Is Your House Making You Fat?

Is Your House Making You Fat?

You may not realize it, but weight traps lurk in every corner of your home. Here’s a checklist for change:

In the living room

Sofa: There’s nothing like sinking into a soft, deep sofa, but couch potatoes hang on to 350 calories more per day than people who move about frequently, say Mayo Clinic researchers. Clear the sofa of cozy blankets, keep the TV remote in a drawer, put the phone at the other end of the room or just spread out on the floor instead: All will increase your movement — and the number of calories you burn.

Drapes: You’re more likely to overeat when sitting in a dark room because your regular visual cues are reduced and a sense of permissiveness abounds. Open those drapes, turn on the overhead lights, switch to higher-wattage light bulbs — do whatever you have to, but don’t scarf in secret!

TV Set: When you’re watching the tube, you’re not paying attention to what you’re eating, so it’s easy to override your body’s signals that you’re full. How quickly a handful of chips turns into an entire bag! Turn off the TV when it’s time to eat.

TV Trays: With a cozy setup in front of the TV, what’s the incentive to stop eating? Better to gather around the dining table: A study in the Archives of Family Medicine found that families who sup together eat more fruits and veggies and fewer fried foods and sodas.

Snacks: Is your coffee table covered with dishes of nuts and candy? Toss them, says Edward Abramson, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at California State University at Chico and the author of Body Intelligence. They’re too easy to paw through while entertaining friends or watching TV. As a rule, food should remain in the kitchen.

Desk: A comfy desk is another trap. Clear it off, limit Internet use and never sit for more than an hour without taking a stretch or walking around. You may even want to use a stand-up desk, as some weight-loss researchers recommend. Every little bit helps!

In The Bedroom

Bed: A lumpy, uncomfortable bed is bad for your figure. Research shows that people who sleep poorly tend to gain weight because the hormones that regulate their appetites are thrown out of whack. Buy a firmer bed, flip the mattress — do whatever you have to do to make it a real place of rest. That means no pile of bills, no food, no TV, no distractions.

Windows: A cold room is a huge deterrent to exercise. Unless you want an extra 5 lbs. to join you in that bed, seal up leaks with plastic sheeting, or have thermal or double-paned windows installed.

Exercise Bike: Dust off this underused, often-neglected piece of equipment. Not only are stationary bikes great at trimming hips, thighs and glutes, but studies show that a 45-minute ride every morning will help you sleep better at night. And again, good sleep equals weight loss.

Mirrors: Keep them away from any area in which you’re working out. Researchers at Canada’s McMaster University found that women are less focused and less motivated to lose weight when they see themselves exercising. (Do hang a mirror in the dining room, though: Other research suggests that noshing in front of a mirror causes us to eat less.)

Scale: Toss that on-the-fritz scale and get one that works. Women who weigh themselves regularly are more likely to keep pounds off permanently, according to a recent study at Brown University.

In the Kitchen

Cupboards: Do you keep your favorite snacks front and center on the bottom shelf? Move yummy foods higher up and farther back so you’re less tempted to grab them, says Abramson. Stash more nutritious stuff like low-fat soups, canned vegetables and spices on the bottom shelves.

Refrigerator: Use aluminum foil, opaque plastic containers or waxed paper to hide unhealthy foods, Abramson advises: You’ll eat less if you don’t see them. If possible, freeze high-calorie items like leftover birthday cake (or better yet, just throw it away) to prevent binges. Also, stock the fridge with fruits, veggies, lean meats and low-fat yogurt, cheese and milk. Research shows that eating fresh, natural foods and consuming low-fat dairy items leads to weight loss.

Pantry: Is there always a case of cola at the ready? If you can’t stop buying the super-saver size, move it to the basement. In fact, keep soda out of sight even if you buy the diet variety. Studies show that people who drink diet soda actually end up gaining weight because their cravings for sugar aren’t satisfied. Alcohol, too, can pack on the pounds, so stash it away in an upper cabinet.

Telephone: Talk about dangerous! Gabbing with friends while you’re in the kitchen (especially on a wall phone, which limits movement) can lead to overeating, says Abramson. When you’re distracted and surrounded by food, it’s as bad as lying down in the grocery store. Move your conversations (and your belly) to another room.

Red or Orange Walls: The real reason Italian restaurants favor those red-and-white-checkered tablecloths and fast-food chains feature red and orange decor: These colors stimulate the appetite. Consider more soothing colors like blue and sage green, which will help keep you from overeating.