Trying to shed a few pounds? It’ll be easier to skip high-calorie treats when you carry a photo of a new swimsuit or dress you want to fit into and look at it whenever cravings strike. A new University of Texas at Austin study shows that having a strong reminder of the long-term benefits of not giving in to temptation—such as fitting into a smaller size—makes it significantly easier to stick to a diet plan since folks tend to focus on the short-term benefits of giving in—such as how good the treat will taste.
[photo: Alaskan Dude]
Quick—which do you think is the most common cause of tooth sensitivity, making over 40 million Americans wince in pain when their teeth come in contact with hot, cold, sweet, sour and open air:
Pick up the phone, stroll over to your neighbor’s house or visit a pal and talk about life, the kids, your goals and other issues that are important to you. When a research team from the University of Arizona and Washington University in St. Louis monitored the conversations of study volunteers, they found that the happiest folks spent a whopping 70% more time talking with others and had twice as many conversations about topics that were meaningful to them than the unhappiest participants. Why it works? Feeling connected to others appears to be an important part of being happy, and having meaningful conversations helps foster a feeling of connection to others, says study co-author Simine Vazire, Ph.D.
Want to wow family and friends even more with your homemade lemonade, smoothies and milkshakes? Serve these drinks in a glass or mug rather than a plastic or paper cup. Sounds strange, but in a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, participants were convinced that beverages served to them in sturdy cups tasted better than those served in a flimsy cups—even though the beverages were the same. Why the difference? Our perception of how good or bad drinks taste is affected by how sturdy the container is—the firmer it is, the more we like what we’re drinking.
The easiest one! It doesn’t matter which weight-loss plan you choose—Zone, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc.—so long as it’s one that you find easy to stick to. You’ll lose twice as much weight on it as someone who’s trying to shed pounds on a diet they don’t like, reveals a study out of Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. So, ignore what works for your friends and family and pick the diet plan you prefer the most.
Next time you’re anxious about a job interview, exam or other stressor, try calling your mom. A new study out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that simply hearing your mother’s voice triggers a profound soothing effect that zaps the stress hormone cortisol and raises your body’s level of the calming hormone oxytocin, making you feel instantly relaxed. In fact, in the study, girls who were stressed out by having to give a speech and answer math questions in front of a panel of strangers—a major stress-inducer for most people—experienced the same hormone changes whether their mother was physically comforting them in person or doing it remotely over the phone. Best of all, the stress-busting effect was long-lasting, sticking around hours after the task was over, the researchers found.
Next time you’re shopping for cereal, crackers, cookies and other foods for your child, take a closer look at the nutrition label if the package is adorned with a cartoon character, celebrity or offer of a free toy or other giveaway. In a recent Yale University study, a whopping 82% of foods with promotions like these failed to meet accepted nutrition standards for children by limiting sugar, salt and/or saturated fat.
Ever wonder how your restaurant bill got so high? Or why you planned to order a burger but ended up ordering something completely different? You could have fallen for one of the secret psychological strategies on restaurants menus that steer you toward more profitable items, such as…
Having trouble focusing on a project, for instance, a budget you’re writing, a document you’re typing or a paper you’re researching? A recent study out of Washington University reveals an easy, fast solution to amping up your concentration: imagine that you’re holding the computer monitor or document in your hands. Study participants who pictured themselves touching a computer monitor in front of them found it significantly easier to zero in on a computer-based word task than when they imagined holding their hands behind their backs. Why? Our brain automatically zooms in on items that are closest to our hands—even if we only imagine where our hands are, the researchers say.
Think lucky people are born that way? Not according to psychologist Richard Wiseman, Ph.D., author of The Luck Factor. His research shows that people who generate good fortune tend to follow three easy habits. And, when volunteers tried them in a recent study, 80% turned their luck around after just one month. To up your luck, start by…
Next time your sweetie forgets to pick up the milk, plays Wii instead of cleans up the garage or does anything else that irritates you, instead of stewing, try saying a prayer for your mate’s good health and happiness. In a new study out of Florida State University, folks who prayed for their partner’s well-being felt closer to him or her and were more willing to overlook their honey’s flaws than those who didn’t pray. The reason? Regardless of your religious or non-religious beliefs, praying makes us feel instantly more compassionate and loving, which helps us let go of resentments more easily.