20 Brainless, Painless Ways to Lose Weight
Oct 06 '01
The Bottom Line Utilize subtle little tactics like these.
Oh, sure, everyone knows that counting calories will make you lose weight. But it's not the only way to go, honey. There are many other ways to lose weight that don't require much thinking or effort. They just work to help you lose pounds...subtly. Much easier.
Here are a few.
1) Drink LOTS of Water. I'm sure you've been told a thousand reasons you should drink 64 oz. of water a day. Here's another to add to the list...water = major pound shed. Here's why: water keeps your metabolism going, and it keeps wastes and fat pouring out of the body rapidly. It also helps to saturate and break down fat molecules. Not to mention the thousands of other benefits--healthy, smooth skin, strong bones and nails, a great immune system, lots of vitality, no headaches, beautiful looks, beautiful feelings...yes, it's a hassle to guzzle 8 glasses. But look at all the rewards and reconsider. It's so easy, so painless...yet it does so much for you and your body.
2) Play Chess Not everyone knows how, and that doesn't matter. The key is to do some heavy-thinking exercise every day, something that pumps your brain, not just your muscles. Did you know that master chess players can lose up to 15 pounds per game? Believe it. You don't have to be a master, but a little thinking won't hurt you. Plus, it's a great way to socialize with a friend. Chess, math, brain teasers...you name it. If it's brainy, do it.
3) Ingest Caffeine Drink/eat it. No, eating extra caffeine won't give you the title of Healthiest Woman of the Year. But a little, just to rev up your metabolism, can't hurt. Of course, it is very, very dangerous to overdo it, or to purposely use caffeine as a stimulant. Just add a tiny bit a day--for example, get caffeinated tea/coffee once a day as opposed to decaf. NEVER take caffeine pills or eat foods especially for their caffeine content. It so happens that the caffeinated foods are often the least healthy. So be cautious about this one.
4) Eat hot, hot stuff! Think Mexican/Indian/Thai food. We're talking spicy, spicy, spicy. Jalapeno, pad thai, extra-hot salsa, whatever. Spicy stuff not only tastes interesting and is usually good for you, but it also gives your metabolism that extra boost. Forget the days of Wonder Bread and bland, tasteless cooking. Add some spices and turn up the heat!
5) Get your calories from food, not water What's better: a chocolate milkshake or a luscious chocolate brownie? A sugary juice or a ripe piece of fruit? A glass of milk or a smooth yogurt or cottage cheese? Think about this: in most cases, the second food listed tastes better (to most, at least). It is more enjoyable to most to bite down into food rather than to just sip it. In most cases, the second food is actually more nutritious in terms of vitamin/mineral content--the whole fruit contains much more Vitamin C and fiber than its juice counterpart, minus gobs of sugar. And, best of all, the latter food almost always has fewer calories than its matching drink. Get all your nutrients, vitamins, minerals and calories from solid food. As for drinks, keep it to water.
6) And, speaking of fruit... Fruit is a miracle to any dieter. It tastes delicious...just as good (Well, ALMOST) as those chocolatey cakes and candies, yet it's super-low in calories and fat. Not to mention the gobs of nutrients found in fruit. Clearly, the better choice. No, don't abandon sweet stuff altogether...just try fruit as an occasional substitute. My personal favorite: sliced strawberries smothered in extra-light whipped cream.
7) Talk, run, or exercise just after you eat Want to wash fat right through your body? Don't sit or rest after you eat. The minute you finish a meal or snack, do something fairly active. If you can, walk briskly, stretch, breathe deeply in and out, visit the gym, watch a workout video, or take a run right after you eat. If that's not possible, at least talk to someone. A mouth-workout is still a workout, you know!
8) Exercise in the a.m. I'm sure you've heard of the 20-minutes-a-day exercise craze. Don't think you can find time in your schedule? Here's time: in the morning, the minute you get out of bed. Do some exercise that you can do in your own home, in your own bedroom. Check out some of the special new exercise machines such as the Beautiful-U that sell for very little these days. The New York City Ballet has published a workout book, with a special 20-minute plan. Even power-walking around the room for 20 minutes is good exercise. Choose a plan that suits you.
