A lot of people have tried to lose weight, and a lot of people usually give up pretty quickly on losing weight. But why?

We all know that it takes diet and exercise to lose weight, but sometimes we still can’t manage to do those things and look for an easy way out. Sometimes diets don’t work, or they’re just too difficult to stick to. Or sometimes life gets busy, and you can’t go to the gym every day that you want to.

You’ve come to the right place if you feel like diet and exercise just won’t cut it for you. Even if you do diet and exercise, you still may be looking for an extra push to shed the pounds.

Keep reading for five weird ways to lose weight that could help you.

1. Chew Your Food Slowly

Chewing your food slowly can help your brain process that you are full and that you’ve had enough to eat before you finish your entire meal. This can help you eat fewer calories during a meal and also aids in the production of hormones related to weight loss.

To do this, you should be chewing all of your food thoroughly. Researchers have found that people with weight problems do not chew their food as thoroughly as they could. This will help to reduce the number of calories you intake during a meal.

People who consider themselves fast eaters usually gain weight quicker than people who eat slow. Eating slowly will help to aid weight loss over time and make you feel healthier in the long run.

2. Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is a new craze where you only eat during certain times of the day and fast during the rest. This is not considered a diet because you aren’t really restricting your calories, although you should choose to eat healthier. Different types of intermittent fasting can have different outcomes and depend on how much experience you have with fasting.

For example, one type of intermittent fasting is when men fast for 16 hours of the day and then eat what they want for the remaining 8 hours. For women, they will fast for 14 hours and eat whatever they want for the remaining 10 hours of their day.

There are many different effects intermittent fasting can have on a person’s body. It can help to lower blood sugars, blood pressure, and inflammation levels. Intermittent fasting also reduces levels of insulin, meaning the body can use stored fat easier.

3. CBD Oil

CBD oil has become a huge fad lately, and you can even incorporate it into your diet to help with weight loss. It helps to supplement healthy habits and better choices.

CBD oil for weight loss can help you in many ways overall because it is a mood booster. CBD oil may not be for you if you are currently doing rigorous workouts, although because of it’s anti-inflammatory components it could help with sore muscles.

Researchers have found that CBD plays a huge role in the way that your body will interact with fat. CBD helps to turn bad fat cells into good fat cells.

In some studies, CBD oil can help someone lose weight because it reduced their appetite, causing them to eat less food. If you want to take CBD oil for weight loss, then you will want to start off at a low dose. Take a low dose for about a week to see how your body will react before increasing and make sure to talk with your doctor.

4. Use the Color Blue

For some strange reason, the color blue is an appetite suppressant. If you look around a restaurant, then it is likely that it is not decorated in blue.

Decorating your kitchen or dining room in the color blue can help you eat up to 33% less. You could also accomplish this by eating on blue paper plates with blue napkins on a blue table cloth.

Another way to incorporate blue into your daily life and food intake is to put a blue light in your fridge. Having a blue light in your fridge could help you cut down on eating snacks and make you less hungry when you open your refrigerator.

Some people even go as far as dying their food blue with natural food coloring. The reason why blue is a good way to deter you from eating is that blue is not a natural color for food to be. Our natural instinct makes us avoid poisonous foods, so our body correlates blue food with poisons.

This is a weird way to suppress your appetite, but some people have found it to work for them. Hopefully blue is your favorite color! You should also avoid colors like red, orange, and yellow because these colors promote hunger.

5. Eat Spicy Foods

Eating spicy foods may not help you lose tons of weight, but it definitely can push you in the right direction to losing weight. The reason why eating spicy foods can aid with weight loss is because spicy foods help to decrease your appetite.

People stated that after they ate cayenne, they had fewer cravings for fatty, sweet, or salty foods. Spicy foods can also help you feel more full while eating, resulting in eating less. They can cause your body to feel more satisfied after eating.

Besides decreasing your appetite, spicy foods also can help you burn calories. A good way to incorporate spice into your diet would be to add cayenne to your eggs or cottage cheese. Hopefully, you will like the flavor of the spicy foods and lose some weight along the way.

Even More Weird Ways to Lose Weight

We just went over five interesting and weird ways to lose weight, but there are plenty more. If you’re trying to lose weight, then hopefully you can incorporate some of these tips into your everyday life.

