Mom Was Right: Why Listening to Mom May Help You Lose Weight
By Trudy DaCosta

Remember ignoring your mother when she told you to “chew your food,” “sit-up straight,” and “get to bed early”? Well, not listening could be one of the reasons why you’re not losing weight or getting the results you want.

We live in a fast-paced society – we want instant gratification, and there is no exception when it comes to eating. With the rise of fast food restaurants and microwavable meals, we get our food fast and eat it even faster. Digestion begins in the mouth. If we aren’t chewing our food properly, then we aren’t getting the maximum nutritional value from our meals! By slowing down and chewing properly, not only will we get the most from what we’re eating, we’ll also feel full faster, eat less, and not feel tired or bloated afterwards.

Exercise has also become hi-tech – everyone wants the perfect abs now and will buy all sorts of products trying to attain them. The problem with actually seeing those perfect abs may not only be an ineffective product, but also our body fat percentage. Lack of proper exercise is also a factor. A simple way to improve your abdominal strength is to sit-up straight, and this is an exercise you can do anywhere! Good posture will not only strengthen your core, but will also help prevent injury, aid in breathing, improve digestion, and even reduce stress.

We hear it all the time, “sleep is essential,” but “there are never enough hours in the day” and, because of our busy lives, we often lose sleep. Recently, lack of sleep has been linked to obesity. In a study done at Laval University in Quebec, researchers studied the sleeping patterns of two hundred and seventy-six people and how it affected their waistlines. Over a six year period, those who slept 5 to 6 hours a night were 35% percent more likely to gain 11 pounds more than those who slept 7 to 8 hours. They also gained 58% more around their waist and 124% more body fat than those who slept 7-8 hours. Lack of sleep deprives the body of needed rest, slows the metabolism, and makes most of us want to eat more. So get to bed early, and sleep for at least 7 hours. You’ll wake up feeling rested, which will increase your energy, lessen stress, and hopefully get you motivated for a good workout session!

So remember, when your mom tells you to “chew,” “sit-up straight,” or “go to bed,” don’t roll your eyes... Thank her for giving such good advice!

Trudy DaCosta is an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer. She can be reached at trudy.dacosta@gmail.com