If you're looking for a way to lose weight and keep it off, you've probably heard that whole foods are the key. This is true, but many people are misled into thinking that by eating more real food, they'll be able to drop 10 pounds of fat in one day. This is simply not true. In order to burn fat and lose weight, you need to eat a lot more than you think. And you should also know that real food like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts contain plenty of nutrients, but they also contain calories.
So by eating fewer calories, do you mean that you can go without dessert? Of course not. Even if you do reduce your intake of sweets and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, you'll still have a tendency to crave those treats during the week.
Instead, what you should do is focus on eating meals that are higher in protein. You can get protein from lean meats like chicken or fish, nuts like almonds and cashews, and whole grains like whole-wheat bread. Protein is essential for building muscle, so you want to eat more of it. Eating more protein along with lower numbers of calories will help you lose weight.
Of course, there's one thing that most people don't realize: Many low-fat, low-calorie foods actually have a higher fat content than their counterparts do! The problem lies in the fact that many of them use lower quality fats in their production. Thus, instead of getting fewer calories, you end up eating more.
Whole-grain foods, however, are very low in calories. You can find whole-grain bread, pasta, rice, and even oats in the supermarket. Try to limit your intake of white bread and other foods made with refined flour. Even better would be to replace your white bread with whole wheat bread and cereals made with whole grain oats.
* For snacks, opt for fruits and veggies instead of unhealthy snacks. In addition to having a lower fat content, these types of snacks also have a lot of water in them. If you're trying to lose weight, then you definitely don't want to drink lots of water. Fruits and vegetables will fill you up and will have fewer calories than unhealthy snacks.
* Finally, remember that you don't need to stop eating real food altogether. In fact, this is the key to better nutrition. As long as you have the willpower and discipline, then you can eat as much real food as you want. Just remember to choose the real, healthy stuff over unhealthy junk foods. That way, you can keep your weight off and live a healthier life overall.
Remember to research what kinds of foods are considered "real" food. You should also look into growing your own vegetables and fruits, if possible. By growing your own produce, you'll be able to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods that are not considered "real" food. While it may take some extra work, it will be worth it in the long run. It will save you money and you will be helping out your environment at the same time!
* Get creative with how you prepare your meals. For example, instead of cooking a burger for your main meal of the day, try cooking up a baked potato. You can make a low-calorie, delicious treat that will make your kids' hunger curbs happy. (Baking potatoes are also great for cleaning up after the party!)
* Consider making a homemade meal a little healthier than what you would typically make. For instance, instead of cooking a traditional beef burger, choose a chicken breast instead. It will cost you less and it will be healthier for you. This doesn't mean, however, that you have to give up your favorite taste completely; you can still have plenty of beef, cheese, eggs, vegetables, etc.
Real food is definitely better than junk food. But many people have no clue as to how to go about making their diets fit into true real food. There are tons of great recipes online for healthy, satisfying foods. And it's actually pretty easy to do if you have a few helpful "how-to" books around your house.
