7 Ways To #Laugh Off The Excess Fat:::

7 Ways To #Laugh Off The Excess Fat:::

You’re eating right (most of the time,) you’re fitting in cardio 3+ times a week, you’re weight training. But if you’re not taking time to enjoy yourself, you may be missing out on a key aspect of wellness. Do you know what has been found to ease muscle tension, lower pain, enhance blood oxygen levels and improve circulation? Laughing.

In a paper presented at the ECO, European Congress on Obesity, 10-15 minutes of laughter a day increased energy consumption by 10-40 calories per day.

4 Ways To Workout Your Willpower For Weight Loss

“Medical clowns routinely make the rounds of hospitals,” writer Judy Gruen reminds us. The author of “Till We Eat Again: A Second Helping,” Judy used humor to get her through a 15-pound weight loss journey before her high school reunion. They say laughter is the best medicine; here are 7 unexpected ways to get a daily dose.

1. Laughter Yoga. In this avant-garde but proven method, participants fake laugh until they start to actually laugh. It may sound strange, but it’s real and class attendees say they’ve never felt better. With over 6000 official laughter yoga clubs in 60 countries, the movement started by Dr. Madan Kataria has grown alot since its start in 1995! Think you could get your office to participate?http://laughteryoga.org/ has tips for starting your own club.

2. Kids are Nature’s Comics. Kids are experiencing the world for the first time, and they think it’s hilarious. If you don’t have young kids, spend time with nieces or nephews. Being a part of their carefree world, even for an hour, will do wonders for your spirit and guarantee laughter. Plus, a study by the Harvard Medical School found that 30-minutes of moderate play burned 150 calories in a 155 lb adult – kids burn calories! No kids around? Search for “Laughing Baby” in youtube; it’s an immediate mood booster.

3. Dance like no one’s watching. Just like that bumper sticker poem, dancing like a complete fool can actually help you feel better. No matter what job title you have, being able to let loose and move like a zoo animal can not only inspire boffo, positive, belly laughs in you, but in whoever actually is watching. Plus, dancing like a fool will burn about 50 calories in 15 minutes for a 150lb person. While it may not be the best thing to do before a board meeting, it will help relieve the day’s tension when you get home, and your family will love you for it.

4. Get Social. Some friends and family lighten your mood just by being around. Schedule out time with them just like you’d schedule a meeting. Even just a walk through the park or cooking a healthy meal with a person whose company you truly enjoy can do wonders for your mood – and you can be sure laughs will follow. In fact, keeping your brain busy by chatting with good friends can even help curb junk food food cravings, according to the Journal of Personal Social Psychology. Next time you’re thinking about grabbing a donut, try grabbing your phone and texting a friend.

5. Reminisce. Old friends are important because they remind us of how far we’ve come. If we’re lucky, we’ve grown with them – and when we’ve grown up, we can laugh at our past selves. Call up an old friend to talk about the old you; you’re sure to get some laughs, and laughter triggers an endorphin release, which can decrease your appetite and help shed pounds.

6. Play. It’s not just for kids – adults need playtime too! Get some friends together and dust off an old board game. Power up the Wii with your spouse and try the sports game that comes with the system. When you add in some jumping around and a hilarious victory dance, and 15 minutes of intense boxing can burn 75 calories in a half hour according to a study out of Liverpool John Moores University in Britain. In addition to calories burned, play encourages creativity, togetherness, and as long as you don’t take the competition too seriously it can inspire a lot of laughs.

7. Leave it to the experts. Take 20 minutes a day to read something funny. Whether it’s www.lagoscomedynews.blogspot.com, YouTubing your favorite comedians or just watching silly animal GIFS, if it gets a laugh out of you, it counts. Laughter in the workplace can even promote a healthy work environment and more productive workers, according to a University of Missouri-Columbia Asst. Professor Chris Robert. Laughter boosts rapport between workers, which can enhance communication and make projects run smoother. Who knew that YouTube could actually raise productivity, and your health?