What? Lose weight without even trying?
That sounds too good to be true.
Well, it kind of is.
But these little tricks have been proven to work time and again. So add these effortless strategies to your fitness plan and enjoy the benefits.
Download a game or two onto your smartphone.
During downtime that you’d usually sneak away and find a snack, opt to enjoy a round of Fruit Ninja instead. Studies show that putting the mind to work on a task as simple as a smartphone game takes the focus off the urge to snack.
In your pantry, place healthier food options at eye level.
Generally speaking, humans are lazy. We just are. Put this laziness to work for you by storing healthy snack and meal options in more obvious locations and making higher calorie treats more difficult to get.
Seriously.
Undergraduates at Saint Bonaventure University in Upstate New York were separated into three groups: one that sat with apple slices within reach and buttered popcorn roughly six feet away, one with the popcorn within reach and the apple slices six feet away, and one with both snacks within reach. Even though the participants told the researchers they preferred to eat the popcorn over the apples, they ate whatever was nearest to them.
Hit snooze.
Few things keep your metabolism running efficiently like a good night’s sleep. Sleeping fewer than than five hours a night could send the scale soaring 30% higher than if you got seven hours or more, suggests a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Eat sitting down.
Mindless snacking is a diet killer. Whether it’s mealtime or a mid-afternoon snack of yogurt and an apple, sit down to enjoy it.
Studies out of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab show we unconsciously eat more out of bigger containers, and in social situations. If you’re sitting down at a table, you will be more mindful of what you are eating and keep extra calories from sneaking in from tray-passed snacks and buffet food. To reduce temptation even more, sit further away from the food.
Water. Water. Water.
Opt for a bottle of water instead of your second cup of coffee at the office. Instead of a soda at lunch, choose water. Keep a bottle close by throughout the afternoon. Making water your go-to drink will save you as many as 200-400 calories per day.
See, we told you these were easy. To learn more easy and effective ways to trim your waistline, call us today or click the Schedule an Appointment button at the top of this page. We’d love to meet you and discuss how we can help you meet and exceed your health and fitness goals.