9) Don't diet Constantly being told to eat in moderation? Now, here's a refreshing new twist: only diet in moderation! Did you know that severly restricting your food intake can slow your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight? Now, I'm not suggesting that this is a reason to gorge extra food. But don't make your diet under 1,200 calories per day.
10) Dieting? NEVER gorge. Say you're on a strict diet, and suddenly, on an impulse, you take a huge binge? A binge during a non-diet is bad enough, but when you binge suddenly after dieting, you will gain far more weight than you normally would. Want an alternative to counter bingeing? Add an extra 200 calories to your plan. Whenever you have the urge to binge, grab a satisfying 200-calorie snack, and immediately put your mind onto something else.
11) Do the Back Stretch It's the newest, and easiest workout, almost guaranteed to tone and tighten, while burning some calories at the same time. Here's how: take a chair into an open space. Lie over the chair on your back. Let your head, arms, and legs fall. Sit like this for about 10 minutes, and you'll feel great. Promise.
12) Do the Suck-In Want another very easy exercise? Go down on all fours (yes, crawling-style). Look down. Suck in your belly as far as it will go (think "up" and "forward") and hold for ten seconds. Then relax for ten seconds. Hold, relax, and so on. Eventually, try to increase your sucking time to fifteen, then twenty seconds, keeping the relaxation time the same.
13) Sniff Suppressor Sticks Look in a health store or health magazine and you're certain to find special inhalers infused with essential oils that are designed to suppress appetite. Purchase one of these. They're worth a try, and very easy.
14) Dine in Color Toss all your bland white Wonder Bread, your black chocolate bars, your ever-so-dull beige potato chips. From now on, every meal and snack must be colorful! Eat saffron rice, peppers, colorful squash, bright fruits, spicy red salsa, zucchini bread, colorful vegetable noodles--whatever. The most colorful foods are often the healthiest, and the bland ones are usually fatty and starchy. (Be sure, however, that you're not just guzzling artificial coloring!) Want an amazing guide to colorful food? Turn to page 72 of Suzy Chiazzari's "The Complete Book of Color". It's the best guide I've ever read.
15) And remember... that two equally-thin people can weigh in differently. A lot of factors, far beyond mere body fat, affect weight. To name a few...height, bone weight, internal organ size and weight, length and thickness of hair, brain weight, weight of clothing/shoes, amount of muscle (muscle weighs more than fat) and so many more. Here are a few ways of shedding pounds that don't involve shedding fat: Cut your hair very short, wear loose, flowing, light clothing (such as linen and silk), and be breezy and light in what you do.
16) I've seen "slimming insoles" being sold in magazines. These are inserts you put into your shoes before you step into them, and they have little nubby things in a special formation so to help you boost your metabolism in a holistic fashion. I hear accupressure, the art and science of massaging pulse points in the feet for to enhance well being, is a craze these days. I also hear there's some science behind these insoles. I believe SelfCare sells them, and others. Them being only about $14, I'd say it's worth an honest try.
17) I have also heard a lot about apple cider vinegar tablets that are really supposed to have a positive impact on weight and overall health. I have read the ingredients, and everything looks natural to me. Apple cider vinegar is fermented apple juice, basically, and there have been many books written on its numerous benefits. Again, it's worth a try as I hear the price is quite reasonable.
18) When it comes to a time during which you might have heightened cravings, such as the holiday season, wear fitted clothes or a belt. Better yet, wear really high-quality clothing made by a good designer, that really flatters you. It's high incentive to look good and to watch what you eat.
19) Laugh. Laughing is a good mini-workout. No, I've never heard of anyone shedding 100 pounds because they laughed a lot. But it can't hurt, can it?
20) Don't trust everything you see. Products advertised on TV may be completely convincing, promising you that they work well, and that the rich and famous use them, and that they're great for you. But the results on TV are usually not typical. Take everything you hear, read, and see with a grain of salt.
All the above combined will surely help you to lose a bit of weight. Best of luck!
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