Apr 10
26
Think Pink for weight loss
If you want to trim your waistline, think pink!
Did you know that the color pink might suppress your appetite? Research has shown that looking at the color pink has a calming effect both physically and emotionally. With less stress, we tend to eat less.
In 1978, while studying at City University in Seattle, Washington, Dr. Alexander Schauss, along with Dr. John N. Ott, experimented with a certain color of pink, later to be called Baker-Miller. They “observed relaxation of the subjects when they stared at a 18 by 24 inch card-board plate” of this color of pink. They found that no other color consistently resulted in the same relaxation.
Dr. Schauss then did some experiments on himself. He observed that his blood pressure, pulse, and heart rate were unaffected by exposure to this shade of pink. However, “after intentionally increasing cardiovascular activity through a series of intense physical exercises, [he] found that this color had a marked effect on lowering [his] heart rate, pulse and respiration as compared to other colors.” (source: therapycolor.com )
Dr. Schauss also conducted experiments on how pink affected aggression and strength. In 1979, at the U.S. Naval Corrections Center in Seattle, the walls and ceiling of one of the admission cells were painted pink. After 156 days, it was reported that there had been “no incidents of hostile behavior during the initial phase of confinement.” It was determined that all it took was 15 minutes of exposure to the room for the detainees to become less aggressive and easier to deal with.
Additional studies showed that the calming effect of pink could reduce physical strength. Experiments showed that men could lift less weight after gazing at Baker-Miller Pink than they could after staring at the color blue.
In 1998, The University of Iowa football coach Hayden Fry had the visiting team’s locker room painted pink to make the other team weak. However, The Western Athletic Association followed with a rule that the home team and visiting team’s locker rooms had to be painted the same colors.
Because the color pink has such a calming effect on our psyches, it reduces the stress that can cause us to binge eat. Several years ago, Johns Hopkins University experiments on stress reduction by the use of Baker-Miller Pink were conducted on 1,700 subjects. Not only did they report a calming effect, but one third of them reported a reduced appetite. Now, doctors at Johns Hopkins weight control clinics give patients pink cards to carry around to help control stress-related snacking.
So celebrate the color pink, specifically the bubble-gum shade of “Baker Miller,” HEX: #FF91AF and RGB: 255/145/175. Wear it to send soothing signals, look at it to calm your nerves, and gaze at it when you’re feeling hungry.
See the actual color here, and print it out for your own trials on relaxation and weight loss. After conducting your own tests, report back with your results!
