EAT SMART, EAT OFTEN
Any fitness expert will tell you that fat loss begins with
eating smart and not with working out. Because people have become so engrossed
with how much or how little they eat, it’s no wonder that more and more fad
diets are being introduced in the market each year. It’s come to a point where
some people are technically starving themselves
all in the name of weight
loss. If you’re sick and tired of trying out the latest diets just to keep your
weight down, you need to learn how to pace your meals and eat smarter. It’s really
not only the type of food per se that is causing weight gain. It’s also when,
how and how often you eat food during the day.
Let’s face it. Food plays a hugely important role in the
body’s development. You will always be better off eating loads of low-calorie,
high-fiber food, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, healthy lean
meats, fish and other protein, plus those whole grains and other minimally
processed foods.
When you are selecting foods, make sure you don’t skimp on
insoluble fiber, such as you find in leafy greens and other vegetables.EAT SMART, EAT OFTEN
This is
because it is not digested in the stomach and small intestine, it simply passes
on into the colon, sweeping through it like a natural brush. Fiber soaks up
water to form a soft bulky mass, which moves easily along the digestive tract.
Having a high-fiber diet helps your digestion and also helps you to feel fuller
for longer and for fewer calories, EAT SMART, EAT OFTEN
all of which greatly assists with weight
loss.
That aside, you need to eat regular meals, not to get into a
destructive habit of bingeing and starving in order to lose weight. After all,
if you don’t provide the body with the nutrition it needs, then you can’t
expect it to perform the way you want it to. This is the main reason why eating
smart will always be more effective than eating less.
For example, healthy snacks, like carrot sticks, are a top
slimming aid - always eat a light healthy snack in the afternoon. There is a
great reason for this and it revolves around insulin. A healthy snack boosts
your metabolism and balances out your blood sugar EAT SMART, EAT OFTEN
Keep the snacks low calorie and high fiber too. Here are
some heart-healthy snacks that will keep you going during the day for very few
calories:
1 piece of fruit of your choice.
2 wholegrain crackers, lightly spread with a mixture of
smoked mackerel, mashed with fat-free plain yoghurt and seasoned with pepper.
Half a small whole-meal roll, toasted and topped with
low-fat cottage cheese.
150ml fat-free plain yoghurt.
Crudités – raw cucumber, carrot, celery and radish, as much
as you like – with a tablespoon of reduced fat hummus as a dip.
A hot bowl of organic miso soup – the packets are available
from good health stores and supermarkets.
Apple and a teaspoon of nut butter
A rye crispbread topped with a sliced tomato and a
tablespoonful of low-fat cottage cheese.
A couple of pinches of mixed seeds
Homemade ripe banana milkshake (banana, milk, ice, sprinkle
of cinnamon, optional)
A whole grain cereal bar with no added sugar
So, get snack-happy and fire up your sluggish metabolism by
eating 4-6 small, nutritionally dense meals or snacks throughout the day
instead of 3 big ones. If you live a moderately active lifestyle, this should
be enough to keep your energy levels up and your fat-burning capabilities in
top shape.
One last note, eating smart includes how you eat. Do not
gobble down your food in front of the TV. Concentrate on what you are eating so
that your body and mind fully register it and you are likely to feel fuller
with less food. Also, never forget that digestion begins long before you
swallow.
That way all the right enzymes can work on the food and
start to break it down. If you do not chew your food properly, you are likely
to suffer from indigestion and bloating, which work against you when you are
trying to lose weight.EAT SMART, EAT OFTEN
Once you master the art of eating smart – which means
frequent high-fiber, calorie-controlled meals, properly digested - you won’t
just feel better, you’ll also help your body to develop lean and strong
muscles. As long as you choose food that is healthy and all natural, you can
expect to enjoy the benefits of having energy that will last you throughout the
day.
