We live in a world where scientists can put a fat-related spin on just about anything -- too much food makes us fat, lack of sleep makes us fat, stress makes us fat, just about anything makes us fat.
The good news is that a few simple changes to your living environment can go a long way toward a newer, smaller you.
Here are some tips to get you started.
Shed some light. According to researchers at the University of California, Irvine, dimming the lights gets you in the mood for a host of things, not the least of which is binge eating. So before you sit down to eat, turn up the lights.
Bright lights also encourage activity, which burns calories and fat.
Order the blue-plate special. Research shows that blue is a natural appetite suppressant. Try serving your meals on blue plates and decorate your table with blue napkins and place mats. Some studies even
claim that putting a blue light in the refrigerator can inhibit your appetite.
By contrast, red, yellow and orange stimulate appetite. Avoid these colors in the kitchen, or use them to your advantage by consuming more antioxidant-rich colored fruits and vegetables.
Downsize it. Replace your supersized plates and utensils with smaller ones. This is especially crucial if you were brought up eating everything on your plate before you could be excused from the table. Serving your main course on a salad plate instead of a dinner plate is the first step toward portion control, which nutritionists agree is one of the keys to weight loss.
Stay out of the kitchen. If you hang out where the food is, you're going to eat. Kitchens are the focal point in many homes.
In newer homes, the kitchen is usually next to the family room, creating a two-room punch that will knock the wind out of the best-laid weight-loss plans.
Color with calm. Hormones released during times of stress can make you fat. Most pastel colors have a calming effect that let you get rid of stress and keep hormones such as cortisol -- which has been linked to fat storage around the abdomen -- under control.
You don't have to repaint your entire house to reap the benefits. Throwing a few pastel-colored pillows or blankets on the couch will help curb your appetite. Maybe you'll snuggle up to them, instead of a piece of chocolate cake, during times of stress.
Sleep scents. Sleep deprivation has also been linked with lowering your body's ability to burn fat. To help yourself fall asleep and stay asleep, spray lavender oil on your pillow.
If it's energy you're after, burn some peppermint or jasmine-scented candles around the house. These scents have been linked to increased energy and alertness. Increased energy leads to a greater number of calories burned.
Simple equipment. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars to equip a fancy home gym. All you really need is an exercise mat and a couple of dumbells to get inspired.
If your home has more than one floor, take advantage of the best piece of exercise equipment it has to offer: the stairs. Next time you feel a food craving coming on, run up and down the stairs a few times. If this doesn't kill the craving, at least it will burn a few calories to help counterbalance the ones in your snack.
Get rid of your fat clothes. If a recent weight-loss success had led you to a smaller-size wardrobe, donate the clothes that are too big for you to charity. Keeping larger-size clothes in your closet is like giving yourself permission to put the weight back on.
Decorate with success. Spruce up your decor with items that remind you of your goals. If you want a slim figure, find a picture of a thin person in a magazine and put it on your refrigerator door. For extra incentive, get a picture of yourself, cut off the head and attach it to the picture.
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