Recruit Drops and Gives the Army 100 ... Pounds

Mental puzzles can help you shed a few pounds, says brain trainer

(NEWSER) - Hunkering down with a Sudoku puzzle could help you shed some pounds. Tim Forrester, the man behind brain training website cannyminds.com, says mental exercise doubles as real exercise, with the body burning 90 calories for every hour spent working on crossword puzzles or brain teasers. A passive brain requires 0.1 calories a minute to survive, Forrester tells the Daily Telegraph , while an active brain burns 1.5 a minute. See, that gym membership was a waste of time. More»

Keeping weight off made much tougher by brain, hormone cues to get it back

(NEWSER) - Your body doesn't want you to lose weight, scientists say, and makes it tough to keep off pounds lost. Scientists tell the Los Angeles Times that brain and hormone cues increase post-diet as natural processes try to get that old figure back. And while research into the heavy issues is still ongoing, exercise and medications are seen to help. More»

Common mistakes can prevent weight loss

(NEWSER) - If you've mustered the energy to lose weight, nothing is more frustrating than not seeing results. Men's Health lists some common mistakes:

1. Too much carb consumption
2. You're eating low-fat foods, but more of them
3. Skipping breakfast can lead to sugar bingeing

Studies don't support connection between working out and slimming down

(NEWSER) - The idea that exercise is the key to shedding pounds is relatively modern—and a whole lot of hogwash, Gary Taubes argues in New York magazine. Though the theory that working out makes us lose weight has been around since the 1960s, scientific research has consistently shown that the relationship between weight and exercise is spurious. More»

The truth may not set you free—but it might make your pants looser

(NEWSER) - Nutritionist Joy Bauer, the "Today" show's diet editor, looks at some popular dieting myths—or are they?

1. Diet and exercise can transform fat into muscle: The one can't become the other.
2. Metabolism slows with age, and there's nothing you can do about it: Exercise can maintain your burn.