For more healthy lifestyle tips download our TODAY app and check back on our blog for more lifestyle guides.

Did you know that 1 in 3 Americans didn’t see a dentist last year? The top cause for this was limited access to affordable dental care.

Plenty of people know about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene, but they simply don’t have the resources to do so.

Are you one of the many Americans who doesn’t have sufficient dental coverage? Keep reading for 5 solutions that can give you a healthy smile and a healthy savings account.

1. Take Advantage of Affordable Dental Deals for Newcomers

In an effort to get more clients, lots of dentist offices offer newcomer deals for a cleaning and x-rays. If you have a large family that needs a cleaning, then this can be a very affordable quick option. Since this offer is usually a one-time deal, though, it’s not the best long-term option.

2. Use Independent Dental Insurance

Finding a good dentist who also has affordable services is challenging. As healthcare costs continue to skyrocket, more and more dentists are starting their own independent insurance plans. Not only does this help dentists pocket more money, but it also benefits the patients because the services are a fraction of what they are in normal dentist offices.

3. Go to a Dental School for Discount Dental Services

Every dentist needs to go to school for many years before they can start treating patients on their own. Lots of people aren’t aware that these students need willing volunteers to gain this experience. If you can find a college near you that has a dental program, do some research to see if they accept patients.

This option is best for routine cleanings and x-rays. Since students will be doing the work, they can’t perform serious surgeries.

4. Check Out Community Dental Clinics

Some cities have public dental clinics that are either run by volunteers or they’re funded by a nonprofit organization. At these special clinics, you can find a reasonable dentist who will take care of your needs for free or at a competitive rate. Be sure to research clinics near you to see if you need to provide any paperwork that proves you can’t afford a dentist.

5. Consider Government Assistance for Affordable Dental Care

The ultimate way to score reliable healthcare coverage is to look into government programs that offer assistance to individuals and families that can’t afford standard healthcare. If you qualify to enroll in Medicaid, this can give you access to affordable oral surgery, routine cleanings, and any other services you need. You can click here to learn more about who is qualified for Medicaid.

Want More Money-Saving Tips?

With these 5 easy ways to find affordable dental care, you’ll be able to have the smile of your dreams without breaking the bank.

Do you want to know more ways you can save money on all kinds of things? If so, Thrifty Momma Ramblings has everything you need to know. Keep browsing our blog to find more impressive savings.

As a parent, you want what is best for your children. You want them to grow up and become better than you. To live a life that is good, healthy and happy.

This journey starts from infancy. By making the right choice when it comes to your baby’s toys and accessories you can help shape their future.

Yet, that can often be easier said than done. The market is flooded with toys, and prices that seem to grow every week. How do you know if you are making the right choice? How can you be sure you are not buying a toy that will stunt or not enable your baby’s development.

Well, keep reading, because in the coming paragraphs we are going to look at the best smart baby toys. We want to help you give your baby a brighter tomorrow, today.

1. Building Blocks are a Great Gift Idea

When it comes finding a great gift that will make your baby smarter, building blocks are a great choice.

Not only are they widely available, but they are a highly versatile toy that can be suitable for multiple age ranges. This is great for encouraging interplay between your children.

On top of that, their abundance makes them a great gift if you are living on a budget.

2. An Abacus Is One of the Best Smart Toys for Babies

Another classic baby toy that you can invest in is an abacus. Teach your children how to count and solve basic maths sums from an early age with this timeless teaching toy.

Buying wooden toys, or juguetes de madera is perfect because their hardwearing nature is ideal for intensive use. If there is one thing a smarter baby toy needs to be, it is durable.

3. Shape Sorting Toys Are a Smart Choice

Another wonderful toy option for promoting and nurturing a smarter baby are shape sorting toys.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of options for you to choose from, and while the basis of each is the same, the variation will keep your child engaged while developing an unshakable intelligence. Repetition is a fundamental part of learning in small children, and so by offering multiple shape sorting toys, you are stimulating development.

4. A Toy Kitchen or Grocery Store

When thinking about how to make your baby smart, there is a logic behind looking at toys that develop their IQ alone, but social skills and interaction is a crucial element behind intelligence.

