It’s not just about looking good in those skinny jeans, It is also about getting rid of all that visceral fat around your organs like your liver, kidneys heart etc. and we will show you How To Find Awesome Foods That Help You Lose Belly Fat.
In reality, it just boils down to taking in fewer carbs and burning more of the carbs that are “stored” on that belly as fat.
Cut out Fast Food Meals
Cutting out fast food is probably the biggest aid to weight loss that there is and this is the last thing that the food giants and pharmaceuticals want. We are fast becoming a Fast Food Nation, but what do we mean by fast food?
By fast food, we are typically referring to Wimpy, KFC s, Nandos, Romans pizzas etc who generally produce food that is high in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol.
We have become a Fast Food Nation. It is so bad that you now get fast food restaurant coupons.
Fast foods is not something you should eat too often! Eating a lot of it over a longer period can lead to serious health issues like;
- Heart disease,
- High Blood Pressure,
- Cholesterol,
- Sleep apnea and more.
Now I am not saying that you can never enjoy Nando’s chicken or any other Fast Food, but you have to eat it in extreme moderation if you want to lose weight.
Remember: you can undo all your good results of the week in 1 weekend if you are not careful.
Start With a Good Breakfast
Many people respond to this statement by saying that they cannot eat too early! This is a recipe for disaster. I know many people that do not eat breakfast or have coffee and toast or a muffin and they do not eat until the evening. The reason that they eat so little they cannot be putting on weight!
Just one look at their shape should tell them that it isn’t working.
Now we don’t all have the time to cook breakfast and to sit down and eat every morning but this is no excuse for not consuming a nutritious, high-protein meal that takes a few minutes to prepare and consume (3 Minutes if you are in that much of a hurry).
For more on Breakfasts, you can follow this link.
Plan Your Snacks To Lose Belly Fat
One of the secrets to losing weight is to plan for your snacking habits. Yes, snacking is allowed, it is even a requirement really. The problem is that we do not plan snacks and often just reach for a coke and a muffin or pie, or even chocolate. This is far from ideal.
Take note of the time of the morning and afternoon that you become peckish and take snacks to work with you. Things like fruit, nuts etc. and eat them about 10 – 15 minutes before you usually become peckish.
The secret is to plan for your snacking and make provision for it when you buy your groceries monthly or weekly and make sure that you prepare the snack beforehand and take them with you. This will reduce the excuse to stop and buy a snack.
Eating Lunch Is A Must-Lose Belly Fat
You don’t want to skip lunch and then become ravenous later. Now, if you are like me, eating a nice lunch (by nice I mean big) is a recipe for disaster. 20 Minutes after eating I cannot keep my eyes open. The secret is to have a light lunch like a salad with a piece of chicken etc. My favourite was a high-protein shake. Easy to carry and quick to make and drink. Awesome.
There are many sites that have some awesome recipes that can help you with this.
The What? Zero/Negative Calorie Food!
We often get asked about negative calorie food and people want to try to live on this until they reach their goal weight. Bad call!
Foods that are typically considered “negative-calorie” foods are typically fruits and vegetables that have a high water content. Some examples of these are;
- Watermelon; 46 calories per cup (150 grams), 91% water (Source)
- Grapefruit; 69 calories per cup (230 grams), 92% water ( Source)
- Apples; 53 calories per cup (110 grams), 86% water ( Source)
- Tomatoes; 32 calories per cup (180 grams), 94% water (Source)
- Cucumbers; 8 calories per cup (50 grams), 95% water (Source)
- Celery; 14 calories per cup (100 grams), 95% water (Source)
- Carrots; 52 calories per cup (130 grams), 88% water (Source)
- Lettuce; 5 calories per cup (35 grams), 95% water (Source)
- Broccoli; 31 calories per cup (90 grams), 89% water (Source)
Nutrient-Rich and Low-Calorie Foods Are Plentiful
Good food is out there and is a better option than fast food. It is the only way that you will achieve a sustained weight loss and keep it off long-term. Here are a few examples of good food;
- Avocados, Just one-half of an avocado contains 10 grams of healthy mono-saturated fats, which stops the blood sugar spikes. Not only do healthy fats in avocado help avoid stomach bloat, but they also help our bodies better absorb carotenoids, cancer-fighting compounds found in colourful fruits and veggies like tomatoes, carrots, spinach and winter squash. In fact, people who ate salads with avocado had 15 times higher absorption of carotenoids, a study from The Ohio State University at Columbus found.
- Bananas, This fruit is packed full of potassium, a mineral that can help limit the amount of belly swelling sodium in your body.
- Yoghurt, A cup of yoghurt encourages the growth of good bacteria in your gut, displacing other bacteria that can cause bloating. Creamy Greek yoghurt is great but is more than that: Its combo of carbs and protein help stabilize insulin, a hormone that tells your body to store calories as fat when levels get too high.
