“You cannot lose weight at home; the only way to lose weight is by going to the gym 3-4 times per week”. This is what most people believe and although this is one of the most effective ways to get fast results, there are still other ways or home remedies to lose weight. In this post we will discuss 5 home remedies that are simple and easy to introduce in your daily life.

#1 Remedy: Protect yourself from the kitchen cupboards

If you can’t find any snacks (chocolates, potato chips, sweets) in your kitchen cupboards you won’t eat them! This is a very simple technique that works great. Take pre-caution measures and empty your cupboards; remove all sweets, chocolates and other snacks that are ‘bad’ for your diet. Instead add more fruits on the kitchen table, unsalted popcorn, nuts, green tea and other snacks that are calorie friendly. Avoid these foods and give preference to foods that increase your metabolism.

#2 Remedy: Get the right tools

Having the right tools when you need them is very important. We are talking about kitchen tools that will help you prepare your food in a healthier manner and in a diet friendly way. For example:

A Kitchen scale: If you follow any diet or recipe you will need to measure your ingredients and food portions.

A collection of healthy recipes: The web has a plethora of weight loss recipes but in most cases you can’t find them when you are ready to cook. So, get prepared in advance and either bookmark or print your favorite recipes, prepare your shopping lists and make sure that you have everything in place before you start.

Olive oil: We love olive oil since it is healthy (can lower you cholesterol levels) and has less fat than other alternatives (butter, corn oil etc.). Our Combination diet promotes the use of olive oil for cooking and so is the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet.

Steamer: This is optional but very useful when you have one at home. A steamer will cook your vegetables and other food saving you a lot of calories.

You may also need an egg separator (to separate the egg white with the yolk), a fruit juicer (to prepare your nutritious drinks) and a fat-separating pitcher (to remove fat from stocks and soups).

#3 Remedy: Do not eat in front of the TV

Eating in front of the TV is a bad habit. The only place to eat is the kitchen table and once you have finished your dinner, try not to snack while watching TV. Snacking usually involves food items that are high in calories and fat so it’s better to avoid them altogether.

#4 Remedy: Exercising at home

While the other home remedies are more for preventing weight gain, the only way to reduce your weight while at home is through exercise. Exercising at home doesn’t have to be intense but it has to be regular. Doing a couple of exercises once in a while will not do any good at all but exercising regularly (at least 2-3 times per week) can generate results. There are many ways to workout at home, you can either get a fitness DVD and follow the instructor (Pilates is a very good example) or you can create your own workout schedule. The most important thing to remember is that your routine should be intense and raise your heart beat levels otherwise you are just wasting your time.

In our Calories4WeightLoss program we have included a 30 minute workout program based on the “Modified Pilates Technique” which you can do at home and get the results you want. The program includes a five minute warm-up session and then demonstrates with illustrations how to practice Pilates efficiently.

Also, do not underestimate the efficiency of household chores in losing weight. Cleaning the windows for example is a great exercise that will keep your house clean and will also act as a great fat burner. Doing gardening work, carpet cleaning, car washing are some other examples of activities you can do at home.

#5 Remedy: Take it seriously

If you made the decision that you want to lose weight and that you want to do it at home then you need to take it seriously. Being at home makes it easier to break your schedule and skip your workouts. It is more likely to choose the comfort of your couch instead of the effort to exercise so you need to make up your mind and take some serious decisions. You need to setup a schedule and follow it religiously, you need to prepare your diet plan and stick to it at all costs. If you fail to have self-discipline then it is more than certain that you will NOT lose weight while at home and none of the above home remedies will ever work. On the other hand, if you are prepared to make sacrifices and if you have the willingness to meet your weight loss goals then you can do it at the comfort of your home. It’s your call.

If you want some motivation to get started then read how to lose 10 pounds in a week to see how a disciplined and determined person can lose weight fast but healthy.

The Dilemma of trying to Lose Weight at Home

Many times it’s hard to lose weight at home, especially if one works at home or has chosen to stay at home to take care of their children when their spouse is at work during the day. There’s a great deal of opportunity to snack and eat foods one normally wouldn’t eat if they were confined to a desk or a job outside of the home. Therefore, if you want to lose weight at home, it’s important to be fully aware when you choose to eat and the foods you consume in your daily routine.

Keeping a Diary

The best way to lose weight at home is to first record when and what you eat in a diary. This way, you can see what triggers you to eat. When you eat something, write down how you’re feeling as well as some of the activities you were involved in before you caved into temptation and had an item of food you really shouldn’t have had. By keeping a diary, you’ll be more cognizant of what sparks you into eating something so you can also learn how to alter your behavior and develop a more healthy eating routine.

Clean out your Refrigerator and Cabinets

Probably, if you’re bound and determined to lose weight at home, you should take a good look in your cabinets and refrigerator and clean out any foods that are less-than-desirable nutritionally. This means getting rid of pastries, chips, fried foods, caloric beverages and red and processed meats. None of these foods will help you lose weight. The whole idea is to change your eating pattern so you lose weight and keep it off permanently.

Say Good-bye to Burgers and Fries

Therefore, give your kitchen a good going over and clean out any type of food detrimental to your war against excessive fat and calories. Also, you’re going to have to make a pledge to yourself to forego any fast food runs as you won’t be able to lose weight as long as you cave in to any cravings for burgers and fries.

Make some Substitutions

Now is the time to make replacements in your overall diet. If you’re prone to eat ice cream during the day when you’re watching your favorite soap opera, you’re going to have to replace such snacking with, say, a healthier and lower calorie alternative like a banana and yogurt. If you’re eating a quick lunch of potato chips and a salami sandwich, then it’s time to start eating steamed vegetables and a lean piece of chicken instead.

Exercise

In addition, if you don’t allow an interval in your day for exercise, then it’s time to begin a regular regimen of activity. Take a walk for at least thirty minutes during the day. If you’re unable to leave the house, set some time aside for riding a stationary bike or jumping rope for about 20 minutes. You can’t lose weight by remaining sedentary. Exercise assists in losing weight and burning calories more efficiently.

Housework

When it comes to housework, you can lose weight this way as well. Develop a checklist of items that need to be done around the house. You will definitely lose weight if you get into the habit of vacuuming, washing windows, cleaning the kitchen, making beds and dusting on a regular basis. Plus such activities will keep your mind off snacking and keep you focused on a daily routine. Make your life at home interesting and organize yourself so you can manage your activities and have a new project to work on each and every day.

Overcoming Boredom

Many times people will eat foods they shouldn’t eat because they are bored. If you develop a routine, you’ll find you’ll become more focused on the tasks at hand and thus more disciplined.

Meal Planning

Plan your meals for the week so you’ll be fully aware of what you’re eating. This way you can also be more attuned to your overall nutrition and progress with respect to losing weight.

No Excuses

To lose weight at home, you have to be committed to being self-disciplined. Make it your resolve to alter your habits so you can indeed lose weight and keep it off. Therefore, it’s essential that you change certain behaviors and remove certain psychological barriers (such as making excuses for yourself when you overeat) to make your plan toward weight loss work.

A Fundamental Plan

Eat fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean cuts of meats. Include protein-rich foods such as kidney beans, lentils, chick peas and nuts. Substitute whole grains for white bread and add bran to your diet.

Self-discipline

Eat moderately, sitting at a table versus in front of the T.V. or in a nice easy chair. Because you’re at home, you’re more apt to stray away from a normal routine. Don’t fall into such a random pattern and you’ll be able to achieve your weight loss goals while working in the home.