Toys like a play kitchen or grocery store will stimulate both emotional and intellectual intelligence, as well or increasing your child’s skills at social interaction.

5. Crayons Stimulate Creativity and Coordination

A box of crayons is a wonderful gift for any child. Allowing them the emotional freedom to explore their own creativity from a young age is beneficial for their development.

Crayons allow your child to develop their coordination skills, as well as craft the ability to accurately express through a meidum other than speech. If you want to make your baby smarter, then nurturing their artistic side is a great way to go.

Buying Smart Baby Toys is Investing in Your Child’s Future

Any toy you buy your child should be well considered. Their development is so rapid at such a young age, making the right choice is imperative. It is also almost too easy at times, meaning you may find it hard to decide which smart baby toys would serve you best.

The trick is to trust your gut. You know your child; their likes and interests. Nurture them and provide them with a loving home to develop themselves and any choice you make will be the right one.

Check out some of our other posts for more advice on children and raising a family.

We all have that one friend or relative who’s incredibly difficult to buy for.

You know the one. She has plenty of money and can afford to buy herself anything she wants. She always tells you not to bother picking out presents for her, but you want to get her something anyway.

Or maybe she is plain old picky and nothing you choose is ever quite right.

Whatever the case, your quirky friend deserves some equally quirky gifts. Read on for some truly unique gift-giving ideas.

1. Give the Gift of an Experience

When your friend already has everything she could possibly need, it can be hard to pick out a good gift. Why not give her an experience instead of another useless object that will only collect dust?

Science says that experiences are more meaningful and make better memories than tangible items. If you choose an experience that you and your friend can share, it will help you bond and become closer.

What kinds of experiences make good gifts? Of course, it depends on your friend, her hobbies, her likes and dislikes. If she’s an adrenaline junkie, try a zipline trip, bungee jumping, skydiving, or driving a race car.

For less adventurous types, choose a cooking course, aerial yoga class, or a meet-and-greet with a favorite author, comedian, or performing artist.

2. A Subscription Box Is a Gift That Keeps on Giving

Subscription boxes are one of the hottest gift-giving trends of the past few years, and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

There’s a crazy array of possibilities, too. You can buy subscription boxes of yarn, books, socks, comics, snacks, soap, slime, and even sex toys.

Another plus of gifting such a box? They’re available at just about every price point since you control the length of the subscription.

3. Make It a Membership

Another of the best quirky gifts to give someone who has everything is a membership to a local attraction.

A year-long membership to a zoo, amusement park, museum, science center, nature park, public radio station, or historical site makes a great gift. And it isn’t just good for your friend. It also helps fund programs or helps the organization stay up and running.

Since most memberships come with a certain number of guest passes, chances are your friend will invite you along at least once during the coming year!

4. Consider a Charitable Donation

Find out what causes are near and dear to your friend’s heart. Then make a donation to an appropriate charity.

If your recipient is an animal lover, give a donation to the local humane society or shelter. An avid reader would appreciate a donation made to the local library or a charity that makes books available to low-income families.

To ensure that your dollars go as far as possible, check out Charity Navigator. Here you’ll find objective ratings and in-depth information about which charities you can trust.

5. For the Craft Cocktail Lover

Have a friend who loves bourbon, scotch, or other spirits? Maybe she’s an amateur mixologist who’s ready to take her hobby to the next level?

Either way, surprise her with truly thoughtful and quirky gifts from Red Head Oak Barrels.

Choose from a wide selection of kits that help anyone make whiskey, rum, and other potent potables at home. They even offer the aging barrels themselves, in addition to many accessories and accouterments perfect for anyone who enjoys a stiff drink or a good cigar.

6. Gifts That Give Back

Want to know exactly where your donation dollars are going?

There are several organizations that let you specify what your charity donation will buy. You can fund meals for shelter animals, mammograms for women in need, shoes for children, fruit trees for African villages, or a flock of ducks that will help a family earn a living.

Greater Good is one such organization; another is Heifer International. What’s wonderful about these types of gifts is that they aren’t just handouts. Often, they allow families and individuals to help themselves by earning a living. They empower people and improve lives.

