For many people in the western hemisphere, losing weight has become the national pastime! America, for one, is a land of fast food joints and easily accessible good tasting food. It is also becoming a nation of health clubs and joggers, as people try to hang onto their youthful figures. Not only that, but pills and even surgery for weight loss are on the rise, as people fight the battle of the bulge.

Thankfully, there are non-surgical, natural ways to push your body to lose weight. To say it's easy, however, would be misleading! Losing weight requires a great deal of dedication and perseverance. It must be a lifestyle change, not just a process of following a diet, and the lifestyle changes must be consistent. Read on for some safe, natural ideas for improving your chances at weight loss.

1. Get and wear a pedometer. Many people are having great results simply by wearing a pedometer on their belt all day. A pedometer is a little electronic gadget that keeps track of the number of steps you take each day. You may think you are a fairly active person, but when you clip one of these babies to your waist, you'll know the truth. It's considered an active lifestyle if you log more than 10,000 steps per day. Wearing a pedometer will remind you to get those extra steps wherever you can throughout the day, and the results will be cumulative.

2. Eat more soup. You can make a delicious vegetable soup that is filling even though it is low in fat and calories. Stay away from ingredients like cream, starchy vegetables, and fatty meats. Instead, maximize on cabbage, tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, carrots, and fat free chicken or vegetable stock. A bowl of this soup can be warmed up in the microwave for a nutrient rich, yummy, lo-cal treat any time of the night or day.

3. Pump iron. Actually the verdict is really out on whether pumping iron is a huge factor in weight loss. The theory goes that since muscle burns more calories than fat, even when you are resting, then building muscle should ultimately make you burn up your extra fat. While the effect seems to be less helpful than once hoped, you will feel better and look better while you work toward losing weight. Lifting weights increases your confidence, too, as you feel yourself becoming stronger. Put on some music you like, or keep a set of dumbbells close to where you watch TV, and pull them out for a few reps every now and then.

4. Try adding green tea to your diet. It sure can't hurt, and many experts say that it has a beneficial effect on your metabolism.

5. Ahh, salads! Does your whole being cry, "Yuck," when you face yet another bland, lifeless bowl of lettuce? Here are a couple of ideas for making salad more desirable. If the cold vegetables hurt your teeth, consider zapping the salad in the microwave for 20 or 30 seconds. Hey, there's no law against it, and it takes off the chill. Also, tear those pieces of lettuce up smaller if you don't like three inch squares of lettuce spreading salad dressing all over your face while you eat. Finally, to save fat calories, put your lean protein food, such as grilled white chicken chopped small, into the salad to improve the taste. Skip the dressing and use salt and pepper instead.

6. Watch those portion sizes! Measure what you're eating, and you may be surprised. If you're reading labels, pay attention to the portion sizes they recommend if you want to be taking in the amount of calories you think you are.

7. Believe you can do it. Then get back on track when you falter. Try to be diligent at least 80 percent of the time, and you are likely to increase your health and fitness, while decreasing your weight.