After each session, they took blood samples, had the athletes rate their perceived fatigue and measured their neuromuscular output by getting them to jump on force plates.

The athletes returned after four weeks, during which time they could exercise as much or little as they wanted and in whatever way they chose, to repeat the process.

Despite different training histories, body composition and loads, using the velocity-based threshold, they were able to reproduce similar responses in the athletes across the course of the study.

We wanted to assess, does it induce the same response and it does, Weakley said.

Doing exercise based on sets or lifting to failure is a less consistent and less effective way to exercise, Weakley added.

Three sets of 10 might be easy for you today but hard in a weeks time, Weakley said. Your strength changes day-to-day you have a bad nights sleep, you have an argument with your partner ... Its being able to train the same response and the same stimulus day in and day out so we can get more consistent training.

The reason the consistency of training response is important is because the different internal responses to exercise drive different adaptations.

The last thing we want is getting hammered by weights and being really sore .. when we can get the same stimulus by moderating fatigue.

Being able to control for that response means we can have better control of the adaptation that occurs down the line, Weakley said.

For instance, exercising to a smaller 10 per cent velocity loss is an effective prescription for power-building training sessions as there is less fatigue and therefore the athlete can train at a higher velocity with greater power output.

Exercising to a 30 per cent velocity loss, on the other hand, is more effective for muscle-building sessions.

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This allows trainers to accurately prescribe sessions based on the outcomes they want to achieve.

When were training these multi-million dollar athletes the last thing we want is getting hammered by weights and being really sore and training to failure when we can get the same stimulus by moderating their fatigue, he explained.

The concept of lifting to failure is based around a couple of things, Weakley said. People feel like if they are sore, they are effective. But it doesnt work like that. And the thing is, if you want to be powerful and strong, inducing a whole lot of fatigue doesnt really drive that, he said.

A lot of the research now shows that lifting to failure doesnt actually induce greater strength and power adaptations. It might be beneficial for hypertrophy as a bodybuilder. Training to fatigue gives a lot of fatigue and also induces mal-adaptations in strength. Lifting the maximum amount of load isnt always the ideal way to train.

Though the research was aimed at improving the way athletes train, Weakley said anyone can apply the approach to achieve better outcomes in their strength and power.

There is a tweak with this sort of training you need to be able to monitor velocity, he said, explaining they used Gymaware hardware to track the velocity. But you can also utilise a rating of perceived exertion using a 1-10 scale. Thats effective too.

Sarah Berry is a lifestyle and health writer at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

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Speed, not weight, when you lift could be the key to greater gains - The Sydney Morning Herald

If you're walking your way to weight loss on a treadmill, congratulations - you've made a good choice! Walking is an effective exercise for weight loss, especially for beginners, said Audra Wilson, MS, RD, LDN, CSCS, a bariatric dietitian at the Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health & Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, IL. "It's fairly low-impact," she explained. "It's in a controlled environment. . . . It's a good way for beginners to just get started moving."

You have a couple of things to figure out, though: namely, how long you should be walking and the speed you should aim for. Keep reading for those answers and more tips to make treadmill walking for weight loss a breeze.

For a beginner, 15 to 30 minutes of walking on a treadmill will help you lose weight, said Dan Charak, NASM-CES, the fitness manager at the Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Health & Wellness Center in DeKalb, IL. But you can also cut back more than that, Audra said. It all depends on your starting fitness level. "You could start with just 10 to 15 minutes. If that's challenging, you could start with five minutes," she explained.

The key, Audra said, is "to set up a routine that we can stick with." If 20 minutes of treadmill walking feels too intimidating right now, try 10 or 15. If it's convenient, you can even split your workout up throughout the day. Jump on the treadmill for five to 10 minutes at a time, twice or three times a day, to increase your overall workout time without feeling like you have to set aside a big 15- or 20-minute chunk.

Related: If You're Working Out 5 Days a Week to Lose Weight, Here's What Experts Want You to Know

For a beginner on the treadmill, a brisk walk is a good place to start, Dan said. It really depends on your individual fitness level, though. Audra recommended paying attention to your rate of perceived exertion (RPE), or how hard it feels like you're working. If one is rest and 10 is an all-out sprint, aim for "anywhere between five and seven," Audra said. "Feeling like you could talk to somebody, but not carry on a steady conversation." Here's a simple RPE scale to help you stay on track with your intensity.

