14 DAY TRIAL // Staying in the weight-loss game can be quite a tricky and, at times, downright difficult thing to do, if efficient strategies are not employed. However, this may be something that not all of us are aware of, which is why Men’s Health came up with the idea of gathering advice from the best experts on the ten most successful weight-loss strategies.
As the popular magazine puts it, there are researchers whose main job is that of analyzing and studying weight-loss theories so that we, the regular folks, be able to focus entirely on the actual losing of the extra pounds. To accomplish anything in life, no matter what it is, one needs a good strategy, Men’s Health says, and a good, first choice might be that of constantly weighing yourself. This is far from the discouraging act it was once believed to be, several studies showing that it actually helps motivate people to lose more weight.
Avoiding images of food is another great way of staying in shape, as a study shows that seeing food triggers in the brain a “feed me” response. This means steering clear of ads on television or even cooking programs might help curb cravings, Men’s Health says. Praying is another successful, weight-loss strategy, the mag adds, even if we might fail to see a connection between the two at first. Yet, studies prove that religious people are more likely to lose weight than those who don’t pray.
“Studies have shown that those who have more social support move more, and being closer to God may give men that support. General religion in the United States encompasses theological teachings about the body as a temple, which may also lead to the consumption of a healthier diet and increased physical activity.” lead researcher Karen Kim of the Cornell University says in relation to a recent study.
Another effective strategy is to avoid going hungry and, implicitly, binging on food. Studies have shown that healthy men perceive salty and sweet foods as having more flavor if they eat them when they’re hungry. Because of this, they are faced with an increased temptation for vending-machine snacks, which, most of the time, come only in two varieties, namely salty and sweet. The solution is either to wait until hungry and then eat smart, by abstaining from gorging on food, or to prevent this from happening in the first place.
The former option is not so easily done, since it implies an amount of self-control not many actually have, which is why the latter is ideal. “Eat offensively. Eat regularly during the day to stave off cravings and the bingeing that can result.” Katherine Tallmadge, M.A., R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, says for Men’s Health. The bottom line would be that where there is a will, there is a way and weight-loss can be sustained in the long run even by using such simple tricks as those mentioned above. For more of these strategies, please refer here.