3 Unlikely Ways to Lose Fat
Dozens of diet plans and supplements claim to help people slash flab. Most of them are fairly straightforward: eat fewer carbs, cut back on junk food and stop guzzling so much soda. Yes, they work, but that doesn't mean they're the only ways you can cut that muffin top off your waistline. Sometimes, it takes a bit of creative thinking to drop those last few pounds. Here are three surprising ways you can lose fat.
Nosh on Dark Chocolate
Believe it: chocolate may help you lose fat. We're not talking about the stuff you chowed down on as a kid, though. It has to be dark chocolate! Dark chocolate slows digestion and gives people a feeling of satiety, meaning it keeps the stomach feeling fuller for a longer period. Also, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, dark chocolate may help lower insulin levels, which may decrease appetite and increase the body's metabolism. To reap its benefits, eat dark chocolate that consists of 80 percent or more cocoa.
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Think To Shrink
Keep your thoughts positive and you will notice a difference in your waist line. According to the Association for Psychological Science, positive affirmations may be a way to lose fat. A couple of examples of positive affirmations: "I am going to lose weight" and "I can do anything I set my mind to, which means I will lose this unhealthy fat."
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Sleep More
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that folks who snooze more lost more fat mass than their peers who burned the midnight oil. The study enlisted two groups of overweight individuals on a calorie-restricted diet that lasted 14 days. One group slept for 8.5 hours and the other only 5.5 hours. The results? The group that slept more lost a whopping 55 percent more weight than the night owls! Try turning off the TV, powering down your cell phone and closing your laptop a bit earlier tonight, and get some rest!
This article originally appeared on STACK.com: 3 Unlikely Ways to Lose Fat