There are two kinds of cardio workouts you can do on a treadmill: steady-state, when you're walking at a constant pace the whole time; or intervals, when you'll go from faster intervals to slower ones in order to pump up your heart rate. Beginners should start with steady-state, Audra said, as that format is the best way to get your feet under you and acclimate to walking for exercise.

Speed intervals burn more calories in a smaller amount of time, but starting with them without the proper fitness baseline can lead to injury or discouragement, Audra said. "You want to start with a level that's going to make you feel good, invigorated, and give you energy, which is what exercise should do if you're doing it at the right level for the right amount of time," she told POPSUGAR. Kick your weight-loss journey off with steady-state walking and set those interval workouts as a goal as you build up your cardio fitness. (Here's a walking-running treadmill interval workout you can work your way up to.)

And since you'll be doing all this walking, Audra said, get a pair of supportive shoes so you can feel your best when you hit the treadmill. It's common to experience foot or knee pain due to inadequate footwear, and you'll fall off your workout and weight-loss goals if you're in pain every time you hop on a treadmill. A healthy diet will also help you reach your weight-loss goals faster, and help you feel better while you're doing it. This two-week healthy eating plan can help you get started.

Between logging steps and eating healthy, nutritious foods, you'll be on your way to your weight-loss goals. Fire up the treadmill and lace up your shoes - it's time to hit the ground walking!

Related: I'm a Trainer, and These Are 9 Ab-Strengthening Exercises Beginner's Should Know

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Walking Your Way to Weight Loss? Here's How Many Minutes You Should Log on the Treadmill - Yahoo Lifestyle

My name is Sandra Ross (@ketokonduct), and I am 37 years old. I live in South Jordan, Utah, and work as a personal trainer. After reaching over 300 pounds and yo-yo dieting without success, I went keto, started weight lifting, and was able to lose 130 pounds.

My struggles with my weight began when I was 9 years old. I started gaining weight, and my dad put me on my first true diet, Slim Fast. Being so young, I developed a bad relationship with food. Food was viewed as bad," and all the diets just perpetuated my issues with food and weight. This pattern continued through my life into my late 20s as I yo-yo dieted to try to find a balance. When I was tipping the scales at over 300 pounds, social anxiety started to play a huge role in my poor relationship with food. I felt uncomfortable eating in public because I worried people would judge me for whatever I put in my mouth. So, I became a recluse and didnt want to leave my house. I lost friendships because I didnt want to engage with my friends. Home was safe and where I could eat what I wanted and do what I wanted without judgement.

The doctor told me if I continued to gain like I was, I would not live past my mid 30s. My labs were not ideal and I knew it was bad, but I didnt really understand the details enough to make changes. On the way home from the doctor I stopped at Carls Jr. At that moment I realized I needed to make a change, but didnt know how to start. So I started yo-yo dieting. I went to another doctor who prescribed the weight loss drug phentermine. I took it until and I maxed out the amount you can take, and it was no longer effective. So I switched to another weight loss drug called phendimetrazine and maxed out of that as well. I felt hopeless and out of options.

I didn't feel like I was being restricted or like I was on a diet. I learned that eating low-carb and higher-fat could help me lose weight and sustain that weight loss. That finally helped me curb my cravings and kept me full for much longer periods of time than when I was eating *a lot* of carbs. I finally felt what it was like to not constantly think about food. Up to that point, I was completely obsessed with food.

Breakfast: Coffee with collagen and half and half at 7 a.m. Eggs with cheese, bacon/sausage at 9 a.m.

Lunch: I will have a salad with protein (chicken or tuna) typically at 3 p.m.

Snack: Pork rinds and egg salad or cheese.

Dinner: Spaghetti with healthy noodles or steak and some sort of veggie like loaded broccoli.

Dessert: Keto cookie or berries with cream.

Typical my week of exercise includes 5 days of weight training. I got into it because I learned that if you have more lean mass you can eat more calories, and I was *all* about that!

Change 1: Incorporating fats helped curb my appetite. Fat also helps convert your body from being a carb-burner to burning fat as fuel (aka ketosis), and this helped me feel less hungry. Lowering my carbohydrate intake also freed me from being a carb addict.

Change 2: Eating fewer carbs helped ease my joint pain. Converting to burning fat as fuel helps to decrease inflammation, which helps reduce water weight and joint pain. This helped me to be able to weight train and be more physically active.

Change 3: Weight training has helped my social anxiety *so much.* In the beginning, I was at my most vulnerable and most uncomfortable. I had to put myself out there and outside of my comfort zone to make myself better and stronger and healthier. In time, I have become much more confident. The strength and the mental acuity that I have developed with weight training has also helped me overcome my anxiety.

