How to Use Chewing Gum to Lose Weight

Studies have indicated that gum chewing can play a significant role in the weight loss process. Dieters who chew gum tend to eat less and actually burn more calories than those who do not chew gum. If done properly, incorporating chewing gum into your diet and exercise routine can dramatically impact your weight loss results; however, weight loss with gum is not as easy as keeping a pack of wintergreen on the dashboard of your car. In order to achieve measurable results, you must understand the role of gum as part of a healthy diet and implement gum chewing in a targeted and healthy way.

Things You'll Need

• Sugar-free gum

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Choose a flavorful, sugar-free gum. Sugar-free gum contains half the calories of regular gum, making it a friendlier choice for dieters.

• 2

  Keep packs of gum in areas where you typically snack, such as your cubicle at work, your car or the living room at home. Making sure gum is easily available will encourage you to reach for a stick of your favorite wintergreen rather than a calorie-filled snack food.

• 3

  Chew a stick of gum one hour before, and one hour after, each meal. Studies at both the University of Rhode Island and Louisiana State University have shown that gum can act as an effective aide in curbing appetite. In addition to helping curb snacking behaviors, gum can make dieters feel fuller faster during meal times.

• 4

  Chew each stick of gum for at least half an hour. An average stick of sugar-free gum contains five calories -- given that gum-chewing boasts a calorie burn rate of 11 calories per hour, chewing your sugar-free gum for a half hour ensures that you actually burn as many calories as you take in.