Not many people realize that losing unwanted body weight does not have to involve prolonged workout sessions at the gym or strict diet regimens.

In fact, most people find that without a sustained lifestyle change, any weight that is lost during a period of diet or extreme exercise is gained back once the diet or exercise is stopped.

If you would like to lose all that unwanted body weight and keep them off, you may need to make a few lasting lifestyle changes. By simply altering a few important patterns in your diet and exercise routine, you can literally lose weight without much effort.

These 5 simple lifestyle changes you can make to lose weight:

#1. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical exercise everyday

Most experts recommend 30 minutes of physical exercise each day. The truth is that this exercise does not necessarily have to be strenuous. Walking is a simple form of exercise that you can perform. Walking is both a stress-reducer and is very effective for fat loss.

Walking has been shown to increase the heart rate to the fat-burning level and any activity that is performed at the fat-burning level will have a longer-lasting impact.

#2.  Reduce your portion sizes

Whether you are eating a plate of rice or a bowl of swallow, you should divide the dish in half. If you are tempted to consume more than half, then remove it away from where you are eating.

(Read: The Mamalette.com guide to healthy eating)

Cutting your meal in half will not only decrease your calorie and fat intake dramatically, but it will help your body to become accustomed to smaller portions of food.

#3. Get a full night’s rest

Getting a full night of undisturbed sleep not only leaves you feeling energized for the next day, but it helps your body metabolize I.e. breakdown your food much more efficiently. When they body is in the resting state during sleep, it actually works much harder to process energy than if you were to sit on the settee watching television.

(Read: How lack of sleep can make you gain weight)

Also, if you are fully rested, you will be more likely to take on projects with more vigor and energy the next day, which will also help you burn more calories.

#4. Avoid stress

While this is easy to recommend, the truth is a lot of people deal with stress in their day to day lives. If you can’t avoid stressful situations all together, find ways to minimize how you react to it. Undue stress has a very negative physiological effect on the body and contributes to fat storage in the cells.

By reducing small amounts of stress in your life, you can quickly and simply reduce fatty deposits on your body, especially in the stomach area.

#5. Drink plenty of water

Water is not only beneficial to your health and wellbeing, but it contains no calories. When you are tempted to eat too much drinking, water can help reduce the false feeling of hunger.

Water hydrates your cells and helps them push harmful toxins through your body more efficiently. Therefore by drinking plenty of liquids, such as water, juice and even tea, you will help your cells function at their best without much effort at all.

Try to ensure that you don’t drink your calories. Soft drinks, juice and other sugary drinks have empty calories that will make it easier for you to put on weight. When tempted to drink a bottle of soft drink, go for a cold bottle of water instead. It is not only refreshing, but it is good for you.

Your goal to lose any extra weight you are carrying is feasible if you are able to make the lifestyle alterations recommended above. For these changes to become lasting, you can also practice them with friends and loved ones.

What other lifestyle can changes can one make to lose weight? Share your tips in the comments below: