GETTY

When you are trying to lose weight, there are many different tips and tricks people offer to make the process easier.

However, a new study has revealed a tip that requires no effort at all: Stepping on the scale every day.

Researchers from Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania studied 294 women of various sizes and asked them how often they tracked their weight.

Positive weight gain snaps spread across social media with the hash tags #screwthescale and #gainingweightiscool. After using the MyProtein diet and healthy exercise.

1 / 13

Positive weight gain snaps spread across social media

The womens body fat percentages were taken after six months and again after two years.

The researchers used this to determine the womens BMIs and found that women who stepped on the scale more frequently had a dip in their BMI compared to those who didnt.

Study co-author Diane Rosenbaum, Ph.D and psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania said: The losses in BMI and body fat percentage were modest, but still significant, especially keeping in mind that these women were not part of a weight loss program.

We did not expect that, in the absence of a weight loss intervention, folks would be losing weight.

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are all the rage right now and for good reason. Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Hair and nails are mostly made of protein and your body uses protein to build and repair tissues.

1 / 11

Women with higher BMIs and body fat percentages surprisingly weighed themselves more at the beginning of the study compared to women with lower BMIs.

The scientists said that constantly being reminded of your weight could help to keep diet and fitness goals in check.

Study co-author Meghan Butryn, Ph.D and associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel said: Regularly weighing yourself can motivate you to engage in healthy eating and exercise behaviours, because it provides you with evidence that these behaviours are effective in helping you lose weight or prevent weight gain.

Similarly, if you see weight gain on the scale, that information can motivate you to make a change.

Meanwhile, another recent study has revealed that drinking coffee could lead to weight gain.

This is because thecaffeine attaches to adenosine receptors in the body which keeps you awake.

However, the caffeine also decreases your ability to taste sweet things making you crave more sugar than before. This could make you more likely to seek out sweet foods which could mean you pack on the pounds.

Continued here:
Doing this ONE simple thing daily will make you lose weight fast - Daily Star

share

pin

email

Hoping to drop five pounds in a week? You might want to change your mindset and your strategy: Steady, and most often slow, weight loss is more likely to be long-lasting, researchers say.

In a study that included 183 overweight or obese volunteers, those with consistent weight loss in the first couple of months were more likely to keep the pounds off long term than those whose weights fluctuated from week to week, according to the report published in Obesity.

These stories of weight loss will inspire you Play Video - 3:55

These stories of weight loss will inspire you Play Video - 3:55

"While its possible that some people did have fast and consistent weight loss, for most who are consistent from week to week its probably slower, said the studys lead author, Emily Feig, who was a graduate student at Drexel University while doing the research and is now a clinical research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Most people can lose weight the hard part is keeping the pounds off.

To figure out the factors for keeping weight off, volunteers were enrolled in one of three weight-loss programs that included some behavioral treatment. In addition to the standard counseling, one group was told to use two meal replacements per day and another was told to consume fewer energy-dense foods while increasing protein and fiber intake.

The participants were also asked about food-related behaviors and attitudes, such as cravings, emotional eating, binge eating and confidence in regulating intake, and their weights were checked weekly.

When the researchers checked in after a year and then again after two years, they found that when it came to long-term weight maintenance it didnt matter which group the volunteers were from. What did matter was how consistently someone lost weight. So, those with more variability in their weight loss over the initial 12 weeks of the study tended to have poorer weight control at 12 and 24 months.

Harvard nutrition specialist: 'No magic bullet' for weight control Play Video

Harvard nutrition specialist: 'No magic bullet' for weight control Play Video

Intriguingly, volunteers who reported lower emotional eating, binge eating and preoccupation with food when the study started were more likely to display higher weight variability and less weight loss overall. That may mean that consistent weight loss, rather than a persons relationship with food, may be far more important in predicting who will be more successful long term.

Another important point, Feig said, It tells us that if youre in a weight-loss program and you are not able to lose consistently, its a sign you may need to try something else."

