Weight Loss Tricks From Around the World

So I uploaded an entire tutorial today and it said is was complete, then when I went to see it in my videos on my youtube channel it said it was a failed upload because it was aborted. So poo on youtube for that one, I will have it up probably Monday though. So instead here is another edition of my random facts that I find online haha... this one is all about weight loss. I know far too well about it. After having babies it really does make it harder to lose weight... I have been stuck about 4-7 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight for months now, so I love hearing new tips and tricks lol!!

1. Thai food is among the spiciest in the world. Hot peppers raise your metabolism, but the real benefit of food with a little zing is that it slows your eating, says James Hill, PhD, past president of the American Society for Nutrition. 'Americans eat too fast,' he says. 'By the time your body signals that it's full, you've overeaten. Eating slower is a good weight-loss strategy, and making food spicier is an easy way to do it.'
2. If you walk into a McDonald's in London, the clerk won't ask if you'd like to 'supersize' that. This option was discontinued in the U.K. after it accounted for less than 0.1 percent of sales. The Brits prefer smaller portions-perhaps a lingering vestige of the frugality instilled by World War II rationing, says Simon Hartley, executive editor of Reader's Digest U.K. In the United States, McDonald's has backed off supersizing too. But a large Coke here still contains 100 calories more than one in the U.K., and there's no such thing as a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Great Britain.

3. All that shaking at Carnaval isn't the only body-friendly habit in Rio; Brazilians stay slim by enjoying this traditional dish with just about every meal, says Sérgio Charlab, editor of Reader's Digest Brazil. A study in the journal Obesity Research found that a diet consisting primarily of rice and beans lowers the risk of becoming overweight by about 14 percent when compared with typical Western fare. That's because it's lower in fat and higher in fiber, which is thought to stabilize blood sugar levels. It may be counter-intuitive, but a diet full of beans equals a beach-ready body.

4. In Indonesia,  Islam, the country's leading religion, encourages periodic fasting-no food or drink from dawn to dusk. Others in Indonesia practice mutih, which allows only water and white rice. Although experts don't recommend fasting for weight control, fasting in moderation can break patterns of mindless eating, says Hill, of the American Society for Nutrition. 'Most Americans never get hungry,' he points out. 'We've eaten the next meal before we've entirely digested the last one.' No need for strict abstinence to get these psychological benefits-try just cutting your calories in half for a day.

5. In Poland, Poles typically spend only 5 percent of their family budget on eating out. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, the average American family spends 37 percent of its food dollars at restaurants and fast-food joints. To save money and pounds, start tracking how often you eat out and how much you spend each month, and gradually cut back. People who don't cook at home tend to eat less healthy food and be heavier than people who do. In fact, the collapse of cooking in a society tracks very closely its rise in obesity.

6. An impressive 75 percent of Germans eat breakfast daily (compared with just 44 percent of Americans). They're not grabbing Egg McMuffins either; they're sitting down to fruit and whole-grain cereals and breads. Nutritionists have been advising people not to skip breakfast for years, but recent studies give a better picture of its importance. In one, British researchers discovered that if you haven't eaten breakfast, your brain's reward center will light up more vividly when you see a high-calorie food-making you more likely to indulge. Finally: a scientific explanation for that irresistible urge to pull into Dunkin' Donuts.

7. Bikes (18 million) outnumber people (16.5 million) in the Netherlands. But unlike Americans-most of whose two-wheelers languish in basements and garages-54 percent of Dutch bike owners use them for daily activities, such as shopping and traveling to work. The average Dutchman pedals 541 miles per year. Traffic lights in parts of Amsterdam are even synchronized to bike speed. Bike-to-Work Day in the United States is Friday, May 21-try using your bike to commute that day or just for errands close to home. If you're of average size and pedaling at a moderate pace, you can burn around 550 calories per hour.
8. In Switzerland Muesli is a porridge or cereal made from oats, fruit, and nuts, each of which has been linked to better health and weight control. It was developed by a Swiss physician more than a hundred years ago to nourish hospital patients, but the Swiss eat it for breakfast or as a light evening dish. Muesli's fiber makes it slow to digest, keeping you feeling full longer. Read the label carefully, though: Sugar content can vary from 2 to 14 grams per serving.

