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How to Lose Weight, According to Your Zodiac Sign

If you wish a fairy godmother would descend from the sky and tell you the secret to losing weight, this prescription for your zodiac sign is the next best thing.

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weight-loss
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Zodiac and weight loss

If you’re wondering how to lose weight, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the insane amount of information out there. With a new diet plan trending seemingly every other week, it can be hard to identify not only the strategies that work, but the strategies that will work for you. The best way to begin your path to weight loss and to a healthier lifestyle is to contemplate your personality. That’s where your zodiac sign comes in. It can help you figure out what will get you up and moving and help you stay motivated. We got astrologer and life coach Linda Furiate, who has written for Astrology Hub, The Baltimore Sun and more, to offer insights to help guide you toward a healthier way of living.

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Aries
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Aries (March 21–April 19)

For Aries, the best way to start and keep up with workout routines or diet plans is to harness their competitive edge. The hardest part about weight loss for an Aries is that they love to start projects, but have a hard time following through. Competition is a way to motivate Aries when they would otherwise begin to slack off. “They are motivated to try new things and to be the first to use something,” Furiate says. “They love getting the latest product on the market to help in their workout or nutritional routine. Their kitchens are filled with blenders, food processors, or other gadgets. Unfortunately, they use these things once or twice and then get bored or lazy. The best thing for Aries is to find a friend or partner they want to aid in their weight loss and workout routine.” These are the secrets of women who work out every day.

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Taurus
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Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Taurus can be very hedonistic, which makes exercising regularly and following diet plans difficult. “They can tend to be slow, methodical, and stuck in their ways,” Furiate says. “They also love sweets and rich foods.” Basically, anything scrumptious or luxurious will attract a Taurus, so if working out or dieting is somehow made to seem glamorous, a Taurus will have a much easier time of it. Furiate says, “If they feel good around what they are wearing and find value in spending the money for exclusive membership, this may motivate them to get up and go to the gym.” So a gym with extra amenities, like a pool, a sauna, or access to masseurs would be perfect for a Taurus. They would benefit from a spa experience. Check out these 12 must-have products for your very own home spa day.

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gemini
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Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Geminis love to go, go, go. Luckily for them, that means that staying committed to a workout routine shouldn’t be too difficult. According to Furiate, the best activity for a Gemini to engage in is running. “Running or fast walking is great for Geminis. They love being on the move. They will benefit also from being able to talk to or communicate with another person while working out. They need to find a buddy to walk or run with.” Geminis are also great multitaskers, so if they can’t find a partner who is willing to run a few miles with them, they can always fill the silence by listening to music or a podcast. (This is the energizing workout music that makes exercising more fun.)

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Cancer
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Cancer (June 21–July 22)

Cancer is a natural homemaker, so for them, a kitchen makeover is the best place to start. “For Cancers it’s about recrafting their daily menu and diet to lose weight,” says Furiate. “They love to cook and nurture others using food. They also love to comfort eat to hide their true feelings. They would be motivated to lose weight if the dieting and nutrition became a family affair where everyone was involved in adopting and maintaining healthy habits.” Cancer will find fun in dieting by researching new recipes or learning how to make their favorite dishes a healthier way. It’s not about taking away food, it’s about making sure the food that is readily available is good for them. If they have their family there to support them, there is no doubt that they will improve their health and fitness. Start by reading up on 11 healthy frozen yogurt treats!

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Leo
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Leo (July 23–August 22)

Leo loves to be social and loves to be in the spotlight. The best way to get a Leo to lose weight, then, is to get them engaged in some kind of team sport like soccer or basketball. Team sports allow Leos to burn off all of their pent up energy. They also provide Leos with a great combination of group exercise and the opportunity to be a stand-out player. Leos will be in their glory if they can make game-winning plays. Talk to your friends about getting some pickup games going, or join a group that would welcome an added player. Check out these other tips that will get and keep you motivated to move.

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Virgo
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Virgo (August 23–September 22)

For a Virgo, the trait that makes them successful is also the trait that can make them fail: perfectionism. Virgos may feel easily discouraged if they aren’t immediately getting the results they want, but this delayed gratification may also push them harder. “Most Virgos need little help or motivation to stay on a healthy diet and exercise routine,” Furiate says. “It is inborn to be healthy, so they are naturally self-motivated.” The best way for Virgos to get the weight loss results they want is to stick to what they love most, which is stability. “Virgos love routine and ritual so they may easily become addicted to whatever health habits they form—not always a bad thing to keep the momentum going.” If you hit a workout plateau, read these tips to figure out how to beat it.

