Losing weight can be challenging, and while there are no magical solutions, you can use certain tricks to help you meet your weight-loss goals. Do not fall prey to fad diets or an overly strenuous workout schedule. Instead, focus on eating a balanced diet and working out regularly. Adding in some unconventional tricks can give your weight loss efforts a surprising boost.
Weight-loss Goals
If your goal is to lose weight in two months, you may have an event or occasion coming up. Having a goal like this in mind can help motivate you, but you don't want to lose weight too quickly. In general, you should not aim to lose more than 2 lbs. each week, which amounts to roughly 16 lbs. in two months. Losing weight more quickly than this can endanger your health, and it won't teach you the habits you need to maintain the loss.
Paint Your Kitchen
If your kitchen is a brightly colored hue, you may inadvertently be causing yourself to overeat. According to a 2009 article in "Fitness" magazine, colors like red can stimulate your appetite, which is why many fast food restaurants use the color in their logos and eating areas. Blue, on the other hand, provides a calming effect, and it may even help suppress your appetite. Paint both your kitchen and dining room in a soothing shade of blue -- do the work yourself to get a workout as well.
Buy Ugly Dishes
Presentation can play a big role in how good food tastes to you. Your imagination makes you believe that a brownie on a pretty floral plate must be better than one served on a cheap napkin, the "Fitness" article says. Furthermore, the better something tastes to you, the more likely you will be to eat too much of it. Put away those fancy plates and bowls, buy some plain, cheap ones and begin eating your meals and snacks off of these instead. You will still have to ensure that you are consuming small portions, but this trick may help you cut the calories needed to lose weight in two months.
Turn Up the Thermostat
Keeping your house cool may wreak havoc on your diet -- if you are cold, you may be more tempted to eat to stay warm, says "Fitness." By setting your thermostat on a higher notch, you will be less likely to eat as much and more likely to drink liquids -- and opting for items like water and low-fat milk are best for weight-loss. You can also warm up by exercising, which will not only burn calories, but it can also help suppress your appetite. So the next time you want to reach for a cookie, turn up the thermostat and climb the stairs a few times. This will heat your body, tone your muscles and probably get your mind off of your cravings, notes MayoClinic.com.
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