time.

5) Drink More Water

One of the simplest yet most important things you can do is drink more water. Not only does it hydrate you, it has been shown to decrease the appetite and regulate blood sugar levels.

6) Exercise Every Day for 15 Minutes

In order to be successful at losing weight, make it a habit of doing some form of exercise every day. Even if you can't commit to an hour-long workout, 15 minutes is enough. The important thing is that you're actually doing something instead of nothing.

7) Take Natural Supplements Instead of Pills

Healthy weight loss is all about the calories-in vs. calories-out equation. Processed foods are often packed with sugar and preservatives which promote fat storage, so think outside the box and eat more natural sources of carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, apples, honey and whole grains. The most important thing is to drink plenty of water – ideally eight glasses a day.

8) Go Vegan for Two Weeks

-Try a new vegetable or fruit that you haven't eaten before. 

-Vegetables like broccoli and spinach can be used as a salad topping, or spinach and tomatoes can be added to make a tasty veggie soup. 

-Invest in some spices for dinner, like basil, oregano, thyme, cilantro, garlic powder and chili powder for Asian food.

-Eat plenty of low calorie snacks like nuts and celery with peanut butter or apple slices with almond butter.