The bottom line: Find something you can stick with, even if it means not losing more than a pound, or even a half pound, a week.

Dr. Zhaoping Li, who was not involved in the new research, said the study underscores the need for an individualized approach.

We need to find an intervention that fits the individual, said Li, a professor of medicine and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. One issue weve been suffering from overall is trying to find one meal plan that works for everyone. Thats a recipe for disaster. If people are struggling in the very beginning, you need to modify the plan, otherwise it wont stick long term.

For inspirational stories of weight-loss success, check out our My Weight-Loss Journey page.

See original here:
How to lose weight and keep it off: lose it steadily - Today.com

Have you reached your happy weight? Many will say that the faster your metabolism is, the faster you will lose weight because your body will convert all your food into energy. They are only partially right.

In a nutshell, metabolism is the various chemical reactions in your body which converts the food you eat into the energy your body needs. Whether you have fast or slow metabolism, your body WILL burn the calories from your food.

However, when your body receives more calories than what is required for your energy level, metabolism wont touch these calories. These extra unburned calories will get stored as body fat. Your happy weight does not entirely depend on the speed of your metabolism.

Here are some things you can do to get your happy weight.

1. Eat everything in the right portions

Fad diets like Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers and Mediterranean promise quick weight loss by encouraging you to focus on eating specific types of food. Research shows that fad diets do not actually do much to help you keep your happy weight.

They might also make you vulnerable to diseases because your body will lack certain nutrients that your body needs.

Medical experts say that you should get the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats to satisfy the nutrients your body needs.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest 45-65% of calories from carbs, 20-35% of calories from fat, and 10-35% of calories from protein. Depending on the weight change you want, stick to the lower or higher end of the range.

Try taking walks. Make these a regular habit and try some challenging routes at times. Walking can encourage metabolism and weight loss.

Research found that people who took up walking as a regular activity can burn around 186 to 371 calories, depending on the speed.

Scientists have found that lack of sleep and sleeping problems are directly connected to how efficient your metabolism is in converting energy for your body.

When you dont get enough sleep, your body does not produce enough of the substances that regulate metabolic function. When this happens, your body doesnt get the energy to function properly.

Many people often focus more on what they eat when they think of losing weight. What you drink also affects your metabolism. Studies show that drinking about 500 ml of water before breakfast, lunch, and dinner can result to decrease in body weight.

Water has zero calories so your metabolism would turn to stored body fat to satisfy your bodys calorie requirement.

Strength and resistance training is another way to reach your happy weight. These exercises help you build muscles.

Did you know that each pound of muscle needs 30 to 50 calories daily to function properly? The more muscles you build, the more calories you burn.

Some people have turned to tasty vegan dishes on their quest to weight control. Researchers at Oxford University have found that vegans are much leaner than meat-eaters.

However, it still is necessary to take not of what you eat and when you eat to keep your ideal weight after going vegan.

Aerobic activities are any activity that makes you use your muscles groups and increases your heart rate and breathing.

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderately intense exercises weekly, with each session lasting for a minimum of 10 minutes

Studies show that eating spicy dishes can temporarily increase your metabolism by around 8% over your normal rate. Spicy foods can also give you a feeling of being full which makes you eat less food. Moreover, nutrition experts found that spicy food can promote abdominal fat loss.

A good cup of coffee can extend energy levels when you exercise, thus you burn more calories. Drinking coffee after exercise can also increase the glycogen in your muscles and help you replenish stored energy.

Others may say that yoga does little for your metabolism because yoga is meant to help you meditate and relax. Remember that metabolic processes in your body continue to work even while you are at rest.

Certain yoga poses like the locust, twisted chair, eagle, and bow poses that boost your energy will consequently boost your metabolism.

11. Stand up whenever you can

Did you know that a 150-pound person can burn 114 calories per hour while standing? Medical experts have discovered that the more time you sit, the fewer calories you tend to burn.