My weight loss journey wasnt streamlined or perfect. It takes a lot of lessons and mental changes, which take time. I had to look at food differently and correct my relationship with it. For years, food comforted me. Food can be enjoyed, but it is fuel, and Ive learned to comfort myself in other ways. To make lasting changes, it's so important to be kind to yourself and give yourself time to adjust.

Link:
'I Lost 130 Pounds By Eating Keto And Weight Lifting' - Women's Health

Imagine not being able to fit into the clothes of your choice, owing to your rapidly growing waistline. While battling extra kilos in itself is a difficult task, it becomes even more difficult when it crushes your confidence levels. When 28-year-old Nikhil Kakkar realised that it was time to take control of his life, he decided not to look back. He managed to lose a whopping 32 kilos. Here is how he did it:Name: Nikhil KakkarOccupation: Self-employedAge: 28 yearsHeight: 6 feet 3 inchesHighest weight recorded: 105 kgs

Weight lost: 32 kgs

Duration it took me to lose weight: 9 months The turning point: When you are overweight, there are a lot of things that irritate you. From not being able to wear the clothes of my choice to feeling extremely underconfident, being overweight had begun to dominate the narrative of my life. I knew that I had to do something before it was too late as my growing weight had started to really affect the quality of my life. From the day I decided to lose weight, I have never really looked back.

My breakfast: 4 boiled eggs and a cup of coffeeMy lunch: 100 grams of paneer and 100 grams of curd

My dinner: A bowl of dal with 50 grams of brown rice

Pre-workout meal: 1 cup of black coffee

Post-workout meal: 1 scoop of whey protein

I indulge in: I do not believe in the concept of cheat days. As a result, I did not have any cheat day during my entire weight loss journey.

My workout: I equally balance weight training and cardio sessions

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: I vouch on scrambled eggs, omelette and a portion of salad

Fitness secrets I unveiled: I have realised the importance of calorie deficit when you are aiming to lose weight. You need to strictly count your maintenance calories and eat less than that to lose weight.

Read this article:
Weight loss story: I had stopped meeting people because of my weight! Heres how I lost 32 kilos to gain - Times of India

The most recent data on the use of weight loss supplements, from a US study, showed that among people trying to lose weight 16 percent (12 percent of men and 19 percent of women) reported past-year use.

Herbal medicines, or herbal supplements as they are commonly known, are products containing a plant or combinations of plants as the active ingredient. They come in various forms including pills, powders or liquids.

Common herbal supplements used for weight loss include green tea, garcinia cambogia, white kidney bean and African mango.

The authors write that between 1996 and 2006, 1000 dietary supplements for weight loss were listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods without evaluation of efficacy.

These substances can be sold and marketed to the public with sponsors (those who import, export or manufacture goods) only required to hold, but not necessarily produce, evidence substantiating their claims. The authors note that only 20 percent of new listings are audited annually to ensure they meet this requirement.

The growth in the industry and popularity of these products highlights the importance of conducting more robust studies on the effectiveness and safety of these supplements for weight loss, said Dr Fuller.

The review excluded studies where the herbal medicine did not include the whole plant, was comprised of plant oils or combined with other dietary supplements such as fibres and proteins. This analysis will be reported in a future paper.

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Insufficient evidence backing herbal medicines for weight loss - News - The University of Sydney

No-white diet, as the name suggests is the diet that eliminates foods with white flour, starch and sugar. These foods are highly processed, contain a high amount of starch, carbohydrates, have a high glycemic index and offer low nutritional value, all of which are not considered good for weight loss.

No-white diet is not exactly a diet but a strategy to lose weight easily and effectively. If you are someone who is confused between the rigid diets, you can follow this simplified approach to lose weight and improve your eating habits. Following this diet can also help stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Why should you avoid white foods?

Foods with white processed ingredients contain bad carbs and lack essential nutrients and fibre. These foods fail to keep you fuller for longer, which makes us consume excess calories. These foods are also not good for people with diabetes. Common examples of such foods are biscuits, cheese, sweets and aerated drinks.

What should you eat instead?

Choose healthy options like brown, oats or multigrain bread instead of white bread. Swap your white pasta with wheat or salmonella pasta. Choose whole grains over plain rice. Replace white sugar with stevia, honey, maple syrup or brown sugar.

How good is the no-white diet?

Judging the white foods based only on their colour is not a healthy idea. Some foods like milk, tofu and paneer are also white in colour but are full of nutrition and are a must have to lose weight and be healthy.

