Here I am working out hard at the gym, and at the gym where I go there are several TVs in front of the cardio machines in which one can plug in a headphone and listen the channels. I usually listen to my Ipod, but this time a program on TV made me watch it.

The program was "the big losser" and it showed around 7 overweight people competing to win "amuinity" (I didnt even know what this award was). Anyway, you see all these guys around over 400 pounds being working out for weeks fighting for a goal which is to lose weight.

I was like if I am complaining for my problems, there are other people that have bigger problems than me.

One tip I got is GUM. Yes, gum, I know we all hate gums, but just as smokers can find relaxation chewing a gum, well, it is recommended also for overweight people. Yesterday, these people were competing in front of the white house and one award to all of them was to go inside the white house. Well in the program they show, everytime they are tempted to eat, they chew a gum.

The trainer in the program said, "think about that wonderful ice cream that is over 2000 calories (she ate a lot of it)and that you can replace all that great flavor with one single gum that has flavor and is only 5 calories!" In the program, they show some guys chewing their gums as a way to stop missing sweets or food, I guess.

What is your input on this? Yesterday, I tried that at night, the famous Triden gums, and it worked. It got me thirsty though, so I drink a lot of water, so two benefits on one. Isnt that cool?

What do you think?

YVO, we were working out at the same time last night. I was on the elliptical machine and watched part of The Biggest Loser.

This sounds like it would make sense. Get hungry, chew gum. You just have to make sure it is the sugarfree kind. I know it is suppossed to make your teeth healthier and whiter also. But, I read somewhere that when you chew gum, you swallow excess air and this causes you to feel uncomfortable and bloated sometimes.

I chew sugarfree Orbit. It comes in a lot of different flavors and the flavor lasts a long time, unlike some sugarfree gums.

Funny career4me that we were working out at the same time. When I saw those people crying in their fight to lose weight, all the sudden I got stronger and worked out double. This program gave me a lot of courage.

It is all inside of us, in our brains, and we need to control it. I guess I will try Orbit, yeah, I like the flavor to last longer. Thanks for the tip. I already voted for you, so I guess wish you the best in a few hours of knowing the weekly winner!

I love the Biggest Loser. I am such a fanatic about getting home to watch it every Tuesday night. Only I was not at the gym watching it. I shamefully admit to eatting pizza while watching it. (hehe) I think the gum is a great idea. They actually talk a lot about chewing gum in almost every episode. When I do think to grab some gum instead of junk food it works. Its just a matter of keeping the gum close enough to me for me to grab that before junk food. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed the show as much as I did. I was so happy to see Daniel finally start losing some weight again.

Jstanek, I used to see commercials about the program but never watched it until yesterday when I saw it for the first time, but I think it was worth it. Especially yesterday, it was awesome to see the white house, the white house's kitchen, the yard, and how all the seven candidates made a huge salad from all the vegetables being harvested at the white house's garden. You are so right about the gum availability. Sometimes the junk food will be more accessible than a piece of gum, that sucks. I amd glad people know about the gum secret lol.


The little issue now is, can I chew gum at work? In the business world, not so appropriate, umm, I will see how I can manage that.

Gum also helps you concentrate when you are in class or taking a test.

I chew gum all the time. I feel that it does help out a little when you are craving sweets!

I also caught a portion of the show "The Biggest Loser" last night! Chewing gum is great to help curb cravings. However, be advised, it can and will increase the amount of air in your stomach. For some people that means nothing. For others it can mean anything from a mild to a very severe stomach ache. Excessive gas or those with IBS or other bowel issues many trips to the restroom. (you get the idea)
Another trick is to eat several smaller meals each day so that you never really experience hunger. Great snacks are veggies and fruits throughout the day. Just a thought! I myself am currently working on my own body and it's a long journey but will be totally worth it in the end. I am one that cannot chew gum unless I want be very uncomfortable later. However, I did not figure out the relation for many years. I used to be an all the time gum chewer until I read an article online! Hope this may help someone!
Good Luck to all in your quest to better your body and life! :-)

Tina, you bring an excell point, yes, I heard that too from an African American student that sat next to me. I saw her chewing gum last semester, and she said you will do much better in your exam if you chew gum and that has been tested. I believed in her and started to do that and yeah it shows. I have got good grades in exams that requires written essays, so I believe chewing gum helps when taking an exam.

Micchedie, you also bring another point of view that explains why my belly is like a balloon right now, lol!!! I noticed that yesterday and this morning, I have a huge soft belly and couldnt explain why, now I do. This was a big turn off for me regarding gum, sad enough, another secret to the garbage, yeap it fills me up with gas, you are so right if you know what I mean!

Gum never works for me because I just feel more hungry because my mouth is doing the motion, but nothing is filling my stomach. I find this really annoying. It is one reason why I really don't like to chew gum that often anymore.

The biggest loser is my favorite show. It is show inspirational and every time i watch it I an ready to go to the gym. Chewing gum does help me concentrate on other things besides food. I find that when I am bored or I am doing something on the computer I go find food. Gum helps me stop that craving. I think gum does work and The Biggest Loser is such an inspirational show.

I've only caught a few episodes...but it kind of makes sense. I heard your body tries to digest things faster and when chewing gum you get a sense of fullness, or at least satisfaction, because the constant chewing makes your body think there is food coming. That constant chewing triggers that part of your brain that makes the body say "hey i've eaten enough!" So, that makes sense.

Though, maybe I'm backwards, or just wrong, because when I am full, I often chew gum to make me feel less full...probably another mental effect of the chewing. I can understand your body TRYING to digest things faster, but the fact that I feel less full makes me think that it actually does digest things faster...which we never went over in biology, so I can't wrap my head around that.

So it makes sense. But stinks for people like myself who actually aren't supposed to chew gum...I like gum, but I've got TMJ, and chewing a piece for just a few minutes can leave my jaw sore for days.

Another interesting tidbit....on the rare occasion that I may start to nod off while driving, I always grad a piece of gum-always seems to wake me up. I don't often fall asleep driving, but I work 2 jobs and go to school full time...and some night I'll get off of one job at 2 am and have to be at the next job at 7...so it has on occasion happened. Anyway. Gum. Even sugarless, can keep you awake because of that chewing action. Don't forget it!

Another thought to add on...

I've known some smokers who were trying to quit cold turkey. So every time they got the urge to smoke, they'd pop a gummy bear or jelly bean or some hard candy.

For weight loss, that's probably not a good idea because of the sugar content, but popping in some sugarless gum to suppress your urges is the same idea, makes just as much sense.

If someone can quit smoking, an addiction, by such substitutions, then someone can lose weight the same way.

well jessy thanks for your input, nice to know there is more out there to find out!