Tuesday, August 18, 2015

5 Ways to Lose Weight (Easy Way Out)

Who say losing weight is that difficult?

1. Watch a horror movie.
A study was actually done by putting viewers through 90 minutes of horror film and measured their metabolism. Guess what was the result? A horror movie can burn up to 113 calories which is equivalent to a 30 minutes walk or a chocolate bar! The scientists measured the subjects' heart rate, oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output to determined their calorie output.

It's time to catch a horror movie!
Top 10 Calorie Burning Horror Movies
  1. The Shining: 184 calories
  2. Jaws: 161 calories
  3. The Exorcist: 158 calories
  4. Alien: 152 calories
  5. Saw: 133 calories
  6. A Nightmare on Elm Street: 118 calories
  7. Paranormal Activity: 111 calories
  8. The Blair Witch Project: 105 calories
  9. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 107 calories
  10.  [Rec]: 101 calories
Such films usually feature moments of terror which cause the viewer to jump. Such stresses on the body sparks the release of adrenaline and brought about an increase in heart rate (i.e. fear). The release of adrenaline is known to lower hunger and increase Basal Metabolic Rate, so how can you not lose weight?

2. Cold water is essential.
Regardless for external or oral usage, cold water is necessary!

Explanation 1:
Human body works best at 37.0°C. Whenever you head for a cold shower or ingest cold water, it lowers your body temperature. This activates homeostasis to regulate the body temperature back to the optimum level. Metabolism will increased to produce more heat (e.g. shiver) to raise the body temperature. So increase in metabolism means more calories burned!

There is an article that says that shivering in cold for 15 minutes is equivalent to an hour of metabolism. A professor also noted that we burn a few more calories when we consume cold water instead of warm. A few calories is still better than none right?

Explanation 2:
Drinking plenty water could help in weight lost. Human body thrives when it is properly hydrated. Surveys has indicated that a well hydrated individual tend to snack less throughout the day as they feel satiated. 

Although studies found no distinction in water temperature for consumption, but we all prefer chilled water rather than hot ones right? 

3. Feeling hungry? Just eat.
Human body is known for adaptability. How many of you actually starve yourself to lose weight? That is so wrong. Your body actually adapt to starving by storing all the nutrients it can get whenever you eat. When I say store, it means FATS. Just eat whenever your body requires you to. That way your body need not store that much fats since it gets the nutrients whenever it needs them.

BUT take note!
I did not say overeat.

4. Sleep is important!
Many of you might not be aware that sleep plays an important role in weight loss.

Explanation 1:
Lack of sleep impacts body to produce more ghrelin (a hormone for hunger) and lesser leptin (hormone that inhibit hunger), so it is no surprise that you overeat.

Explanation 2:
Research found a positive relation in sleep deficit and snacking. Sleep deprivation affects the processes in the brain and impede good judgement. No matter how discipline you are, your mental clarity to make good decision has been dulled by lack of sleep. The food you would go for is more likely to be high carb snacks (comfort food). Portion of food were found to be larger when an individual is deprive of sleep.

In short, sleep deprivation tells your body to consume junk food and lower your determination to say "no" to them.

5. Lose weight with prayers.
Ask, and your prayers will be answered. This is true in this case.

What goes on while you are praying can be explained by sports psychology. In the context of sports psychology, praying can be classified under visualisation. While you are praying to lose weight, you are already forming images of yourself being slim in your brain. The more you pray (visualise) about it, the more vivid of your slim self will be in your brain. Your brain would subconsciously prepare your body for the target, and eventually slim down if you pray hard enough.

The brain is not smart to differentiate real action and imagery. When you visualise of a certain action, it activates the same part of the brain as executing the physical move. To make it real, I have personally tested this theory. I had a group of 13 men who were unable to perform any pull-up at all and get them to visualise themselves doing 20 pull-ups everyday for 30 days. They did no other training. Most of them were able to do at least 2 pull up after the 30 days! Amazing right?

Although this theory has not been tested on losing weight, if this theory stands, you can lose weight just by praying! No harm trying right?


Please note that although all the above mentioned methods were backed by studies, research and surveys, it is not widely accepted as a weight loss method. All the above mentioned methods might work but it might not guarantee effectiveness. Also, all these methods have no health benefits other than weight loss, it should not be taken as a long term method.

Although the above mentioned methods do not seem to have any detrimental effects, do it at your own risk.


The reason why I thought of writing this post is because I thought it might be interesting to find out some other ways to lose some calories instead of the painful workouts. This is what I called the cheat workout.