White foods one must eat

Cottage cheese, yoghurt, coconut, cauliflower, white chicken, all these foods are a great source of nutrition and make an integral part of a weight loss diet.

Read the original here:
What is no-white diet for weight loss? Does it really work? - Times of India

Many can relate Chrissy Metzs portrayal of Kate Pearson on NBCs This Is Us. As one of The Big Three siblings, Kates journey is a complex one. Her formative years are marred by tragedy, grief, and her potentially toxic boyfriend, Marc (Austin Abrams). Viewers know Kates weight is a heavy burden in her marriage and life, but whatever number the scale reads, Kates troubles go far beyond that, according to an expert.

[Warning: Spoilers from a recent episode of This Is Us ahead]

This Is Us star, Chrissy Metz, has been an open book in regards to her own weight and self-love journey. She even wrote extensively about the pressure to be a certain size to find success in the industry.

I think, as we evolve as human beings or in our particular life, we realize, Oh, you know, this isnt serving me anymore, she previously told The Wrap.

Or, if we, God forbid, come across medical issues or problems that, Oh, maybe I just wanna be a little more active. And some people knock the girls that lose weight and say like, Why did you guys do that? Youre selling out. And thats not necessarily true.

Metz referenced her character, Kate, saying, Oh, no, shes finally contending with the things that she was eating over. I think its more about the behavior around what youre doing, Metz said.

And it could be social media, gambling, sex, drinking, food it could be anything, fill in the blank how is my behavior around that and how do I want to change that behavior? Because its the stinking thinking of obsessing about something.

The actress said for her, she often wonders if shes eating for health or if its something bigger.

And whether I lose weight or I dont, I dont really hold on to a number. I dont think thats important, cause whos to say what? she said.

She continued: People are like, Wait, what? You got your blood work done and you have like great, perfect cholesterol? Like, it doesnt make sense. Im like, I want you to know its real, she continued. Like, contrary to popular belief or what were told about what looks healthy or what doesnt look healthy.

In an earlier interview with Yahoo, Metz revealed a panic attack put her in the hospital. It was her 30th birthday and shed just lost 100 pounds. She landed a role in American Horror Story with one caveat: don a fat suit.

I was thrilled to find out that I wasnt big enough, she said. It was a first in my life. It was liberating.

She went on to discuss the difficulties wearing the suit in her trailer saying she became stuck in the doorway.

I had to suck it in, squish it, knead it, hold the dress, and slowly pull it through until I stumbled down the stairs. I almost wish someone had been there to see because they would have been laughing their butt off, she said.

She elaborated in another interview with People, comparing the experience to real life.

I thought,What if I become that heavy and cant walk around or get stuck in the doorframe?I was like, I dont want this for me,' she said.

Kari Anderson, a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist in Scottsdale, Arizona, wrote her thoughts about Kate Pearsons story via Psychology Today, suggesting the weight isnt the real issue at all.

She noted a fan group had a lot of questions and concerns about Kates weight and decided to break down Kates journey through an eating disorder case conceptualization model, through a few categories: Vulnerabilities in Childhood, Trauma Triggers, and Current Stressors.

Anderson noted Kates connection to food is through the bond she had with Jack (Milo Ventimiglia). Those times they got ice cream made Kate feel unconditional love which, according to Anderson, is classic emotional eating.

As far as Kates relationship with Rebecca (Mandy Moore), its more complicated. Rebecca served as a protector, hoping to keep Kate from weight bias and judgment from others. But, it manifested into a thin is ideal mantra.

Rebeccas food rules for Kate and not Kevin or Randall only drove Kate to forbidden: foods, creating insecurity and body shame. This only escalated when those girls at the pool made Kate believe boys wont like fat girls. Marc will only reinforce those ideations.

On a deeper level, Anderson said Kates first diet came just before Jacks death. Subconsciously, Kate connects that loss to being thin and protects herself by keeping the weight on. Anderson calls it post-weight-loss trauma, and explained in Kates mind, bad things happened when she lost the weight. It was her survival instinct to binge eat. Add Marc, sex, and body image to this arc and the traumas will come up again.

Current stressors in Kates life include having visually-impaired baby Jack after doctors warned of complications due to weight. That aside, her marital troubles with Toby are only escalating. Kate may return to stress eating to cope.

There are conflicting reports as to whether Metz has a clause in her contract to lose weight on This Is Us. In one interview with TV Line, Metz said she did sign a contract with a weight-loss clause.

