A lot of articles and books out there will tell you that a religious exercise regimen and a hardcore diet plan are the keys to sure weight loss. What they don’t tell you, though, is that there are little strategies you can employ to cut down and manage your weight. These tricks might sound a bit funny or strange at first, but you probably won’t be complaining once you step on the bathroom scale afterwards.

1. Take a picture. Of your food, that is. While this activity is usually reserved for food critics at a new restaurant, having a visual log of your eating history will go a long way in helping you keep tabs on what you eat. It’s harder to forget that cake you had after lunch if there’s an icing-heavy photo of it in all its high-resolution glory on your camera.

2. Fix your playlist. Believe it or not, studies have found that rock music has an unusual tendency to increase people’s appetites. Take out all the Nirvana and The Clash tracks when you’re eating, even if it means listening to Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus. It’ll be good for you (though maybe not for your reputation with the neighbors).

3. Change your plates. No, don’t go to a buffet. When you’re eating your meals at home (or anywhere else, for that matter), try to use small- to medium-sized plates. The play on proportions will trick your brain into thinking that you’re eating more than you really are. It’ll also be useful for tricking your date into thinking that he or she is eating more than you paid for.

4. Sit down! If you’re planning to ingest anything, find the nearest table and take a seat. Eating while in a standing position distracts your brain away from how much is going down your gut.

5. Use a plate. It’s more than just table manners. Eating from a plate, bowl or any other table service gives you a measurement of how much you’ve eaten so far. At any rate, it’ll sound better than just using ‘handfuls’ to measure how much you’ve eaten from the chips bag.

6. Gross yourself out. Whenever you’re feeling the urge to eat, you’ll probably need something stronger than your weight goals to resist the temptation. Whether it’s the memory of the smell of that sewer under repair in the summer heat or the roadkill you passed on the interstate, prepare a small array of things to help dissuade your stomach.

7. Focus! This is another concentration thing. When you’re eating at the table, lay the newspaper aside, keep the remote control out of sight and just focus on your eating. Getting caught between boredom and focusing entirely on what you’re chewing will give you a better idea of how much you’ve eaten. Don’t despair; you can always get that new episode of House on TiVo after you’re done eating.

8. Slow down. Like trying to watch YouTube on a dial-up connection, it takes a while for the stomach to tell your brain that you’re eating and that you’re not starving anymore. Take your time – at least 20 minutes – to finish your meal. You never know, you might end up eating less than you planned.

9. Get small clothes. Seeing clothes in your closet that are just a little too small to fit you will give you a concrete and easily measurable goal to work toward. Besides, few goals offer the same satisfaction as looking great in that form-fitting pair of denims.

10. Set a date with your thin friend. Even if he or she isn’t the type to comment on your weight, you’ll inevitably compare yourself to your more diet-conscious colleague. There’s even a good chance that you’ll get the same Caesar salad as he or she does for lunch. Talk about good influences.

Perhaps the best thing about these wacky methods is that they don’t involve any expenses (save for maybe a small plate or two). If you’re the kind who can’t afford a gym membership or doesn’t have the patience for weird diets, this is the kind of weight loss you’ll enjoy.

Today’s people are very conscious of their human body and shape. Models strive for perfection which unfortunately means being very thin. In this pursuit of perfection, all sorts of diets and weight reduction programs thrive. However, these efforts though unhealthy at time, are intentional.

It is the case of unexplained weight loss that is a matter of concern. The reasons for this could be many; health conditions like diabetes, excessive smoking and alcohol intake, anxiety and stress or eating disorders. In this article we would discuss eating disorders that cause excessive weight loss.

What are eating disorders?

These disorders are abnormal eating habits that threaten the health of the individual, increase their susceptibility and risk for diseases, and in grave cases damage vital body functions requiring hospitalization and eventually rehabilitation through psychiatric treatment.

There are two types of these disorders:

* Aneorexia Nervosa
* Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by periodic binge eating followed by purging. Although serious, an individual suffering from this disorder rarely has the very low body weight associated with Anorexia nervosa. While there may be weight fluctuations, those suffering from Bulimia are generally of normal body weight, or may even be overweight.

Anorexia Nervosa is serious, because if ignored, it can be life threatening. Persons suffering from this disorder are painfully and abnormally thin and even in this state they still think they are fat and try to reduce some more weight. The disease is thus characterized by an extreme fear of weight gain, with a distorted idea of the body, its shape and size. The incidence of this disease is more among girls, particularly in the teenage years, although boys can be affected by it too.

What causes Anorexia Nervosa?

The causes are not really clear. It is believed to be a combination of psychological, social and family factors. Psychiatric conditions like excessive anxiety and stress can tip the balance towards the disease. The media and fashion industry which lays a lot of emphasis on wafer thin models is seen by many as the culprit and may in fact be the trigger for the disease.

Treatment:

This disease needs to be monitored carefully right from the start, although it is not always easy to spot it in the early stages. However, as soon as an eating disorder is suspected, immediate medical intervention is necessary. Support therapy from family and friends is imperative.

Prevention during the growing up years might be a more effective remedy. Emphasis needs to be places on nurturing the self esteem of teenagers with regard to their appearance and capabilities. Healthy eating habits and nutrition needs to be inculcated very early in life. You definitely may want to look for rapid and easy weight loss programs and tricks, yet you must know certain other things that may be related. eating disorders knowledge must have enlightened you with the same. Cheers!

Laughter is the best medicine. We’ve heard this expression so many times. Now, we do know for sure the truth underlying this adage, for science has proved it beyond any further doubt. Laughter can destress and heal like nothing else can. When researchers monitored the human physiology under the effects of laughter, it became apparent that it also exercised the body albeit in a mild, but in a totally positive manner. Thus, leading to a healthy, quick and easy weight loss.

The effects of laughter are somewhat similar to that of exercise. Our physiology changes when we laugh. We stretch our facial and upper body muscles. Our pulse rate quickens and our blood pressure increases, causing an increased supply of oxygen to our tissues. This is very similar to the effects caused by a mild workout.

This mild workout gained through laughter is the principle on which laughter clubs are founded. Old people the world over benefit from these clubs which combine low-impact stretching and waving of the arms with laughter to boost the heart rate. The medical effects in terms of weight loss are so positive that it would be a good thing for all people young and old to incorporate a few minutes of this therapy into a workday.

Science has recorded these positive benefits from laughter on the human physiology:

* Laughter releases Endorphins or “feel good” hormones into the blood stream.
* Laughter reduces stress. Endorphins are responsible for reducing stress levels. As stress is one of the principle causes of excess weight, increased endorphin levels in the blood can help reduce excess weight, or at least prevent you from packing on a few more kilos.
* Laughter can give you a mild work out.
* Am increased metabolism manages weight more efficiently.
* Improvement in breathing causes the body tissues to be oxygenated more efficiently.
* Enhanced blood circulation regulates blood sugar.
* Most importantly, laughter acts as a powerful anti-oxidant which boosts the immune function of the body.


All these benefits can be yours through laughter therapy, without having to spend a single penny. It would also make the world a better place to live in. However, a word of caution: don’t be too hasty to dump the treadmill yet, for the maximum weight that you could loose through laughter therapy would be about 2 kilos in a whole year.

10-15 minutes of laughter therapy in a day can cause you to burn 50 calories, which is approximately the same calorie count contained in a piece of candy. So use this therapy in combination with other forms of exercise; it will make the exercising more fun and you will feel better about yourself and a healthy weight loss which is the ultimate purpose of all such activity anyway.