We hear it over and over again: The key to losing weight is creating a calorie deficit. "Eat less, move more." "Calories in vs. calories out." Blah, blah, snore.

Because that's much harder and a lot less exciting than it sounds on paper, it's often super-tempting to seek out a quick fix. So, it's no wonder our ears perk up when we hear about maple syrup-lemon juice cleanses, celebs' baby food diets, or "calorie-burning" shapewear .... Unfortunately, as intriguing as these slimming strategies sound, they're really just wacky weight-loss gimmicks that likely do nada.

Still, that's no reason to write off all "diet tricks." Here, a few out there strategies that are proven to steer anyone in the fitter direction ... 

Green juice/smoothies -- If hearing the words kale plus smoothie makes you want to gag, you're not alone. But tons of natural health experts note that drinking green juice (veggies juiced) or green smoothies (veggies blended) can facilitate weight loss. Dr. Lissa Rankin, OB/GYN, author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend (St. Martin's Press), and green juice aficionado, says that 3 to 4 daily servings of green juice stabilize blood sugar and eliminate cravings for good.

The result? A superb jump-start to any slimming regimen. I can personally attest to the fact that all green juice is not made equal or tastes gross! I've had a ginger ale-esque blend and another like a Granny Smith apple. You can experiment and add different flavors until you have a blend that is palatable to you. 

Mindful eating -- You don't have to go away to a Zen camp to reform your eating habits. By taking a step back and actually enjoying what we're shoveling in our mouths, we can teach ourselves greater awareness of our habits, or mindful eating. In turn, Buddhists say we'll be less stressed, more satisfied, and much healthier. Not convinced? Katharine McPhee and Gisele Bundchen swear by this method, too.  

Acupuncture -- As wacky as it may sound, acupuncture has been proven to help people lose weight. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, it works by treating an imbalance caused by malfunctioning of the spleen and liver organ systems. A study from the Journal of Medical Acupuncture found that participants who had acupuncture lost three times more weight than those who didn't.

Would you try any of these "wacky" tricks? What's your personal weight loss trick? 

 

Image via Purrs & Paws of A.R.A.S./Flickr