Surprisingly Simple Ways to Keep In Shape

Here at in2it.sg we love to chill out after a day at work over rounds of beer and sinful bar foods. But like most good things in life, this comes with one of the most undesirable results on our bodies. Between debating among ourselves in the office over what great stuff we could write about in the next article and combing the nation for leads on the next big thing, we are nearly helpless in our battle against the onslaught of the beer belly. Fortunately, we recently discovered a handful of innovative and simple weight curbing methods. Some of these practices are so effective and convenient that we have decided to implement them in the office!

Sleeping

According to a study published in a reputable medicine journal last year, factoring a few extra hours of sleep into your life can better prevent unnecessary weight gain. Leptin and ghrelin are appetite control hormones that our bodies produce daily – the former determines the level of satisfaction derived from food intake while the later supervises hunger levels in our bodies. When there is inadequate rest, our bodies will drive leptin levels down and ghrelin levels up. This compels our brains to disregard the fact that we have had our supper, encouraging us to think that we are not full and triggering our want for additional food instead. To fully realise the benefits of dieting or keep yourself in shape, experts recommend getting at least 7 hours of sleep daily. The next time you’re late for your date, tell your girlfriend you woke up late. She would be proud.

Breathing

Developed by the Japanese, Senobi Breathing is a technique that involves deep, controlled abdominal breathing and simple stretches. Researchers believe that this exercise enhances fat loss by increasing skin temperature around the muscles located near the spine and activating the residing brown fat cells. Senobi Breathing is also said to increase the secretion of urinary hormones. Despite the relative simplicity of the activity, it is tailored for only obese people with otherwise limited effectiveness in people who are looking to maintain an ideal weight.

Laughing

The more health conscious among us would ask for more greens in our noodles, less salt in our fries and less oil in our dishes, and we may soon ask for a comedy at the box office. A study and some findings later, American scientists concluded that you could quite literally laugh some of your fat off. Experts suggest that a calculated spell of strong laughter of approximately 10 to 15 minutes a day could help you lose up to 2kg a year. In the US, there are laughter clubs whose members focus exclusively on losing weight through consistent laughter. Closer to home, there is the Joo Chiat-East Coast Laughter Club which entered the Singapore Book of Records in 2007 after conducting a laughter session attended by about 20,000 people.

Cold Water

Unless you are nursing a cold, a few cubes of ice in your water could benefit your efforts in eradicating the stubborn beer belly. For those exploring an alternative, Swedish research has demonstrated that having a cold bath could achieve similar effects. In practice, this theory works on the premise of forcing your body to burn more calories for the extra energy needed to warm the water to match your body temperature. The next time you open that bag of chips, don’t forget to pour yourself a glass of cold water – it won’t burn all the fat in the chips but at least it’d make you feel less guilty, wouldn’t it?

Yoghurt

If the study conducted at Havard University earlier this year is to be believed, a serving of non-fat yoghurt is more effective at promoting weight loss than the conventional fruits and vegetables. Researchers, however, cautioned that it would be unrealistic for people to consume a surfeit of yoghurt and expect to lose weight. A combination of nutrients found in yoghurt like calcium, proteins and probiotics work seamlessly in breaking fat down, reducing hunger pangs, aiding digestion and increasing your metabolic rate.

Do you know of other ways to lose weight or keep in shape? Share your experiences with our readers in the comment section below.

Story by Loh Yong Jian