Healthy Eating For Summer Weight Loss
Cold weather season is over and you can no longer hide the bulges from all that holiday feasting under your winter clothes. As summer beckons, we realize we need to shape up for swimsuit season. We will need at least a few weeks getting started on healthy eating to fit into those shorts and tank tops.
Loading up on nature’s produce is your ticket to summer weight loss. Vegetables and fruits are low in calories but high in essential vitamins and minerals. They have enzymes and antioxidants to fight disease and aging. The fiber in fruits and veggies help cleanse our systems of toxins and fats.
Berries, tomatoes, zucchini, melons, cucumbers, peas and other greens are available at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. And they taste great too - eaten as is or with some healthy add-ons like yogurt or low calorie dressing.
The bonus is: you can even indulge. As long as you’re eating summer’s bounty it should keep you from packing on extra pounds. Now here’s a more detailed list of ideal foods for summer weight loss:
- Berries are luscious and sweet but there is more to them than whets the appetite. They are known to boost antioxidant levels and help slow down ageing. Berries are also rich in nutrients that help lower cholesterol levels.
- Watermelons are popular because they are sweet, juicy, and crisp - perfect for satisfying thirst during the hot season. If you want a tasty summer weight loss drink, mix slices of watermelon with low fat milk, water, and ice cubes. Whiz in a blender and your perfect juice is ready in a snap.
- Garden salads are a great choice for a time and cost efficient summer weight loss meal. They are easy to prepare and a delicious way to get vegetables into your diet. Dress your salad with healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil, walnut oil or your choice of other healthy oils. You can mix in a little honey or balsamic vinegar. Throw in some healthy nuts and low fat cheese for some protein and you have yourself a complete meal.
Avoid those diet gimmicks. The sensible way to go through your summer weight loss plan is by good-old healthy eating. Mix in some exercise like walking or running at least 3 times a week, and you’ll slip in to your swimsuit with a smile on your face - just in time for summer.
Quick Weight Loss - Veggies Are Your Friends Sweets Are Your Enemies
Need to lose weight in 30 days? While weight loss is best done gradually, a month should be enough time to see some noticeable loss. That is if you’re determined and disciplined enough to follow a sensible eating plan.
Cut The Carbs, Get Your Fix From Whole Grains
If you want to trim your paunch or flabby arms beware of too much carbohydrates. Pasta, white rice, potatoes and other starchy food are loaded with carbs. When you eat these kinds of food, your body converts them into sugar. Often we do not burn up all this converted sugar, so our body turns it into fat. That fat usually ends up in our tummy, arms and thighs. If you are predisposed, it also can end up in your back or neck. Of course, we could use some carbohydrate foods in our sytem. But if you must indulge, choose whole grain options such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta. Key word is: moderation. A few popular quick weight loss diets espouse NO carbs - but only for a certain period, not more than two weeks, in fact. Even when the excess weight is off and you get back to eating carbs - again, only in moderation.
Load Up On Vegetables and Fruits
What you should eat up are vegetables and fruits. Power-packed with vitamins, they are also rich in fiber to help cleanse your system and speed up your metabolism. These foods do not contain salt or sodium found in junk food. Too much sodium can add to more weight gain because of water retention. Cutting down on salt or sodium is integral in any quick weight loss diet.
And while you decrease sodium, you should increase fiber intake. Eating vegetables like lettuce and radish can actually help release toxins from the body. High fiber foods also promote regular elimination and natural internal cleansing. Onions even help your body burn calories.
Certain fruits can even break down fats - and these fruits should be part of any quick weight loss diet. Make sure that you eat them fresh though. Sweetened, canned or dried fruits are non-nos. Some fruits used in quick weight loss programs are watermelon, grapefruit, peach, and papaya. Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and grapefruit are considered fat burners. They break down the fats and assist your body in flushing them out. Fruits rich in fiber like apples are also known to prevent your body from absorbing fats. This fruit together with berries have a natural chemical known as Pectin. Pectin prevents your cells from absorbing fats that build up over time.
Just Say No To Junk Food and Sweets
Junk food is tempting, but you just have to learn how to resist. Skip the salt and butter-laden popcorn when you’re watching a movie or TV. Same with those potato chips or bag of candies or chocolates. It is a test of will, but successful quick weight loss can only be achieved by skipping these danger foods.
Still, quick weight loss is not about total deprivation. There are healthy alternatives to satisfy your cravings. Instead of ice cream, indulge in some low fat frozen yogurt. There are even sugar free varieties that taste great. Instead of candy or chocolate, get your hands on some fresh fruit - strawberries, apples or grapes - take your pick. Feel like munching on something crunchy in front of the TV? Go for some carrot or jicama sticks and even dip them in some low fat cottage cheese. These healthy foods will help you through your quick weight loss program.