It is important to understand that losing weight is a process, or let's say a habit, that you have to inculcate in your daily living. If you skip your meals, get inadequate sleep, smoke very often, and work till late hours, then you may lose some kilos within a week. But is that what we are talking about here - 'the healthy way of losing weight?' I don't think so. For every process the body undergoes, it requires some time to register the changes, and this varies from person to person. Keeping this in mind, do not take the word 'fast' for its literal meaning, but for something that is steady, healthy and which has an optimum pace. The rest of the article will take you through some helpful tips that you can use to maintain a healthy weight. Some Healthy Ways To Shed Your Extra Calories One of the simplest methods for losing weight that requires no prescription, causes no side effects, and comes almost free, is drinking plenty of water. It not only flushes out the toxins from your body, but also acts as an effective appetite control method. Experts say that drinking as less as two 8-ounce glasses of water keep people from hogging everything as they then they do not feel so hungry. A study was conducted on some middle aged and older people. They were supposed to drink about two cups of water right before their meal. Results revealed that they actually consumed 75 - 90 fewer calories than what they would have done otherwise. And the most important benefit of water is that it is calorie-less. Moreover, it helps you feel fitter and healthier, which is the primary requirement for losing weight. Foods containing water also help. Such foods are low on calories, and they cause the stomach to stretch and empty slowly, thereby, helping one to feel fuller for a longer time. Furthermore, most clinical studies say that drinking plenty of water helps people exercise more and longer. Leafy greens are loaded with fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Also, they do not add to the calorie count, and help you feel fuller for long so that you don't jeopardize your weight loss plan by munching on snacks every now and then. Sugar sounds sweet, and so does it taste. But it is a sweet killer! Sugar means calories, and calories means weight gain. So, stay away from stuffs like sweetened bottle drinks such as colas, and fizzy drinks. Go for diet sodas; they are a better choice. Not to mention, avoid taking sugar in tea and coffee, and cut out confectioneries, sugary biscuits and crisps from your diet. You can lose weight naturally, and fast by knowing the benefits of fiber. Fiber takes longer to digest. This means, it keeps you fuller for a long time. This is why, you must go for fresh fruits instead of the processed ones. Fresh fruits are rich in fiber, whereas, the other types aren't. Also, instead of drinking fruit juices from stores, make your own juice at home. Fresh fruit juices have natural sugars, better than those contained in artificial flavors and colors. One of the most important weight loss tips is to give up the habit of eating the traditional three meals a day. Go for six smaller meals. This will help you maintain an even level of energy throughout the day, and keep your blood sugar levels from spiking up. If you are on a weight loss program, you have to mind your munching manners. It does not take long for a grand banquet to jeopardize a whole week's effort to lose weight. So appear gracious by eating a bit of the food offered, but at the same time, keep yourself from finishing off the whole plate. Unhealthy evening snacks are, perhaps, one of the major reasons behind people gaining weight rapidly. This is especially true for people with desk jobs. So if you think your stomach craves for snacks during evenings, do not mind packing your snack box with some diced carrots, almonds, pistachios, hazel nuts, or cucumbers. Fruits, needless to say, are always a great choice as evening snacks. Splitting meals with your friends is a great way to cut down calories, and save money too. Experts say that when it comes to eating right and healthy, and getting more exercise, doing them with a group always help. The more the merrier! It is really important that you keep a fixed time for eating everyday. As according to what experts have found, if you know when your next meal is, then you are less likely to graze. Note that our body does well when it works in a rhythmic fashion and not sporadically. Most people overlook the importance of reading food labels. Doing this can actually help you make wise choices. In every product that you buy check for the serving size, and its corresponding content of calories, sugar, fat, cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrates, etc. No matter what you eat, what you take off your dining table, nothing would pay off right, if you do not realize the importance of regular exercise. A minimum of 30 - 60 minutes of exercise everyday is required to stay healthy, as what is recommended by experts. It is the best way you can burn those extra calories. Moreover, it not only helps you maintain a healthy weight, but also adds to your overall health. However, most people fail to keep up with regular workouts due to boredom. So to overcome this, experts recommend people to indulge in a different workout once a week. They can go for boxing, outdoor biking, swimming, and the like. This approach not only helps keeping the workout regimen new and interesting, but it also facilitates the training of different body muscles. However, if you think going to the gym is not your cup of tea, then you can still shed your extra kilos by washing your car, chasing your dog, raking the leaves in your yard, painting your fence, or enjoying some Frisbee time or playing volleyball at the beach. So there you have with you some smart and painless tips to lose weight in a healthy way. And if we boil these tips down to a few words, then we can safely say that eating right and staying active is the ultimate solution for weight loss. Take care!