How I Lost 10 Pounds Without Trying

You always hear about those miracle weight-loss solutions. Lose weight and eat whatever you want. Lose weight by drinking this weird concoction. Lose weight by eating this strange combination of foods. Lose weight in your sleep. Lose weight without trying.

This society is generally obsessed with being thin, and anything that promises to shed those "last few unwanted pounds" is typically regarded with awe. Last summer I stumbled upon a diet of my own that actually rid me of about 10 pounds worth of extra weight, and though I was hardly obese, it was 10 pounds I look better without. (And no, I'm not one of those people that want to be stick thin. Frankly I think bony people look gross and I'm well aware there is a difference between being fit and trim versus being sickly and difficult to look at).

So do you want to know how I dropped 10 pounds without trying? Read on.

I should start off by saying that I'm not endorsing the heathfulness of this diet. Obviously I"m still alive and didn't feel any adverse affects from my unintentional weight loss, but I'm sure you should consult your physician or whatever they say in those disclaimers that come before anything offering health advice.

The key element of my diet was heat. I lived in an apartment without air conditioning and spent a considerable amount of time there over the summer. The main cooling systems I had were two large fans: one which I would place on high and sit in front of while working on the computer or relaxing, the other which I would place on high in front of my bed, while i slept.

Nevertheless, my apartment got extremely hot, the fans didn't do much to cool it down, and I was hot and sweaty most of the time. Because I was so hot, I didn't have much of an appetite. You may notice that in the extreme heat, you really don't feel much like eating. Also, because it was so hot and I was sweating so much, I was drinking A LOT of water. I believe this had something to do with me not being as hungry, as the water kept me full.

So in essence, I drank a lot of water and ate sparingly. I hardly starved myself, but my appetite wasn't what it normally was, and considering I only ate when I was hungry, it wasn't all that often. Note that I did not really exercise all summer.

In the end, i dropped enough weight that I could notice the difference by looking at myself naked in the mirror. It was then, and when my clothes fit differently, that I realized I had lost weight, and deduced the reason why.

Since then, even as the seasons changed, I have kept most of it off. This summer I haven't spent much time at my apartment, so I haven't had the chance to see what effect the heat would have on me this time around. My successful actions in staying trim have been exercising regularly, trying to eat healthy (trust me, I generally eat a lot, and I tend to like junk food) and eating a Balance Bar for breakfast. This is high in protein and revs up your metabolism -- a good way to start the day.

I used to be a size 8, and occasionally a size 6 in the stores where sizes run bigger. Now I am generally a size 6, and sometimes a size 4, such as at Ann Taylor and Old Navy. I think it's more important to be healthy and happy with how you look then to go haywire over numbers and statistics, and I am not one of those people obsessed with stepping on the scale (otherwise I would have noticed my weight loss a lot sooner).

I am also not the type to eat small portions or salads on a regular basis. But I thought I'd share my unlikely weight loss method for those that may be looking for ways to jumpstart themselves into a weight loss program.

Overall, I can't say I'd necessarily recommend my unique diet to anyone else, (maybe I'll call it The Sauna Effect) but it was an interesting byproduct of the heat. And if you want to save on air conditioning bills, maybe now you have an extra incentive.

Whatever you do, though, please make sure your body is getting adequate nutrients. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, and take vitamins (preferably whole food vitamins) if you don't get enough of those. Drink plenty of water and never starve yourself if you're hungry. Your body will tell you what it needs and it's important to listen.