You’ve made an important decision concerning your health. You want to lose weight. That’s the first step in making a change.

The next step is coming up with some kind of routine. This routine doesn’t have to include cutting out all your favorite foods and buying an expensive gym membership. Losing weight doesn’t equal up to torture.

What it should include are limitations. Cut back on carbs, drink more water, and use visual tricks to control your portions.

These are some of the most basic weight loss tips for women but they aren’t the only ones to keep in mind. Check out this helpful guide to learn more.

1. Kick Carbs to the Curb (Without Cutting Them Completely) 

Once you start cutting back on carbs, your body will stop burning them for energy and use your stored fat instead. Not only that but eating fewer carbs will help you keep your hunger at bay. 

When your hunger decreases, you won’t consume near as many calories throughout your day. After you cut carbs, the insulin levels in your body will drop and cause your kidneys to get rid of any access sodium and water it’s holding on to. You may gain some of this water weight back but the body fat you shed won’t come back. 

Notice that we’ve told you to cut back on carbs. You don’t have to remove them from your life altogether. What you should do is reach for the low carb versions of your favorite products such as bread, and pizza crust.

You’ll still be consuming a few carbs but it won’t be enough to ruin your diet. Since you’re not getting rid of the foods you love, you’ll be more likely to stick to your regimen too. 

2. Trick Your Eyes

One of the easiest ways to eat less is to trick your eyeballs. Use your smaller salad plates for dinner and your larger dinner plates for your salad. You’ll consume fewer calories and your brain and stomach will be none the wiser.

The same trick works for drinks. Use your small glasses for sugary fruit drinks and your large glasses for water. As far as snacks go, you always want to eat them out of a bowl rather than the bag. 

If you eat your pretzels directly from the bag you’ll lose track of how many you’re eating and unconsciously overeat. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to reach for the largest bowl in your cabinet. 

Remember small dishes. It’s all about portion control. 

3. Stay Hydrated 

Before you sit down to eat dinner, chug a glass of water. Water will take up space in your stomach and make you feel less hungry so you won’t overindulge. So, if you feel hungry at 10 PM, instead of going for a tub of ice cream pour yourself a glass of water. 

You’ll be shocked to realize that you weren’t as hungry as you thought. When your mouth and stomach are busy with a drink, your mind will drift away from food too.

If you go to a party, have a bottle of water in your hand throughout the entire thing. You’ll be less likely to get a cocktail because you already have a drink. 

Drinking water before and during a workout will keep you hydrated so you can work out longer and continue burning off those pesky calories.  

4. Lift a Few Weights

When you start to lose weight, your metabolism will slow down. By lifting weights and exercising a few times a week you’ll be able to prevent this from happening.

You’ll burn calories and gain a little bit of muscle at the same time. It’s a win-win. If you’re not sure how to begin or what exercise regimen is right for you, most gyms have a personal trainer available who can give you advice. 

It’s important to note that you should workout to your comfort level. If the idea of going to the gym to exercise alongside other people makes you feel uneasy, you don’t have to do it. 

Start with thirty minute walks around your block and work your way up from there. Before you know it you’ll be going out for hour-long sessions. Cardio is the perfect thing for dropping weight. 

5. Gastric Balloon 

If these options don’t work for you, you may be tempted to turn to surgery. There are alternatives to lap band surgery, however. Talk to your doctor about the gastric balloon. 

The gastric balloon is a non-surgical procedure that involves placing a silicone balloon in the patient’s stomach and pumping it full of saline solution. We know it sounds a lot like surgery but the balloon goes into your stomach through your mouth while it’s still deflated. 

Once the balloon is inflated it will take up room in your stomach and reduce the amount of food that you can eat at once. To take advantage of the gastric balloon method, you’ll have to have a BMI that’s higher than 35. 

After the balloon is removed, you’ll need to keep up with a weight-loss regimen (such as the ones we’ve pointed out throughout this article) in order to not gain the weight back.

Weight Loss Tips for Women Who Want to Lose Weight and Keep It Off 

Losing weight can be frustrating but it’s not impossible if you use these weight loss tips for women. Stick to a diet that’s low in carbs, use little tricks to deceive your eyes, drink plenty of water, work out on a normal basis, and if all else fails, ask your doctor about the gastric balloon. 

Did reading this article help you meet your weight loss goals? We’re happy to hear it! Check out the woman’s health section of our blog daily for all the latest wellness tips and advice.