Here's How To Lose Weight + Foods To Eat!
Recently, I had a patient ask me what foods she should be eating for weight loss.
I told her: "Look at your metabolism first!"
Our metabolism rate is determined by our age, our height and our genes. Therefore; it is mostly out of our control.
EXERCISE LEVELS
Having said that; Exercise can increase our metabolism. In the past, I have often sweated my pores out jogging on a treadmill for 45 minutes and been disheartened by the low number of calories I supposedly burned for my efforts.
In my experience, Interval training – short bursts of intense effort followed by periods of lower intensity or rest – builds up your heart and your strength and is often more effective for weight loss than just running on a treadmill alone.
Interval training also allows for a series of “small victories” which helps us mentally. Our mental outlook is also involved in giving us a metabolic boost.
FOOD CHOICES
Besides exercise, there is also choosing the foods that help boost our metabolism.
Here is a list of foods that are high in protein and therefore help us to lose weight. These are the foods that keep us fueled so that we can potentially eat less.
Asparagus
Avocado
Beef
Black beans
Cheese
Chickpeas
Cottage Cheese
Edamame
Eggs
Fish and Shellfish
Greek Yogurt
Hemp Seeds
Lentils
Milk
Poultry and Pork
Pumpkin Seeds
Quinoa, Amaranth & Buckwheat
Spinach
Tempeh
Tofu
Tree Nuts
Whey Protein
Just a few notes about the foods listed above. Of all the leafy greens, Spinach has the most protein. Foods that are higher in protein tend to make your body work harder to digest them and therefore burn more calories to do so.
Tofu is made from soy and might be genetically modified. Read your labels.
Certain spices also help boost our metabolism. Drinking ginger powder ( tsp. in hot water) or adding cayenne pepper to your meal may increase the amount of fat your body burns for energy. Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar can also decrease fat storage and increase fat burning.
Cacao could reduce the absorption of some calories and thereby prevent weight gain.
WATER As always, it is important to stay hydrated. Drinking enough water may also boost metabolism. Since the body has to bring the water we drink to body temperature, it is therefore calorie-burning to drink your water cold. As for how much one should drink, the rule of thumb is to take your body weight, divide it in half and that is the number of ounces of water one should drink in a day. Most of us are not drinking enough. Before you reach for a snack, try drinking some water first. In fact, you might find that when you think that you are hungry, you are actually thirsty.
Portion control is still extremely important. It also helps to slow down when eating. Put your fork down every other bite or so and take time to savor your food. Enjoy!
Let me know how it goes for you.