On the other hand, the muscles in your back and legs expend energy when you stand.

When you are in a hurry, everything in your body is working overtime so that you can move at a faster speed. As a result, your metabolism also works overdrive to fuel your body.

If you are not a fan of coffee, you can try drinking green tea. A study found that green tea and at least three hours of moderate exercise weekly can reduce abdominal fat over three months.

14. Eat yogurt and seafood

Yogurt and other fermented foods have probiotics which promote weight loss. A British study showed that taking a probiotic pill daily can lead to weight loss after 12 weeks.

Your metabolism also gets a boost from omega-3 fatty acids from fish. The oil decreases the levels of fat-storage enzymes in your body.

Probably the easiest and most surprising way to boost your metabolism is laughter. Researchers discovered that genuine laughter can use up 10% to 20% more energy.

This means that you burn an increased 10 to 40 calories during 10 to 15 minutes of laughing.

Being active, eating the right food, and getting enough sleep are just some things you can do to keep your metabolism going.

Ultimately, reaching and keeping your happy weight depends on how much you and your metabolism work together.

Excerpt from:
Hack Your Metabolism: 15 Ways to Maintain Your Happy Weight - HuffPost

GET rid of belly fat fast with these two exercises.

GETTY

With summer coming to an end, this could make a lot of people indulge in foods they didnt dare to over the warmer, bikini-weather months.

But if you are looking to lose some stubborn belly fat, it turns out there are only two exercises you need to do to make it melt away.

The two exercises are: Kettlebell swings and squat thrusts.

If you are looking to lose that belly fat, try these simple easy to follow tips that will help you on the road

1 / 10

Eat every three hours - Passing on breakfast will send your body into starvation mode, meaning your body starts to store everything youve eaten as fat, and youre midsection is the first to suffer the consequences

The way it works is you do 15 repetitions of the kettle bell (or dumbell) swing followed immediately by 15 reps of the squat thrust.

Without resting, you then do 14 reps of each and continue to count down and do this without rest until you hit zero.

This will result in 120 reps of each exercise and at three seconds per rep they are done at a fast pace and will be over in around 12 minutes.

Louise Thompson shows off her toned body

1 / 48

Louise Thompson's hottest pictures

Below, find how to do each exercise:

1. Kettlebell swing

Hold a kettlebell or dumbbell with both hands and at arms length in front of you while bending at your hips.

Rock back slightly and hike the kettlebell between you legs, thrust your hips forward and swing the weight so its in line with your shoulders and repeat.

2. Squat thrust

With feet slightly more than shoulder width apart, do a squat until your hands can touch the floor.

Kick your legs back into a push up position and immediately go back into the squat form and stand up. Repeat.

See the original post:
The only two exercises you need to do to get rid of belly fat - Daily Star

Let our news meet your inbox.

Its a fair statement to say that at any one time, a large percentage of us are trying to lose weight. As a registered dietitian, I see this in my own practice at least 50 percent or more of the individuals who come in to see me are doing so with the hopes of dropping at least 20 pounds.

Its not easy, and many fall short of their goals. Their failures are not due to a lack of motivation or willpower; its often because they tried to make too many big changes all at once. Even their goals were too big. In fact, one study found making smaller and easier changes to eating habits on a regular basis was more likely to yield success in weight loss.

Almost everyone can make one small change every day. One major way you can push forward with weight loss is to cut calories. Here are my top swaps that have helped take my patients to the next level in their weight-loss goals:

Instead of having a high-calorie, high-sugar caramel latte, consider a coffee with unsweetened almond milk and cinnamon instead. You can whip up the almond milk and add tons of yummy flavors with the cinnamon, all while saving you over 1,600 calories a week, which could amount to over 20 pounds lost in one year!

