There are days when you’re all hyped up to sweat it out at the gym and there are days when you just want to stay in bed all day, eating chips and watching New Girl re-runs. Losing weight can be difficult; it requires patience, perseverance and a lot of willpower, but did you know that you could actually shed off those extra pounds without exercising? (Yes!) Read on for simple tweaks in your diet and lifestyle that could slim down your waistline sans the workout.

Eat smaller portions.
Taking in small portions every meal lets you control your food intake. It can also curb cravings and help reduce overall caloric intake.

Get enough sleep.
Lack of sleep can cause you to eat more. Susan Zafarlotfi, PhD, the clinical director of the Institute for Sleep and Wake Disorders at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey says, "When you have sleep deprivation and are running on low energy, you automatically go for a bag of potato chips or other comfort foods."

Keep a food journal.
Jotting down what you had the whole day makes you conscious of what you're eating. When you always see "cookies," "baked mac," and "bacon," well, that gives you an idea of which calorie culprits you need to cut off from your diet.

Learn to pay attention to pangs of hunger.
Know when to stop eating during meals–put down the fork when you’re feeling satisfied and not when you’re feeling super full.

Try commuting to work.
The small walks here and there, plus the flight of stairs every now and then, can be your little workout before heading to your office. It’s a subtle way to get moving. Try taking public transportation once or twice a week as well instead of driving to work.

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