Losing weight can be hard, and you can use all the help that you can get. Here are easy ways that you can speed up your weight loss.
Turn the thermostat down a little
The journal of Diabetes recently published a study about how turning down the heat at bedtime in winter can help you fight weight gain. As it gets colder, the body makes more efficient use of its brown fat. This is fat stored in the belly, and it is burned to keep you warm. Different sets of participants in the study were asked to set different thermostat temperatures at night while they slept. Those who had their bedrooms at 66°F for four weeks lost significantly more belly fat than those who slept at 81°F.
Sleep more to eat less
When you sleep less than 7 hours a night, it disrupts your hormone levels, which makes you want to eat to feel better. This can greatly increase body weight. There are statistics to go with this idea — losing half an hour of sleep each night can increase your risk of weight gain by 17 percent.
Tell the difference between hunger and thirst
Everyone knows they need to drink a few pints of water each day to stay hydrated. What they don’t realize is that they need to drink that water in sips throughout the day. This is because when you’re thirsty, it often feels like hunger. This is especially important advice during the holidays, when there is plenty of food to go around. As your salt intake increases, it increases water retention and causes weight gain. You can easily flush out such water retained when you drink more water.
Choose green tea to lose an extra two pounds
You can speed up your weight loss goals simply by switching at least some of your holiday eggnog for some green tea. In a recent study done over three months, study subjects were asked to drink 5 cups of green tea every day, and then do a half hour’s workout. They lost two pounds more, and more belly fat than study subjects who didn’t drink green tea.
The reason is simple — green tea contains the antioxidant catechin. One of its actions is to get fat cells to release their fat, and to then help the liver burn that fat to turn it into energy.
Eat peppers
Chili peppers contain the compound capsaicin that gives them their fiery taste. Capsaicin can speed up your metabolism and help you lose fat. If you don’t like hot chili peppers, however, you can try a milder pepper like the poblaño. Mild peppers contain a compound called DCT or dihydrocapsiate. Studies show that DCT doubles the metabolic rate. Seasoning your meals with mild peppers, then, can help you lose some serious weight.
Laugh your way to weight loss
Turn on Netflix and watch some standup comedy. Real laughter (as opposed to forced laughter) can cause a 20 percent boost to the base energy expenditure in your body, according to a study published in the International Journal of obesity. This could mean as much as 10 calories for every minute of laughter.
There are other tips to keep in mind, as well. Vitamin D supplements and coffee help boost your metabolism, as well. These tips may not let you lose all your weight on their own. They can be valuable contributions to a weight loss plan, however.