Does Smiling Widely Help You Lose Weight In Your Cheeks?

Does Smiling Widely Help You Lose Weight in Your Cheeks?

Mar 19, 2012 | By Deborah Green

If you walk around smiling widely all day, it will most likely make you and those around you feel happy -- but it is unlikely to result in slimmer cheeks. While grins alone won't help you lose weight in your cheeks, many facial exercise practitioners recommend exercises that involve a broad smile to help promote more defined cheekbones and a slimmer-looking face.

Cheek Lift

Imagine a line running from each corner of your mouth to your temple. Grasp a chunk of flesh along this line and pull it away from the face. While holding the flesh as firmly as you can, smile widely. You will notice the flesh slide from underneath your fingers. Repeat 20 times, every other day. According to "Ageless If We Dare" author Louise Annette, this exercise will develop higher cheeks, which can give the face a more defined appearance.

Tongue in Cheek

In her book "Natural Facelift," Juliette Kando recommends the tongue in cheek exercise as a face toner. Looking in a mirror, form the shape of the letter "O" with your mouth. Make sure your top lip is unwrinkled, and while retaining the shape lift the corners of your mouth into a smile. In this position, stick your tongue into the side of your cheek. Press firmly and use your cheek muscles to push back against your tongue. After a few seconds, move your tongue to a different part of your cheek. Repeat in about 20 positions, on each side of the face.

Considerations

In addition to using facial exercises to help reduce the appearance of a full face, there are several other strategies you can try. Reduce your consumption of processed and junk foods; if you are overweight, it is likely excess fat is stored in the face. Increasing your water intake can also help; if you are not drinking enough, your body may think you do not have access to water and will store every drop available. This can lead to bloating in the face, feet and hands.