- Berries, These are packed full of Antioxidants that can improve blood flow, delivering more oxygen to muscles. Mix some yoghurt and berries before your workout to get those muscles ready for action.
- Green Tea, Three cups daily may rev up your metabolism and burn 30 calories, a study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows. The compound ECGC in the tea makes it easier to burn fat.
Your Shape Counts
Now I have often been told “Round is also a shape” when I discuss this with people and it is true, it is just not a healthy shape, just like the “Apple shape”. For your own sake, you want your waist size to be less than 35 inches if you’re a woman and less than 40 inches if you’re a man.
Having bigger hips and thighs, a “pear shape” is considered safer than an “apple shape”. What it points to, with the apple versus pear, is that, if you have more abdominal fat, it’s probably an indicator that you have more visceral fat and that needs to go.
Plan For Longterm Successful Weight Loss
Many people that come to us for help tell us that they have been on many diets over the years and consider themselves “Yo-Yo” dieters. They lose weight on this new diet and as soon as they stop, they pick up the weight, and more.
What people do not remember is that your muscle is your engine that consumes the food that you eat. When you go on “fad” diets that do not give your body what it needs, your body can break down your muscles for protein and you then lose muscle weight. When you stop the diet, you return to your old habits but your body has less muscle to burn the food so it stores it. and so the round shape begins
You didn’t pick up all your weight in 1 month, so why do you want to lose it in a month? You really need a lifestyle change that is going to help you lose weight…….permanently. To do this you need to eat correctly and improve your activity levels.
Food That Helps You live A Better Lifestyle
Oatmeal
Fibre-rich oatmeal is a great option to start your day because it’s filling, so you won’t indulge in a muffin or bagel by mid-morning. Got plain oatmeal as the flavoured brands can be full of sugar. Remember, skipping breakfast does not help you lose weight.
Blueberries
A diet rich in blueberries may help diminish belly fat. Even frozen blueberries are helpful as they maintain most of their nutritional benefits.
Almonds
It is often said that monounsaturated fats are a secret ingredient that can help burn away belly fat. Almonds are a good source of monounsaturated fats and help curb cravings since they are a good source of vegetable protein and fibre.
Salmon
Cutting down on fried, fatty, calorie-rich foods in order to lose weight is a must. What’s great about lean proteins like fish, tofu, or turkey meat, is that they provide you with lots of energy and burn more calories when digested.
When choosing a fish, try to source wild-caught salmon or tuna since they are both high in omega-3s. Farmed salmon is high in Omega6 which can have unhealthy side effects.
Green Leafy Veggies
Green veggies like romaine lettuce, arugula, spinach, and broccoli are low in calories, and are not only packed with vitamins and minerals but contain a lot of fibre as well. Make yourself a nice-sized salad for lunch and it’ll keep you filled throughout the afternoon. Alternatively, have a smaller salad before a meal, and you’ll find yourself eating less at the main course.
Beans And Legumes
Beans and legumes are wonderful sources of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Eating them regularly can help prevent hunger pangs, thereby preventing overeating. They are great sources of protein for vegans and vegetarians as well. Attempt to mix three different legumes to provide your body with different micronutrients.
Dairy Products
Full-fat dairy products are loaded with nutrients and can keep you satiated for a long duration, thereby aiding weight loss, however, I am not a great supporter of dairy products unless they are in the form of cheese or milk kefir
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a great option to add to your breakfast or smoothies. Nut butter is packed with protein, vitamin E, iron, potassium, zinc, antioxidants, dietary fibre, and polyphenols. Be careful of how much you consume as most peanut butter has added sugar.
Protein Powder
Protein powders are a great option if you cannot load up on whole foods that are rich in protein. You can take whey protein, vegan protein powder, or homemade protein powder to help improve muscle mass and increase your metabolism.
Water
This might surprise you but, one of the best ways to lose water weight is to actually drink more water. The reason for this is that if you’re dehydrated, your body retains more water in an attempt to prevent its water levels from dropping too low.
Water also boosts your metabolism, cleanses your body of waste and acts as an appetite suppressant. It’s also important for your liver and kidney health too but it is possible to drink too much, which can have the opposite of desired effect.
Summing Up
If you are serious about losing weight and improving your health then you need to avoid fast foods. You must start your day with a good, nutritious breakfast. Not necessarily a large breakfast but a substantial one full of protein.
Pack your snacks to avoid the pie and coke
Eat lunch to keep your metabolism going and drink water.
Avoid miracle diets. They are a fad and don’t work.
Plan your meals for the best long-term, permanent results. It’s the only way to success.
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