Visualization and Weight Loss

Want to keep yourself from devouring everything in sight? Reduce the amount you eat by picturing yourself chowing down on it first.

Though it sounds counter-intuitive, you can reduce the amount of food you consume by imagining yourself eating it first. According to a new study published in the journal Science, visualization techniques in which we see ourselves eating a particular food can diminish our desire for it.

Fantasizing about a food — how it tastes, smells or looks — does whet our appetite, say the study’s researchers. However, going one step further by actually envisioning ourselves eating it may reduce our cravings and cause us to consume less.

If you’re still eating more junk food than you’d like, try going for a brisk walk. Past research has shown that short stints of exercise can temporarily curb cravings.