Fool your sweet tooth with scent
A whiff of vanilla may be the antidote for your craving for a double dip of Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream. Here’s the theory, according to experts: The inherent sweetness of vanilla sends neuropeptides (gut-to-brain messengers) into a kind of sensory overload that fools you into feeling like you’ve satisfied your sweet tooth. Any vanilla scent?—extract, body lotion, or a candle—has a similar effect. A special spray designed to curb appetite may work, too. One to try: Scentology’s Crave Control (read more about here), which was developed by Rachel Herz, PhD, a psychologist at Brown University’s Medical School and author of The Scent of Desire.
Stock up on lentil soup
According to a new study from The Cochrane Collaboration, an independent health research organization, people on diets that call for fiber-rich, complex-carb-loaded foods such as lentils, sweet potatoes, and apples lost a little over two pounds more in five weeks, compared with people on low-fat or other types of diets. These foods rank low on the glycemic index (GI), which means they’re less likely to cause blood sugar spikes and leave you feeling hungry.
Snack smart
By now you know that snacking doesn’t have to be a bad thing for your waistline. But did you know that the right snacks can actually suppress ghrelin, the hunger hormone? James Kenney, PhD, nutrition research specialist at the Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa in Florida, says low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods like strawberries (49 calories a cup), broccoli (20 calories a cup), and sweet potatoes (103 calories—and ready in a microwave minute) are your best defense. “They make you feel satiated on a lot fewer calories than Pringles do,” Kenney says.
Breathe hunger away
Stress causes your body to pump out cortisol. And this, ultimately, creates a resistance to leptin, a hormone that helps you feel full. As a result, says Mark Hyman, MD, integrative medicine specialist and author of Ultrametabolism, the more stressed out you are (and the more often you feel that way), the less able you are to tell when you’re full. Short-circuit the problem with this stress-reducing breathing exercise: Exhale fully, counting to five as you release tension from your body; let your shoulders slump as if you’re a deflated balloon. Then count to five as you inhale gently, fully, down through the lungs into your belly; hold for a four-count. Exhale again, repeating the first step. Continue for five minutes; practice a few times each day—or whenever you feel inclined to make tracks to the snack stash.
By Curt Pesmen
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Comments (10)
I am about 200 pounds and i lost weight a couple months ago i dropped to about 186 on the biggest loser work out tape and drinking green tea i have gained the weight back like i referred to earlier i am trying to find a weight loss diet that i can try to help me lose weight. I really have a problem because i have huge breast is there any way to get rid of those without surgery and also i am not satisified with my arms either please help.
I lost 30 pounds over the last few months and as a result my breast size has decreased. Husband is not thrilled, but it’s easier to go braless in spaghetti string shirts.
Hi, whatever you do just don’t give up. I am 5′2 with 44DD size breast and I currently weigh 178 down from 189. I had even contemplated bariatric surgery but what I am doing now is walking on my treadmill for an hour 3 times a week and exercising with weights whenever I can. When I do feel hunger approaching, I first drink 20 fl. oz of water,that keeps the hunger at bay. I eat more fresh green vegetables than fruit and I use broiled Boca burgers alot, salmon, either grilled or broiled and chicken breasts.One delicious dish that I make almost daily is sauteed fresh spinach with garlic and fresh diced tomatoes.I used to sauteed it with olive oil but have just learned that it can be done with lowfat chicken broth. Anyway, hope that helps. It’s surely helping me.
Hi, I am a 15 year old teenaager and am about 5′2. I way about 113 (it varies) while having very large “thunder thighs”. I really want to tone out my thighs (alot) and get fladder abs, while also losing alott on my butt (tone?). I know what’s healthy but I seem to not be motivated enough to do anything about it. Please help me with my diet because if I don’t do anything, my overeating while bored will take over me. Please help me, I need to regain my self-confidence in my outlook.
hi i’m a 16 yearold and swimming season’s coming up for me. i’m currently 5′3″ and 113lbs.
i have no problem with hunger.. but i can’t stop eating and i’m very busy.
how can i burn the most calories in 30minutes?
its all math. if you don’t burn off the calories that you take in during the day, you’ll have trouble losing weight.
I recommend a lot of veggies and fruit. Lbs of them if you are really hungry.
If you are not happy with how toned your body is, get a personal trainer at the gym. You may only need one or two sessions to figure out a fitness plan that works for you. The great thing about the gym is everything you burn and that means maybe getting to eat more treats!!
]Losing weight is not easy. It sucks and its hard work, but it pays off in the end. I’ve had a lot of friends have great success with weight watchers, although I have never tried it myself.
I’m 5′8 175lbs, I’ve always been a big girl so I have always had to fight to keep fit..I know ur pain!!
Im in the military, NAVY, and we have to meet our height weight standards every 6 months if not we could be separated. At 42 yr old I’ve had to watch my caloric intake the past ten years especially every 6 months. The more you work out the more hungry you are so there is a balance in everything. The most return I’ve had though is sensable diet with moderate excercise, as the person wrote above, fruits, vegetables and now low energy dense foods. Yogurt (low cal) with many combinations of grapes, tengelos, penuts and Kashi cereals is my diet in the mornings and for snacks… its ok to cheat just be concious of your goal even when your cheating…. which I think always crosses over to the unconcious… Im a guy so I better stop talking now……
Good luck!
Kevin
hey… im 14 yrs old and weighing 132.2 pounds. My mum makes really healthy food, and likes to give us organic food, but she also does alot of baking, and i cant resist her baking. In the past 7 months i have gained 17 pounds in that time frame, because im constantly eating sweets! What can i eat or do to keep my mind off of food?
Hi, I am a 16 year old junior in high school and im 5′4″. And i also weigh 113 pounds. I am very active during my school year with swimming and I row on my crew team and I enjoy running. I have alot of muscle and I like to keep in shape. The only problem is that I have a hard time trying not to eat sweets. I have a terrible sweet tooth and love baked goods. I eat relatively healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables and lean meats but I can not seem to lean away from the sweets. What can i do to steer away from them?
when i was 12, i weighed 199 pounds, and i ate the wrong things. then i decided to be healthy-so i drank ice water and replaced the sweets with vegetables. i never denied myself anything, when i wanted something sweet, i would take a bite, then stop. i found an activity that i loved, which was choreography onstage singing, which got me into a exercise routine. after 3 years, i lost over 70 pounds. i am content with my body.