A monthly column on diet, exercise and my weight loss journey.
Over the last few months, there has been no shortage of news crossing my desk having to do with weight loss. Here’s just a few reports I thought you would find interesting.
WATER DIET
Drinking a couple of glasses of water before every meal boosts weight loss significantly, according to reports in research journal Obesity. People in the study drinking this much water lost 5 pounds more than a comparison group. A previous study has found that people who drank a pint of water 30 minutes before every main meal lost almost 10 pounds in 12 weeks. Water in the stomach before a meal helps to reduce the number of calories consumed, the researchers found.
TO SLIM DOWN, BRUSH AFTER EVERY MEAL
If you want to keep trim, forget the diet books and gym membership — you may be better off just brushing your teeth more often. In a survey of the everyday habits of nearly 14,000 people, researchers in Japan found that those who managed to stay slim tended to brush their teeth after every meal. Overweight men sometimes went more than a day without brushing their teeth, according to the study.
LISTEN WHILE YOU CHEW
If you’re trying to lose weight, you might want to eat in complete silence. A recent Brigham Young University study found that snackers who focused on hearing the sound of their own eating – chewing, chomping, crunching — consumed nearly one-third fewer calories
without even trying.
STOP & SAVOR
If you’re trying to lose weight, pay attention to where you eat your meals. A lot of busy people eat breakfast in the car, lunch at their desk, and dinner in front of the TV. But you’ll slim down faster if you don’t. Cornell University researchers found that sitting down and paying attention to meals, even when you only have five minutes, helps you feel full faster, cutting calorie intake by 22 percent.
Now, while all these tips and tricks are interesting food for thought, you and I both know that nothing is going to change without taking action and going it alone is hard. Do you need some extra help in your diet and exercise goals? Let me point you to the people that helped me lose 65 pounds in 16 weeks – the staff at Cool Springs MD. Dr Lodge and his team of personal trainers, dieticians and medical professionals are ready to help you with their stated goal for everyone to be “Happy, Healthy and Whole”
What has helped you lose weight? Any tips you would like to share? I welcome your feedback, thoughts and ideas and look forward to sharing them in a future article. You can email me at [email protected] or feel free to call me during my live radio show – weekdays between 3 pm – 7 pm on 94 FM The Fish. (800) 826-3637
Doug Griffin
