Don’t eat less…eat different.
It’s a commonly-held belief that if you want to lose weight, you need to eat less food. And while you do need to burn more calories than you consume to see your weight drop, that doesn’t naturally translate into starving yourself. In fact, abstaining from eating can result in you losing all self control and binge eating the contents of your fridge (which is generally not a great way to lose weight). So instead of worrying about skipping meals, The Huffington Post suggests you simply fill your fridge with foods that promote weight loss. Here are a few alternatives for the next time you’re feeling peckish, and enjoy some guilt-free fill-me-ups.
Dark Chocolate
Yes, your prayers have finally been answered. Dark chocolate is actually a great way to help control your weight. A small bite of dark chocolate can satisfy your craving for something sweet and stop you from downing a box of sugary donuts. In fact, research indicates that people who regularly eat dark chocolate have a lower body mass index on average. Better still, dark chocolate has weight-suppressing antioxidants. An ounce of dark chocolate a day is basically a sweet solution to your weight loss concerns!
Peaches
Don’t get us wrong, eating more fruit of any kind is a great way to help with weight loss (and getting much-needed vitamins to boot). But if you’re counting calories, it’s best to go with fruit that contains the highest water content like watermelons, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, and yes, peaches. Peaches also pack an extra punch of vitamins A and C that will keep you healthy — always important when working on your weight loss.
Nuts
A lot of people tend to skip nuts because they’re high in calories, but the fact remains that people who chow down on tree nuts are far less likely to be overweight or obese. How does this make any sense? Well, in addition to those calories, nuts are high in protein, fiber, and unsaturated fats. Plus, nuts make you feel fuller longer. And if you’re worried about those pesky calories, stick to about an ounce for a snack to get all the weight loss benefits. That way you’ll take advantage of all the dietary benefits without losing control of the calories you’re consuming.
Water
OK it’s technically not a food, but if you’re trying to lose weight the best thing to do is start drinking tons of water. Chugging H20 helps boost your metabolism, which means burning excess calories without actually doing any extra work (some studies have shown a 30% metabolic increase from drinking 17 ounces of water daily). Another surprising benefit? A lot of the time when you think you’re hungry, your body is actually dehydrated. The signals can get crossed, leaving you chowing down when you’re really just thirsty. So if weight loss is your goal, grab a water bottle and drink it all day long. You can also add more soups and vegetables with high water-content to your diet. You’ll stay hydrated and feel great.
Lauren Saccone/Pazoo