That was a win-win for me because its one thing to try to do it on your own. But as human beings, its an ego thing: Were more likely to do something for someone else, she said.

However, in another interview with People, Metz insisted there isnt an explicit notation about weight-loss or surgery of any kind. She did add theres an understanding Kate will lose [at least some] weight.

The point is, Kate may have a long road ahead of her, but Metz is happy at any size as she should be.

There are some days where Im like, Oh, Im definitely eating my feelings. And then some days Im like, Yeah, when my heart is full, Im not hungry.So I want to take care of my body and live a healthy life? Absolutely. But that doesnt mean you cant do it at an unconventional size.

She continued: Whether or not I lose weight or stay the same, its purely a choice of mine for health, Not because I think that plus size, curvy voluptuous, big bodies arent attractive because I think theyre awesome and sexy, she said in 2016, adding that shes not selling out the big girls.

Read the original:
'This Is Us': Why Kate's Weight Isn't the Real Issue With Marc, According to an Expert - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

They have expressed their concern online.

Married At First Sighthave expressed their concern for Elizabeth Sobinoff's dramatic weight loss.

WATCH: Karl Stefanovic slams MAFS experts over joke about Lizzie

The 28-year-old reality-TV star posted a photo of herself enjoying a cup of tea, when fans took to social media to express their concerns.

"Way toooo thin now," one person wrote.

"You so thin!" another added.

"Are you well? another asked.

This picture of Elizabeth has fans concerned.

Instagram

Elizabeth has shed a whopping 10kg since first appearing on the show.

"I've thought that when I weighed 49kg and when I've weighed 90kg. I want women to realise that we're all so much more than a number on a scale," she revealed.

"So, yes, I've lost some weight since I was a 'huge' size 10 when I was onMAFS, but that doesn't mean I'm any 'better' now, just because I'm slimmer."

She has lost a whopping 10kg since first appearing on the show.

Instagram

However Elizabeth maintains that her drastic weight loss is the result of illness not dieting.

Speaking previously to an Australian magazine, the MAFS star said she had lost weight because of an auto-immune condition similar to lupus.

This means Lizzie needs to follow a strict eating plan and adheres to a high-carbohydrate diet.

She also says no to coffee, tea and alcohol.

Read more:
Fans are really concerned about MAFS' Elizabeth Sobinoff's drastic weight loss - Who

Highlights

There is something about a big bowl of hot comforting soup that makes us forget all our day's woes. Soup has been our go-to favourite in sickness and in health. There are reasons aplenty why it is such a hit with dieters. It is filling; the high-liquid content of soups imparts a sense of satiety. If you feel full, you would not give in to cravings so easily and maintain a safe distance from all things fried and fattening. You can also be super creative with your soup preparation too and make it healthier. Think herbs, spices, fresh veggies, mushrooms and greens. Unlike juicing, you do not lose a whole lot of fibre in 'souping', and fibre is a crucial component of a weight-loss diet.

(Also Read:Winter Special: A Healthy And Refreshing Spinach (Palak) Juice For Winter Detox)

One of the most preferred ingredients in a soup is spinach. Spinach is rich in fibre; it is the perfect example of a 'good carb'. It does not get digested too soon, it stays in your system for a while, giving you the feeling of fullness. Spinach is also super low in calories and replete with nutrition. Spinach is a rich source of iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, folate and vitamin A.

(Also Read:Wondering What to Do With Left-Over Spinach? Sneak Them in These Puffy Palak Puris! (See Video)

What sets this spinach soup apart is that it is super easy to make and requires bare minimum ingredients and time to put it together. Make sure you wash spinach well beforehand.

Ingredients of Spinach Soup

Recipe of Spinach Soup:

1. In a pan, slightly saute garlic and onion in butter.

2. Add spinach and saute for a minute.

3. Add the spinach with one glass of stock, cream, salt and pepper and blend on high speed.

4. Blend for a minute, until you achieve the desired consistency. If it is too thick, add more veg stock in the blender and blend again.

5. Take the soup out of the blender, serve with a squeeze of lime and garnish with coriander leaves.

Try making this soup and let us know how you liked it in the comments section below!

About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.

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Weight Loss Recipe: This 10 Minute Spinach Soup Is Sure To Be A Hit With Dieters - NDTV Food

Professor Robin Dunbar from the University of Oxford told The Guardian that at a psychological level, having friends just makes you happier. The kinds of things you do with other people are very good at triggering the endorphin system, which is part of the brains pain-management system.