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Libra
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Libra (September 23–October 22)

Libras won’t benefit from extremes. Radical new diet plans or workout trends will turn a Libra off. A middle-of-the-road approach is best. “Libras want things that will allow them to maintain a sense of balance and equilibrium in their life,” Furiate explains. “So they’re not going to go on some major tangent. They want to know that whatever they’re doing can easily fit into their normal, daily routine.” Libras need to feel like their effort to lose weight is not an added point of stress in their lives. That’s also why the best way to keep a Libra motivated is to work with someone else. “The best way for Libras to lose weight probably is to find a partner. Someone that they can collaborate with and share their time with when working out. They don’t always like to be alone. They like to be able to talk to like-minded people and share that experience together.”

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Scorpio
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Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

When it comes to weight loss, Scorpio is the total opposite of Libra. If Libra is the zodiac sign that doesn’t like extremes, Scorpio is the sign that needs to take it to the extreme. For them, it’s all or nothing. “They love doing anything that’s intense,” Furiate explains. “They want to get into something like kickboxing or somewhere they can use their fighting spirit; something that’s really dramatic.” Of course, crash diet plans are never a good idea, and you should always know your personal limits when working out. But for a Scorpio, anything that is impressive and forceful, like heavy weightlifting, will do the trick. Scorpios won’t just be looking for a challenging workout regimen, but may want to completely change their way of life. This sign will not have a problem sticking to their goals. In fact, their weight loss routine will probably end up transforming them for good. These are the extreme workouts Scorpios will love.

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Sagittarius
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Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

Exercising won’t work for Sagittarius if they feel like it’s a chore. The best way for Sagittarius to lose weight is to disguise the effort as something fun. “Sagittarius want something that is adventurous,” Furiate says. “They like to take risks, so they probably want to try something new and different. Hiking, wall climbing, horseback riding—things that will give them a sense of adventure when working out. They also need a lot of variety in their workout routine because they get bored very easily.” If Sagittarius genuinely enjoys the physical activity they’re doing, they will have no reason to want to stop their weight loss program.

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Capricorn
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Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

Capricorn is the more extreme version of Virgo. Capricorns are very strict and very regimented, so they will also likely not have too much trouble sticking to their routine. Capricorns will take the time to schedule and plan their daily weight loss efforts. “They want to take a responsible approach,” Furiate explains. “They’ll eat more organic food and cut out sweets, for example, because they take everything so seriously. They would be the ones that if there’s a gym at work, that would be really great for them.” If you’re a Capricorn and you don’t have a gym at or near your place of work, then fitting in a run early in the morning before work will be the best bet for you. Capricorns love and take pride in their work, so anything associated with that aspect of their lives will be very meaningful. Try out these 11 tricks to eat healthy without even trying.

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Aquarius
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Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Aquarius not only knows the latest workout and diet trends, but they know the ones that haven’t even hit the news yet. Aquarians love nothing more than to break out on their own. Their individualism needs to be displayed in their weight loss efforts in order for them to stay dedicated. “They’re not going to do something that anybody and everybody else is doing,” says Furiate. “They want to do something that’s very avant-garde and very different and very unique. They want to know that it can be socially oriented and they want to be stimulated intellectually.” Combining an art form with movement would be the perfect way to get an Aquarius to lose weight. Try a fun but also visually beautiful type of dance and take classes!

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Pisces
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Pisces (February 19–March 20)

For Pisces, physical workouts are worthwhile only if they are mentally stimulating. This sign cares more about the health of the mind and the spirit than that of the body. “Walking meditations are good for Pisces,” Furiate says. “Pisces want to be out in nature because that will inspire them to move. Meditation, tai chi, qigong, yoga—they’re not really into high impact sort of things like an Aries would be.” Yoga or hot yoga are great ways for a Pisces to keep their body and their soul fit and healthy. As Pisces is a water sign, swimming would also be a great exercise. Try any one of these 10 swimming exercises.

Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian is a regular contributor to RD.com covering culture, advice, travel, pets and all things weird and haunted. She is the author of "From the Basement: A History of Emo Music and How It Changed Society," which analyzes the evolution of punk and mental health. She holds a B.A. in Writing, Literature and Publishing from Emerson College.