This is an obvious one, but probably one of the most challenging to implement. We still are drowning in soda, and its costing us our health. But giving up a 12-ounce can of cola (140 calories) for water, or a naturally flavored seltzer water, can help you lose up to 14 pounds a year. Just make sure you resist the urge to cut calories by incorporating a diet version of your favorite cola. Artificial sweeteners may have consequences to your weight as well, according to several recent studies.

Eating zucchini noodles instead of pasta, just once a week, can help you lose over 2 pounds in a year and making it all the time can lead to even further weight loss. This habit can be especially helpful for individuals with diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by decreasing the reliance on insulin.

Alcohol can be a real challenge when youre trying to lose weight, but it can be the kiss of death if your alcohol of choice tends to be one thats potentially loaded with sugar. Daiquiris, pia coladas and margaritas all fall into this category. Consider swapping your margarita for a 5-ounce glass or red or white wine just three nights a week and you can save you up to 1,000 calories a week, or 15 pounds in one year.

Swap high-calorie dressings for an amazing oil and balsamic vinegar combination to shave off about 3 pounds per year (thats a lot to the serial dieter always looking to lose the last 5 pounds).

Think an oil and balsamic combo is boring? Think again. My view of salads and what goes on them completely changed when I found a specialty oil and vinegar store near my house. Now I whip up delicious masterpieces like blueberry balsamic paired with lemon olive oil, and quince balsamic paired with lime olive oil. Ive fallen back in love with salads that were getting boring, and I fit better in my jeans because of it.

If I told you to swap your mid-afternoon bag of potato chips for some celery and hummus, youd probably think I was crazy. So instead of having potato chips every afternoon, swap them for crunchy Parmesan crisps that you either make you or buy. While calories may differ by brands, some popular options I looked at showed a serving of potato chips running about 140 calories, while a serving of Parmesan chips having only 100 calories and almost no carbs! Thats a potential savings of over 250 calories a week.

Cauliflower rice is found nationwide in either fresh or frozen versions and is easy to prepare. Plus, cauliflower is one of the best vegetables to consume if youre interested in reducing your risk of cancer. If that doesnt motivate you, then how about this: Cauliflower rice has 40 calories in one cup, while white rice has 170. Thats a saving of 130 calories! If you make that change just three times a week, you can save about 20,000 calories in a year.

Remember, weight loss is based on many variables calories are only part of the equation. Genetics, activity level, gender, age and disease status all are factored into your ability to lose, or maintain weight. Despite this, small lifestyle changes, like swapping some of the foods suggested here, may help to move you in the right direction.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, R.D., is the manager of wellness nutrition services at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, and the author of "Skinny Liver." Follow her on Twitter @KristinKirkpat. For more simple swaps to improve your life, sign up for our One Small Thing newsletter.

This article originally appeared on TODAY Health & Wellness.

Let our news meet your inbox.

See the rest here:
7 Simple Swaps to Make for Lasting Weight Loss - NBCNews.com

When 28-year-old Julia Nathan decided to undergo bariatric surgery after years of struggling with her weight, she wasn't prepared for people's negative reactions to her method of weight loss, or the pain that a necessary follow-up surgery would cause.

Nathan recently shared her story with Health magazine, and these are her biggest takeaways if you're considering a major weight-loss surgery.

Many people don't understand the decision. When she told people how she lost weight, they often seemed disappointed, like she "cheated" by getting surgery, she says. This was understandably frustrating, but ultimately, she knew the struggle it took to get there. After surgery, she still had to exercise often and keep her portion control in check to lose weight. Plus, because she went the gastric sleeve route, overeating comes with the risk of vomiting, diarrhea, or ripping her stomach lining.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

A few factors made her a good candidate. She was young, didn't have any health complications like diabetes, and had tried to lose weight with diet and exercise first.

The surgery itself wasn't so painful. She recalls waking up from the two-hour surgery and being surprised at how good she felt. She spent one night at the hospital and then went to her dad's house to recover. Her gut was sore, but not in pain.

