Posts Tagged ‘weight loss tips’
Dieting and Weight Loss Tips
Here are some tips for losing weight and getting fit that you may not have heard about. They focus more on how we eat and relate to food, rather than what is being eaten. They are based on some of the advice given in the excellent book: “59 Seconds – Think a little Change a Lot” by Professor Richard Wiseman.
Eat Slow – There is some research that suggests eating slowly can lead to people eating les. It is thought that by eating slowly the brain is fooled and thinks we have eaten more so helping to feel full by eating less. This Further research shows that by starting out at our normal eating rate then reducing it
Other research
Keep food out of sight – When it comes to eating less, out of sight is out of mind and ultimately out of stomach. An experiment conducted in an office environment showed that Placing the chocolates on peoples desks as opposed to two metres away showed that staff would eat 6 more chocolates a day on average. In another part of the experiment the chocolates were put in clear transparent jars and opaque clouded jars. The chocolates from the clear jars were eaten 46% quicker than those from the opaque jars.
Another research experiment discovered that the amount of food stockpiled in your house influences how much you are likely to eat. In households where there is a large stockpile of food the food was eaten twice as quickly.
Focus on your Food – Distraction at mealtimes and not paying attention to the food being eaten significantly increases the amount of food being eaten. For example when watching an engrossing movie we will eat more food. Activities such as watching TV and reading while eating can cause us to eat more because we are distracted from our food and the messages our bodies are sending us.
The Food Diary – Keeping a food diary can really help you lose weight. One study showed that those who kept a diary lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t . By keeping records of what we eat we become more aware of what we eat and cannot hide from the mistakes we make.
Regret is Good – Can’t get motivated to visit the gym? It has been found that if we spend a few moments imagining how much we would regret not going to the gym, we increase our motivation to do so.
Avoid Reflection – Another study also advises against exercising in front of a mirror. This can have a negative effect because it causes people to focus on their imperfect bodies. People who do, feel more exhausted and less revitalised, and this can do more harm than good.
However, it has been found that putting a mirror on a kitchen wall can help you lose weight and eat more healthily. The theory behind this is that you become more aware of your body, although I think it has more to do with the fact that you will be looking yourself in the eye when you go for an unhealthy snack.
Beware the Diet Packs – Small diet packs of sweets or crisps can be a bad idea for weight loss. This is because people will often eat more of these foods than they would normally. Because they are labeled “diet” packs many people assume they are healthy and turn off their self-control to some extent.
