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14 quick and easy ways to lose weight FAST (without exercising)
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You won't have to spend hours at the gym if you try these simple and effective tricks. - photo by Lindsey Miller
The holidays are upon us, and you know what that means. Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas candy, holiday treats and comfort food will be everywhere in the coming months. Even though we always say were not going to gain weight during the holiday season, its super common to pack on a few pounds. Honestly, with all the goodies, how can you not?

The holidays are such a struggle because were torn between two good things. We want to look and feel awesome for all the parties were attending, but we also want to eat ALL the food. We cant always have the best of both worlds, but here are a few ideas to jumpstart your weight loss before the holiday treats start showing up on your doorstep:

1. Make apple cider vinegar your friend

Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water or your favorite herbal tea, and drink it as soon as you wake up in the morning. The taste isnt great, but itll help fight off cravings and decrease bloating.

2. Drink tons of water

You should be drinking at least eight cups of water every day, if not more. Staying hydrated can help you fight any bloat and keep those pounds off by helping you feel full.

3. Slow down your eating

Take small bites and make sure youre eating slowly. This will give your food time to digest, and your mind will be able to more easily sense when it's full.

4. Get some small plates

If you must have a treat or two (or three), eat them on a small plate. When you eat food on a smaller plate, itll trick your brain into thinking youre eating more than you are.

5. Tell a trusted loved one to hide the treats

If youre anything like me, youll eat anything in sight when a craving hits. Tell a loved one to hide the treats, and only let you have one when you absolutely need it. It takes willpower, but putting it out of sight can put it out of your mind.

6. Make sure youre getting enough protein and fiber

Protein and fiber will keep you feeling more full for longer periods of time. This will help you kick cravings and avoid overeating.

7. Put the electronics down during meal times

Eating in front of a screen can cause some serious damage to your weight loss goals. When youre distracted by a TV show or social media, you tend to eat more because youre eating mindlessly.

8. Get enough sleep and reduce your stress

Sleep and stress are huge factors when it comes to weight loss. Stress levels are high and sleep patterns are often off during the holiday season, so make sure youre making a conscious effort to reduce your stress and get adequate sleep.

9. Weigh yourself once a week

Ill be the first to tell you how much I loathe the scale, but sometimes, weighing yourself is necessary. If you want to watch your weight closely, regular weigh-ins are a great way to keep you on track.

10. Dont save your calories

Dont starve yourself all day because you know youre having a big meal later. When you save your calories up for a big meal, youre more likely to overeat and do more damage to your diet.

11. Be picky

Dont just eat simply because you see food. This can be hard during the holidays because there are treats literally everywhere, but only eat what you love. This way, youll save yourself from excess calories you didnt even want.

12. Know when youre actually hungry

Are you hungry because you need food? Or are you thirsty? Maybe youre just bored. Get to the bottom of whether or not youre truly hungry, then only eat if you are. Its easier said than done, but its a great way to keep those extra pounds away.

13. Get a buddy to help you

Having someone to be accountable with does wonders for your willpower. Plus, a little healthy competition never hurt anyone.

14. Brush your teeth after every meal

An easy trick to keep yourself from overeating is to brush your teeth after every meal or chew a piece of gum. The minty-freshness of your mouth will taste better than that chocolate covered brownie dessert sitting in your pantry.

Keeping that extra weight at bay is hard, but its not impossible if you follow these easy steps.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.