5 easy & natural ways to lose weight

Losing weight can be difficult for most people. Here are a few simple tips to make shedding the pounds a less daunting task.

1.    Drink lots of water

Cosmopolitan suggests avoiding hydrating yourself with fruit smoothies, energy drinks or even light beer. A serving can pack at least 100 calories.

Other popular fluids may contain a high level of carbohydrates or sodium. This fools your body into holding onto water.

As water contains no carbohydrates or calories, it is the ideal way of keeping yourself hydrated without adding more pounds. If the bland taste is not to your liking, you can spice things up with lemon wedges.

2.    Take an evening walk

You can exercise at any time of the day but Good Housekeeping says exercising during the evenings is one way to shed the pounds quicker.

According to the source, your body's metabolism slows down during the evenings. A 30-minute walk is one way to prevent your supper from becoming another layer of fat on your body.

If you feel you still have a lot of energy at the end of the day, you can also do cardio. Cosmopolitan recommends cardio kickboxing or spinning for half an hour.

Doing half an hour of cardio can burn away up to 300 calories. Plus, it's a great way to tone your arms and legs while strengthening your core.

3.    Listen to music

Health recommends packing your iPod, mp3 player or mobile device with your choice tunes. Listening to songs keeps your mind preoccupied while using the elliptical or going for a run around the neighborhood.

You won't even notice that you're burning away the fat while dancing to your favorite songs.

4.    Add vegetables to everything

Whether it's a slice of pizza or pasta, adding more vegetables to your favorite foods is a quick way to keep you full quickly, says Health. The post suggests replacing pepperoni with green peppers and arugula to get flavor and texture.

Keeping yourself feeling full with vegetables also prevents you from snacking on foods rich in sugars, salts or preservatives.

5.    Get lots of sleep

According to a study by the University of Chicago, women who sleep less than four hours a day had a slower metabolism than those slept for eight. Good Housekeeping also says that staying up late or awake longer gives you more opportunities to grab a snack from the fridge or the pantry.

Cosmopolitan also says getting enough sleep discourages you from choosing unhealthy foods. For instance, there is less temptation to grab a sugary snack or caffeine fix in the morning if you had a good night's rest.