9. In Russia country houses, or dachas, where 51 percent of city folk spend vacations and summer weekends, almost always feature a garden. Russians grow their own vegetables and fruits and preserve and can what they grow. That makes their diet more nutritious.

10. Tumeric, a key ingredient in curries, grows wild in Malaysian jungles. One of its chief components is a substance called curcumin, which may turn out to be a potent fat fighter.  Researchers think the ingredient suppresses the growth of fat tissue and increases fat-burning. Try some in your next stir-fry. (I did know this tip, maybe I should start doing this one ha ha)

11. Enjoyed throughout the country, rooibos tea is more robust than green tea, and because it's naturally sweet, it needs no sugar in South Africa. Ditching your daily Frappuccino for a cup of rooibos, Starbucks now sells it, could save you thousands of calories per month.

12. Hungarians like things pickled-not just cucumbers but bell peppers, cabbage, and tomatoes. These tart treats can help keep you thin, probably because of the vinegar that pickles them. Growing evidence suggests that acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, helps reduce blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and the formation of fat. Pickles aren't your thing? Swap your ranch salad dressing for oil and vinegar. (I actually like pickled things, and I did not know this before reading this)

13. It's a deeply rooted Norwegian habit: On Sunday, everyone from toddlers to grandparents heads out to hike (in summer) or cross-country ski (in winter). Compare that with the typical American household, where the only Sunday expedition is from the fridge to the football game on TV. Start a Nordic tradition in your house. At halftime, shoo everyone outdoors for a walk around the neighborhood. (My grandmother was half Norwegian, unfortunately we never did this one hehe)

14. This one comes from India... Most Americans respect yoga's stress-busting and flexibility-enhancing power, but not many realize it facilitates weight loss. In fact, a recent study found that yoga devotees have a lower body mass index (BMI) than other exercisers do. There are probably multiple reasons. Yoga is best done on an empty stomach and can build muscle (depending on your preferred poses), which boosts your metabolism. And it encourages mindfulness, which includes paying attention to whether you feel full. (I LOVE yoga, unfortunately I just don't always have the time to do it)

15. In Japan, this on-the-go country, many people take time for a daily 20- to 30-minute nap. There's increasing evidence that chronic sleep deprivation raises the risk of weight gain. Two hormones are to blame: leptin, which helps the brain sense when you're full, and ghrelin, which triggers hunger. The less sleep you get, the lower your leptin levels-and the higher your ghrelin. Many people think they're hungry when they're actually sleepy.. 'Instead of a snack, they need some shut-eye.'

16. Instead of ingesting the bulk of the day's calories in the evening, as most Americans do, Mexicans traditionally eat their biggest meal between 2 and 4 p.m. If you eat less at night, you'll wake up hungrier and eat a bigger breakfast, which facilitates weight control. As a general fat-fighting rule, try to get the bulk of your daily calories at breakfast and lunch.

17. The French excel at the leisurely family meal. On average, 92 percent of French families dine together nightly, compared with 28 percent of American families. 'For the French, eating is the event of the day. For us, it's something we do before heading out to do something else. Lengthy meals actually encourage less eating,. Conversation slows down the fork and gives you time to realize you're full. (what an interesting point)

18. Take up nordic walking like in Finland. This is one of the Finns' favorite outdoor activities. It's not as exotic as it sounds: All that's required is a pair of inexpensive, lightweight walking poles. Holding these in your hands aids balance, which is great if you're older or if you're on slippery terrain. Even better: Because they make you use muscles in your shoulders, arms, and torso, the poles transform walking into a total-body workout that burns 20 percent more calories. Winter or summer, it's a simple way to derive more fat-reducing benefit from your regular walk.

19. Lastly, swallow more herring. The Dutch down about 85 million of these slippery fish per year-raw. That's about five for every person in the country (and five more than eaten here). They're pickled, then served unadorned as snacks or in soft buns with onions and gherkins for lunch. Oily fish like herring is slimming for a few reasons: It contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol-and cortisol is known to increase the amount of fat deposited around your middle. What's more, lunching on herring or canned sardines guarantees you'll ingest far fewer calories than you would if you eat a burger or even fish sticks. Just don't forget the breath mints. (personally I could never do this one, but if you can then more power to ya)

There are 19 random diet tips from around the world... I am really starting to think maybe I should try some of these out lol!!