Of all the ways to lose weight, drinking water may be one of the easiest. It's calorie-free, helps fill you up and may even help your body burn more calories.

Whether you're trying to drop 5 pounds as the first milestone in a larger weight-loss goal, or you're trying to shed that last stubborn bit of fat, lifestyle changes can help.

Creating a caloric deficit takes place when you burn more calories than you take in. This is the secret to losing weight. If you can't stop eating, but want to lose weight, you can still achieve your goal. By making the right adjustments with your dietary habits, you can conquer your problem and whittle down your body.

Before you get excited about the potential weight loss benefits of green tea, it's crucial to know the facts and what to expect. You may already know by now that science has yet to find a magic bullet when it comes to weight loss -- aside from following a healthy diet and living an active lifestyle.

Papaya is a tropical fruit native to Central America. In the United States, papaya is mainly cultivated in Florida, Hawaii and greenhouses in less tropical climates. Each papaya tree grows from a seed that produces an original heirloom papaya. This fruit has properties that can help contribute to safe weight loss.

While it's possible to lose weight by changing your diet without exercising, you'll lose weight more quickly if your weight-loss plan includes diet and exercise, according to a study published in Obesity in 2012. The key to losing weight is to eat fewer calories than you burn during the day.

Too much salt in your diet causes bloating and water retention, which can cause weight gain and eventually strain your heart. Most Americans consume more than twice the daily recommended amount of salt, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Detox diets, while not medically proven to be effective, are a popular way to lose weight and cleanse the body of harmful toxins. According to MayoClinic.com, detox diets start with a period of fasting, then transition to a diet of fruit, juice, vegetables and water.

Classified as a whole grain, quinoa is the seed of a plant native to the Andes region of South America, related to Swiss chard, spinach and beets. Cooked quinoa makes a nutritious, gluten-free addition to any diet, providing a valuable source of fiber and vegetarian protein as well as a variety of health benefits.

When people think about losing weight, counting calories and sweating through grueling workouts are usually top of the mind. But author and holistic health practitioner Deepak Chopra suggests that meditation can help with weight loss. In fact, Chopra described in a "Huffington Post"

There's good news and bad news when it comes to losing fat off your chest. The bad news is that you can't specifically target your chest -- or any body area -- to shed fat. Your body loses weight from fat deposits throughout the body regardless of why you're losing weight.

To jump-start weight loss, many low-carb diet plans start with an induction period. During this time, which can last anywhere from two weeks to two months, you're restricted to 20 to 50 grams of carbs a day. Limiting carbs to this extreme forces your body to burn fat for fuel.