If you want to lose actual two kilos by next weekend, listen up: A drastic weight loss plan is almost always unhealthy. That's because it can set you up for binge-eating and fluctuations that interfere with long-lasting results, which basically defeats the whole point, right? Still, there are effective and healthy ways to kick off your weight loss goals apart from diet and exercise. Probably your inner circle of people can help. Here's how.

1. Your Spouse

If your guy is a fitness freak, you are in luck. According to a study performed by Duke University researchers, people were 50 percent more likely to start exercising if their partner joined them. Also, when your partner is trying to eat healthy and exercise more, this is likely to boost your own motivation to do so. The concept is called the ripple effect and it means that weight loss interventions delivered to one spouse have unintended, but positive benefits on the other spouse. So swap your dinner date plans with gym dates. An FDA report found that eating out more than five times a week adds about 290 calories on average to your daily diet that is equivalent to 15 kilos in a year. So isn't gym a better place to spend quality time together? On A Weight Loss Diet? 5 Surprising Ways to Enjoy Cheat Meals and Still Lose Weight. 

2. Your BFF

There are countless reasons to love your BFFs. They will counsel you through breakups, take you shopping when your wardrobe desperately needs an update and help you with job interviews. Oh, and another big one? They can help you drop more kilos. Eating with friends who have healthy diets can encourage you to make similar dietary choices. A study performed by University of Illinois studied restaurant customers and found that participants usually ordered dishes similar to the friends’ they were dining with. So probably you should hang out more with that "salad-eating" friend.

3. Your Dog

You must have probably heard that owning a pet is great for your health. Walking with your pooch can be a great way to shrink your paunch and feel their unconditional love. You can now add weight loss to the list of furry friend benefits. Best part? You don't have to really do anything extra to claim this health bonus. According to a new study done by the University of Alberta, simply owning a pet may lower your family's risk of obesity. So irrespective of whether you take your pet for walk or not, simply having them around can make you look fit.  Unbelievable Facts About Pooches We Bet You Never Knew!

4. Your Co-workers

According to a study published in the journal Eating Behaviours found that you are more likely to drop pounds when you team up with your other co-workers. Hitting the gym with your co-workers can help you meet weekly fitness goals while also increasing productivity. So kick-off your fitness competitions in lunch-hour challenges like power walks, spin classes, or yoga sessions. Loose Skin After Weight Loss: Does it Go Away? Here’s How You Can Get Rid of It. 

Boredom can drive you to hop off the healthy wagon, so spice things up by swapping healthy recipes, strength training tips, workout ideas, health magazines, and running playlists courtesy of your fellow fit-minded pals and co-workers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2019 01:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).