Post-surgery, she was on a liquid diet for two weeks. She was eating about 600 to 800 calories a day, and surprisingly wasn't nearly as hungry as she used to be. She did have an allergic reaction to the whey protein shakes she was drinking though.

The second surgery was brutal. A year after her gastric sleeve procedure, Nathan had lost 100 pounds and decided to get another surgery to remove seven pounds of excess skin. The pain from that surgery was "constant and more severe," and the medication she took after made her throw up, which of course hurt her stomach even more.

She's got scars, but she embraces them. They are long and visible, she says, especially the one that runs from one hip to the other. Instead of being embarrassed by them, though, Nathan sees them as badges of honor. "They remind me of what I went through and how proud I am to have taken action to improve my life."

Follow Delish on Instagram.

Download the Delish app.

Link:
This Woman Had Major Weight Loss Surgery, And This Is What She Wants You To Know - Delish.com

The weight loss industry is never hurting for customers. In the United States, over two-thirds of adults are considered overweight or obeseyet we idolize lean, fit bodies in our culture. The result is an overwhelming number of people willing to spend money on anything that promises them a fast, effective weight loss solution. Ultimately, that adds up to be a $20 billion industry.

Though its been around for decades and has experienced significant changes in that time, the weight loss industry is undergoing its most extreme evolution nowthanks to new technology. But how exactly is tech changing the weight loss industry? And is it a good or bad thing for consumers?

These are some of the most significant changes weve seen:

Like with most industries, businesses and marketers in the weight loss sector are starting to step away from personal interactions and tangible products, and toward self-sustaining digital systems that can be distributed and downloaded freely. There are pros and cons to this, but for consumers this is going to mean an even bigger explosion of tech-based weight loss solutionsand possibly available at a cheaper rate.

Future developments could include more sophisticated AI interfaces, capable of analyzing your eating and exercise habits automatically, and making recommendations according to those individual needs, or integration with medical apps and devices, especially in more extreme cases of obesity. For now, if youre interested in losing weight, you have more options and gadgets to help you than ever beforeso take advantage of them.

Read the original:
How Is New Technology Changing the Weight Loss Industry? - TG Daily (blog)

A study suggests exercising on an empty stomach can in fact promote more favourable changes in body fat.

Research carried out by the University of Bath studied 10 overweight men by asking them to walk for 60 minutes at 60 per cent oxygen consumption, first on an empty stomach and then after eating a carbohydrate-rich breakfast.

Blood and fat tissue samples were then taken before and after exercise for analysis.

The researchers found two genes (PDK4 and HSL) increased when they walked on an empty stomach but decreased when they had eaten the carbohydrate-rich breakfast.

The rise in the genes suggests that exercising on an empty stomach burns fat as energy.

Previous research has supported this idea, but other studies on weight loss suggests eating breakfast is essential in shedding the pounds.

Milton Stokes, R.S., author of Flat Belly Diet! For Men, told Mens Fitness: Its like putting logs on a wood-burning stove. You need that initial input to get your metabolism going for the day.

The aim should be to intake around 400-600 calories within an hour of waking up.

Stokes advised focusing on protein, healthy fats and fibre, as these will leave dieters feeling fuller for longer.

There are a few meals to try in the morning that cover all of these ideals.

Jorge Cruise, author of The Belly Fat Cure, advised eggs with avocado/

He said: Avocados are nature's ideal fruit for weight loss. They replace sugar with appetite-curbing good fat."

If you prefer a quick shake, then choose one with whey protein.

David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life said: Whey is rich in branched chain amino acids, which stimulate muscle growth.

The more muscle you have, the greater the fat-burning capacity of your metabolism.

Finally, a simple yoghurt topped with fresh fruit to make it interesting and sprinkled with high-fibre cereal is another option.

Read this article:
Weight loss diet: Eating THIS before exercise could affect how your body burns fat - Express.co.uk