Endorphins are opioids which are chemically related to morphine, and which flood our brains when we interact with others, including cuddling and stroking: It is central to the way primates in general bond in their social groups and relationships, he said.

The kinds of things you do with other people are very good at triggering the endorphin system, part of the brains pain-management system.

The 2018 annual report on adolescents by the Australian Institute of Family Studies also found that the average resilience scores were higher for adolescents who had at least one good friend than for those who did not, says one of the reports authors, Dr Constantine Gasser.

And while human relationships may be the best form of social interaction, experts say the company of animals should also not be underestimated.

Animals are a particular kind of relationship: less stressful and demanding they just like you, says Dr Janette Young, lecturer in health promotion and policy at the University of South Australia.

Theyre a social lubricant, Dr Young says. Animals facilitate connectivity between people and help break down social barriers, especially during dog walks, when people talk to the dog but are actually engaging with the person.

As for social media, it appears that its positives (fostering connections and giving voice to the disenfranchised) may be slowly being overtaken by its negatives (such as cultivating feelings of inadequacy, encouraging addiction, exacerbating cyberbullying, providing easier access to psychologically dangerous content and a decreased attention span).

Social media use has also been linked to rising levels of anxiety and depression the more people use it.

But does it actually make us unhappy? It depends on who you ask, says Nicholas Carah, the University of Queenslands Associate Professor in the School of Communication and Arts.

These platforms are not designed in the interests of users they couldnt care less about what impact they have on users wellbeing

Theres a lot of popular debate about this question. [Some argue] theres a connection between the rise of the smartphone and a bunch of [negative] changes in the lives of young people that perhaps in the long term mean we are less happy because we are less resilient.

Then [others] point to a much more nuanced story, where social media on its own doesnt make us more or less happy, rather it is the way [platforms] are used, what we use them for, he says.

Based on his own work (which focuses on how social media platforms are designed to colonise our attention in order to sell it to advertisers), Professor Carah is less forgiving: These platforms are not designed in the interests of users which means that they couldnt care less about what impact they have on users wellbeing.

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Another thing we tend to think, often incorrectly, will make us happy is losing weight. In our image-obsessed society, the idea of weight loss has become synonymous with wellbeing, yet experts say there is little to no evidence that losing a small amount of weight such as 5kg will actually increase our happiness.

While there are no studies that directly measure happiness and weight loss, there are reviews that look at losing weight and quality of life, says Clare Collins, Professor in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Newcastle.

For example, research looking at overweight and obese adults has found that while weight loss is associated with a better physical quality of life, there was no difference in the mental quality of life.

Professor Collins says that weight loss only discernibly improves a sense of wellbeing when it is huge: For example, studies show that people whove had bariatric surgery see a much bigger improvement in their quality of life but there doesnt seem to be much evidence directly for evidence for small weight loss.

There is little to no evidence that losing a small amount of weight such as 5kg will actually increase our happiness.

What does seem to make us happier is eating better. A 2016 HILDA survey that looked at the food diaries of 12,000 Australians in 2007, 2009 and 2013 found that over that time period, increased fruit and vegetable consumption increased happiness, life satisfaction and wellbeing.

What this suggests is that losing weight may be too hard a thing to pin your happiness on, Professor Collins says. You will get more return on your investment improving your vegetable and fruit intake than just wanting to lose a bit of weight.

Humans have a peculiar propensity to wrongly predict what will make them happiest.

Despite research showing that materialists tend to be less happy and satisfied with their lives, our consumer society continually strives to reinforce that happiness is rooted in purchasing bigger, better things which requires earning more money.

We know that up to a point, earning money does make you happier before it tapers off and even recedes, says Australian social psychologist Dr Brock Bastian, author of The Other Side of Happiness. Additional income doesnt really add much to happiness.

That said, to judge how much money we need to be happy can also be subjective to each individual: It's the amount that lets you afford things you feel are necessary for your life," says Dr Bastian.

Yet population studies show that when it comes to money, a significant indicator of happiness is what you choose to spend it on, rather than how much you earn.

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We know that experiences rather than things are more important for happiness, and using money to access enjoyable, valuable experiences is when having money becomes important to happiness, he says.

This is also echoed in other research, which found that despite people initially predicting experiences to be lower value for money than things, most changed their minds after the fact and realised that doing things rather than acquiring them actually made them happier.

Caroline is a contributing writer to The Age and Sydney Morning Herald

Read more from the original source:
Friendships, pets, money, weight loss ... what makes you feel happier? - The Sydney Morning Herald