Glass of Water
There are plenty of ways to shed the pounds without having to get out of the house. Pictured: A glass is filled in with water Getty Images/Franck Fife

Losing weight, whether done through the gym or at home, requires commitment and work. Since weight loss is mainly a food management and physical activity concern, it doesn’t really matter where you get it done. Conveniently, there are plenty of ways to shed the pounds without having to get out of the house. Here are 12 of them.

1. Drink lots of water

The ideal amount of water you should drink daily depends on your weight. For example, if you weigh 180 lbs, divide this by two and drink as much water in ounces. In this case, you will need to drink at least 90 ounces per day, though other health experts also say that you should consume at least 8 glasses of water. There’s really no limit on how much you can drink.

2. Avoid junk food

Junk food contain lots of sodium and preservatives, so it’s best to steer clear of these (and processed foods) if you want to lose weight. These include chips, cookies, sodas, hotdogs, burgers and the like.

3. Eat fresh fruits and veggies

Eating them raw is the best option, but you can also enjoy them steamed or in juice form (without the added sugars).

4. Eat more lean meats and fish

Lean meats and fish are a great source of protein and will make you feel full for longer. They are also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart. Health experts say lean turkey or chicken meat is more preferable compared to red meats.

5. Sleep on time

Having quality sleep gives your body an opportunity to recover and be ready for another day ahead. The ideal minimum is eight hours of sleep, though some say that six hours is okay as long as it is deep, uninterrupted sleep. Do not eat before sleeping, or if you really must, do it at least two hours before bedtime.

6. Say “yes” to whole foods

Single-ingredient foods offer more of the essential nutrients your body needs because they are unprocessed. Weight loss is a natural “side effect” of consuming whole foods, and you don’t even have to leave the house to make this happen.

7. Go for black coffee

Coffee, minus the other ingredients, is rich in antioxidants and can support weight loss by boosting the amount of calories your body burns, as well as your energy levels. Caffeinated black coffee can boost the metabolic rate by 3 to 11 percent.

8. Engage in moderate exercise

You don’t need to engage in intense exercises at home just to lose weight, though moderate physical activity will help.

9. Limit your sugar intake

Added sugars are linked to some of the world’s leading illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It goes by many names on the list of ingredients, such as high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, agave nectar, fruit juice concentrate, and more.

10. Try intermittent fasting

This is something you can easily do at home. Depending on the method you adopt, you will be given a specific window to eat only healthy food and then the rest of day is dedicated to strict fasting. This weight loss strategy has proven to be very effective, in most cases, in helping people shed pounds significantly in a short time.

11. Use smaller plates

Smaller plates play on the psychology of weight loss, because if you have a small container, the less you will likely eat. Studies show that people tend to eat according to how much their plates can hold, so this method will be very helpful.

12. Eat more slowly

Fast eaters are more prone to becoming obese, according to studies. Eating with speed means pushing too many calories into your body before it realizes that it is already full.