Thursday, May 19, 2011

A Very Low Calorie Diet

Ever think that eating cake and pizza could lose you a few pounds? Or diving into a whole plate of brownies could actually be good for your waistline? It is if you pantomime eating it. That's right. Do what you did when you were little and make believe you're eating.

This strange concept was the subject of an article by Henry Alford in yesterday's New York Times Dining section. Mr. Alford got himself to believe that he was actually snacking, He used utensils or his fingers imagining cutting into a tortilla or cake and then began to chew and even swallow. He tricked his body into thinking he was eating the actual thing. The best part of it - at then end of this experiment he actually lost weight - ten pounds to be exact. It seems that a recent Carnegie-Mellon study showed that people who repeatedly pretended to eat their favorite foods actually satisfied the craving for them. It started off with M&M's and then Mr. Alford took it a step further.

Is this a good idea? Actually the author also tried imagining eating high calorie treats when he was eating low calorie ones. he also conducted the test during trips to culinary rich countries such as France and Germany where many a diet was destroyed.I have a better idea. Why not let yourself have a small version of what you desire every now and then. It's a break from eating healthy foods and something to look forward to once in a while. Have that cream puff but once a month or every two months . Enjoy that overloaded bacon cheeseburger and fries but once a season.Don't deprive yourself of the things you love. Just cut down on them.

Dieters will do and try anything to shed pounds. Sometimes the best bet is just moderation. Don't go overboard every day with favorite foods. Stave off them. That's how you really lose the weight.

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