Get in shape for summer

Everybody's planning to hit the beach this summer.  But before you go daring and baring, you should first work on eliminating those unsightly bulges visible in your buttocks and thighs.  Dietician call these- cellulite. What is cellulite?  Studies show that cellulite is a common problems experienced by millions of women worldwide.  You can still acquire cellulite whether you are overweight or not.  Cellulite occurs when too much fatty deposits accumulate in honeycomb compartments beneath the skin's deep layers causing them to bulge and create a dimpled appearance on the skin.  Furthermore research shows that is is brought about by several factors like poor blood circulation, impaired elimination of toxins and waste from the body and most of all diet.

Losing weight fast

Does the aromatic scent of steamed tofu make your mouth water?  If you're like most people... your  answer is probably yes.  A  growing body of research suggests that our sense of smell can also help us loss weight- by tricking our brain into thinking we've eaten more than we have.  It's a simple and effective approach that lets you eat your favorite foods and still shed unwanted pounds reveal by a medical doctor. 

A group of researchers offers the following tips to help facilitate weight loss through odor therapy. Studies show that the more you sniff, the more food your brain thinks you've eaten.  The result is a satisfying feeling of fullness, despite the fact that you've consumed only a small percentage of what you would ordinarily eat.

Losing weight tips

• when cooking family meals, sniff the foods you're preparing throughout the cooking process.  By the time you sit down to eat, your brain will think you're already half-full.
• Sniff your food before you eat it. And chew everything thoroughly.  The natural odors of food are released when you chew them.
• After chewing a mouthful of food, blow bubbles in it, as if it were chewing gum.  This sound weird, but it helps release still more scent molecules and stimulates the satiety center.
• Try to eat a lot of hot foods. Items such as soups and stews tend to be more flavorful and aromatic than cold foods such as salads and sandwiches.

The Magic Five of Losing Weight

According to a famous dietitian if you go by these five magic rules, you will  lose and maintain your weight so keep these in mind.

1) Set the right goals.  According to a fitness instructor the most productive areas to focus on are dietary and exercise changes that will lead to that long-term weight change.  To walk twenty minutes five days a week is specific and measurable and for a week you have two days of not walking.  This would be great goal to set for yourself.

2) Try try until you succeed.  Shaping is a behavioral technique where you select a series of short-term goals that get you closer to the ultimate goal.  A fitness instructor cited that a good example is going from five doughnuts a day to three, one and even none.  These small steps build that confidence and encourage you to continue succeeding as you walk the path of healthfulness.

3) Reward success.  When you achieve small goals that you designed for yourself, don't forget to reward yourself. The reward that you choose may be tangible (a DVD, a movie or a new bracelet) or intangible (a new haircut, an evening dinner, or a facial massage).  Many small rewards given for accomplishing smaller goals are more effective than bigger rewards.  Keep in mind that food should never be a reward!

4) Self-monitor.  This pertains to observing and recording aspect of your behavior.  Have a record book and considered the following: servings of fruits and vegetables, calorie intake, exercise sessions done, medications and weight.  Recording help you look back and see how you have progressed over time, which will encourage you to keep up the good work.

5) Always feel full.  Studies show that it takes fifteen or more minutes for your brain to get the message that your are full.  Eating a lot of vegetable can make you feel fuller.  Another trick that help you feel full is to use smaller plates.  So when you fill your smaller plate; the portion size will be about right.

Resources:

Vaughan, Don. "Sniff Away the Pounds." MOD Magazine 18 July 97

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