What better way to honor your friendship than by paying it forward?

7. The Gift of Friendship

We’re going to close out this list of quirky gifts by suggesting something that might be the most meaningful of all–the gift of your time.

These days, it seems like our calendars get cluttered up with obligations and errands faster than you can say, “Siri, check to see if I’m free on May 7th.” It can feel impossible to carve out time for our family members, let alone our friends. And the older we get as adults, the easier it is to substitute a “like” on Facebook for a real, in-person interaction.

So tell your friend that you truly value her company by scheduling a regular date to get together and catch up. What you do during this time is up to you, but it would be fun to suggest a special activity.

Maybe it’s monthly mani-pedis with lunch to follow. Make plans to sing karaoke together or embark on a year-long quest to find your city’s best burger. It could be a girls’ night in with facial masks, silly movies, and a big bottle of wine.

Schedule a weekend getaway when you can put aside the stresses of everyday life and truly connect with one another. Or simply commit to finally going to that spin class she keeps pestering you to try!

What Quirky Gifts Have You Received?

Have you ever been given an experience, a membership, or a charity donation in your name? What quirky gifts have you given others, and how did they react?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject, so let us know in the comments!

In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments about this post, feel free to reach out and get in touch.

Believe it or not, it’s no need to spend a fortune on shampoos and fancy treatments to have beautiful hair. From coupons and online deals to multipurpose formulas, there are lots of great ways to save money on hair care. Plus, you can always go for DIY hair styling.

According to a recent survey, most American women spend about $80 a month on hair care products. That’s over $55,000 in a lifetime!

If you also go to a salon to get your hair done, the costs add up. Not to mention impulse purchases like that cool hair mask you’ve bought for the packaging alone!

A little planning goes a long way toward saving money. Here are some simple tips to find the best deals on hair styling products:

Stock Up on the Basics

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need dozens of products to keep your shiny and strong. A quality shampoo can truly work wonders for your tresses.

Depending on your needs and budget, invest in a premium shampoo and moisturizing deep conditioner.

Make your own hair masks and nourishing treatments using olive oil, argan oil, rosewater, and other natural ingredients.

Buy in Bulk

Once you find a hair product you love, buy the largest bottle. In general, hair styling products tend to be cheaper when purchased in bulk.

Most brands also offer discounts to those who buy two or more bottles at once. You could even get the second one for half the price! Also, look for special deals like “Buy one, get one free.”

Prioritize Quality

Whether you’re shopping for a new conditioner, hair mask, or mousse for curly hair, prioritize quality. It’s better to buy a premium organic or natural hair product rather 10 cheap products packed with chemicals.

Poor quality shampoos and treatments can ruin both your hair and scalp. For instance, they may trigger an allergic reaction that will cost hundreds to treat.

Things are even worse for those who are prone to dandruff, scalp psoriasis, or dermatitis. Certain chemicals in hair styling products can worsen their symptoms and trigger flare-ups.

Shop Around

The easiest way to save money on hair care products is to shop around.

Prices vary from one store to another, and from one brand to the next. The more you research your options, the higher your chances to find a good deal.

Let’s say you have a favorite hair mask. Check its price on the manufacturer’s website as well as on eBay, Amazon, and online beauty stores. Use a price comparison site to save time and money.

The same goes for brick-and-mortar stores. Visit several shops and check the prices before buying your go-to hair mask.

Be a Loyal Customer

Most hair care brands feature loyalty programs that allow customers to earn points for every purchase. Later, they can turn those points into money. Ulta and Birchbox are a good example.

On top of that, you could get discounts just by joining their email list. Companies reward their subscribers with secret deals and special offers that are not available in stores.

Save Big on Hair Styling Products

As you see, saving money on hair styling products isn’t rocket science. All it takes is a little planning. Think about what you need, prioritize quality, and shop around instead of making impulse purchases.

For further savings, look beyond brand names. Many drugstore products contain the same ingredients and work just as well as their more expensive counterparts.

Don’t forget to take advantage of annual and seasonal sales! Almost every brand has at least one major sale each year.

Do you have any tips to share? What’s the best deal you ever got on beauty products? Share your story below!