16 Ways to Lose Weight Fast
Tweak your lifestyle
Watch this video for six easy tips for losing weight—including calorie-cutting swaps and simple ways to trick yourself into eating less (like having soup before a meal).
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Swap your go-to order
"I used to eat out at restaurants up to nine times a week! By cutting back to just once a week and ordering a grilled chicken salad instead of a large bowl of pasta, I've lost 20 pounds in one month." —Kerri Butler, Joplin, MO
RELATED: 7 Healthy Picks at Fast-Food Chains
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Skip the salty aisle
"I reached my goal weight after I stopped routinely buying snacks at the grocery store. If I wanted a bag of chips or a candy bar, I had to walk to the store to get it. That inconvenience usually made me ignore my cravings." —Heather Del Baso, Worcester, MA
RELATED: 6 Foods That May Be Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Goals—And What to Eat Instead
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Have a 300-calorie breakfast
Looking to ditch those pounds fast? Watch this video for 10 tricks to lose weight painlessly.
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Get fit in five
Looking to sculpt your abs fast? This high-powered workout targets all of the muscles that shape your waist. Learn the flat-belly moves that will tighten your tummy, strengthen your core, and cinch your waist without doing crunches!
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Kick the habit
"I quit smoking, and right away joined a gym and started working out with a personal trainer. There was no way I could exercise and feel healthy if I kept lighting up. I've already dropped 37 pounds in three months!" —Leila Fathi, Memphis, TN
RELATED: 9 Thoughts Everyone Has the First Time They Try a Fitness Class
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Do a purge
"I totally cleaned out my pantry. Once I replaced the foods I used to overindulge in, like ice cream, with lower-cal snacks, such as roasted sunflower seeds or Special K Chocolatey Delight cereal, I began making better choices automatically. Now, I'm slimmer than I was before I had my two kids!" —Lori Feldman, Coconut Creek, FL
RELATED: The 10 Most Addictive Foods and How to Stop Eating Them
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Healthy up your happy hour
"After work, my colleagues and I always grabbed dinner—and it was usually deep-fried. Then we changed things up. Instead of nights out, we started walking and running around a local track. A year later, I’m down 40 pounds." —Ellen Setzer, Cleveland, OH
RELATED: 6 Mocktail Recipes That Make Happy Hour Way Healthier
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Get fired up
"I loaded my iPod with jams that make me look forward to going to the gym. They energize me, allowing me to pick up speed on the elliptical—and because I want to hear my entire playlist, my workouts are longer now. Two months later, I'm down 13 pounds and have killer legs." —Kara Marshall, York, ME
RELATED: How to Motivate Yourself to Go to the Gym on Cold, Dark Days
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Pile on the veggies
Mix up your summer cookout routine and try making grilled pizza with this recipe from Cooking Light. Gather your favorite pizza dough, pizza sauce, a bunch of fresh vegetables and herbs and watch the video to see a step-by-step demonstration. Then fire up the grill and enjoy.
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Run your butt off
Pressed for time? This 20-minute workout from Barry’s Bootcamp will maximize your limited schedule and leave your abs on fire. To perform the exercises demonstrated in this video by Rebecca Kennedy, all you need is a mat, a little space, and some motivation (you can even do it in your own home!). Watch the video to get a walk-through of each move and its benefits.
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Don’t supersize it
"When going out for fast food, I used to get the large-size value meal. Now, I satisfy a craving by ordering just one item: a small order of fries or a six-piece box of chicken nuggets. So far, I've shaved off 16 pounds in seven weeks, and I'm on track to being thinner than my high school self for my 10-year reunion later this year." —Miranda Jarrell, Birmingham, AL
RELATED: 10 Foods to Eat More of If You're Trying to Lose Weight, According to Nutritionists
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Save room for your dessert
This ginger-chocolate chunk ice cream sandwich recipe will turn your winter dessert rut around instantly. Not only do these cookies taste incredible, but they only require a few ingredients to whip up.
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Brave a new class
Ready to try something new at the gym? This 90s-inspired hip hop dance workout will get your heart rate up.
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Nix nighttime eating
"Each time I needed to lose the baby weight, I stopped eating after 6:30 p.m. five nights a week. The other two evenings were reserved for nights out. Most of what I'd eat at night was junk food anyway, so it took only two months to get my pre-baby body back." —Deborah Gilboa, Pittsburgh, PA
RELATED: 9 Ways to Make Healthier Food Choices—Even When You're Exhausted
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Downward dog it
"Yoga has become the best thing for my relationship with food and my body. From practicing it several times a week, I'm now more in touch with my hunger cues—so I eat intuitively and stop when I'm full. I've gone down a jeans size, and my cellulite has disappeared!" —Jessica Nicklos, Morgantown, WV
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