6 Eating Rules For Faster Weight Loss

Reach for high-energy foods

Your body needs fuel to exercise, and the source of that fuel is food. That's why some people report feeling hungrier when they start to work out. If you're trying to lose weight, this could be counterproductive—unless you find the right balance of healthy, filling foods.

The typical American diet is loaded with refined or simple carbohydrates such as white flours, rice, and pasta, and pastries, soda, and other sugary foods and drinks. These carbs, which lack the fiber found in complex carbs (whole grains, fruits, and veggies), are metabolized by your body quickly. So while you may feel raring to go after eating them, that energy boost will soon be followed by a major energy slump, making it hard to give your all during your workouts.

In addition, if many of the foods you eat are metabolized quickly, you'll find yourself feeling hungry more often, which could mean more snacking and a higher calorie intake. To keep from eating back all the calories you've burned, stick to a diet based on these 6 science-backed components.

1. Fiber

Eat at least 20 grams of fiber per day from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Fiber helps keep you feeling full longer—a big benefit when you’re trying to lose weight. A study from Brigham Young University College of Health and Human Performance demonstrated that women who ate more fiber significantly lowered their risk of gaining weight. 

Each gram of fiber eaten correlated to 1/2 pound less body weight. The researchers suspect that the higher fiber intake led to a reduction in total calories over time. 

2. Calcium & Vitamin D

Strive for three servings of calcium- and vitamin D-rich foods a day. These nutrients often occur together in foods, especially dairy.

Calcium and vitamin D work together in your body, primarily to strengthen your bones. But if the latest research is any indication, both of these nutrients may flex some muscle in your weight loss success. Dairy foods are the prime source of calcium and vitamin D in the diet. In a study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, college students who came closest to meeting the three-a-day dairy requirement while eating an otherwise healthy diet weighed less, gained less, and actually lost belly fat, compared with students who consumed little or no dairy.

Moreover, vitamin D by itself may play a role in weight control. Extra body fat holds on to vitamin D so that the body can’t use it. This perceived deficiency interferes with the action of the hormone leptin, whose job is to tell your brain that you’re full. And if you can’t recognize when you’re satiated, you’re more likely to overeat.

You may also want to consider a vitamin D supplement. The latest research suggests that this nutrient may be a factor in protecting you from everything from heart disease to memory loss and even chronic pain. Evidence is mounting that we need more than the current recommended intakes, especially as we age, because older skin produces less vitamin D (and sunscreens block the body’s ability to use sunlight to produce this vitamin). That’s why the leading experts in vitamin D research are now recommending a daily supplement of 1,000 IU of vitamin D—the kind most readily used by the body. Read more about why you should drink milk here

Daily Recommended Calcium Intake:

Men and women ages 19-50: 1,000 milligrams
Men and women age 51+: 1,200 milligrams

Daily Recommended Vitamin D Intake

Men and women ages 19-50: 200 IU
Men and women ages 51-70: 400 IU
Men and women age 71+: 600 IU

3. Good fats

These include monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids, found in oils, nuts, avocados, certain fish—and yes, even chocolate! Eat 3-4 servings daily.

A study published in the journal Appetite shows how these fats—besides being good for your heart—can help you feel fuller longer after meals. The study participants with a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids (more than 1,300 milligrams a day, either from foods or from supplements) reported feeling less hungry right after their meals, as well as 2 hours later, compared with a lower omega-3 intake (less than 260 milligrams a day). Less hunger means less munching and an easier time keeping calories in check.

More specific research has been done on walnuts, a good source of monounsaturated fats. An Australian study had participants follow a healthy low-fat diet, either with walnuts or without. Both groups ate the same number of calories and lost approximately the same amount of weight at 6 months. But during the next 6 months of the year long study, the walnut-eaters continued to lose weight and body fat, while the other group stopped losing—even though they were still following the same diet.

4. Protein

Aim for three servings of lean protein (such as fish, white meat chicken and turkey, pork loin chops, and lean beef sirloin) per day. In addition to being an essential nutrient, protein helps to keep you feeling full longer, which is a big benefit when you’re trying to lose weight. In a small 2009 study, participants who ate a higher-protein breakfast were more satiated afterward (and took in fewer calories at lunch) than those who ate a low-protein breakfast(be sure to vary your protein sources and include plant ones, too).

5. Water

Studies from Stanford Prevention Research Center suggest that water helps promote weight loss in two ways. First, drinking more water—at least 4 cups per day—was linked to a 5-pound weight loss over the course of a year. According to the researchers, this amount of water increases the amount of energy or calories your body burns. Second, substituting water for sugary drinks—sodas, sports drinks, flavored drinks, and sweetened milks, coffees, and teas—resulted in even more weight loss. The exact number of pounds lost depended on how many sugary drinks were consumed in the first place, and how many were replaced with water.

Still don’t think you can give up your sodas and mochaccinos? 

Then consider this: It’s been shown that when people consume a certain amount of calories, they’re more hungry and more likely to overeat at their next meal when those calories are in liquid rather than in solid form. 

Translation: If you eat a 200-calorie snack, you’ll be more satisfied afterward and eat less later than if you drink a 200-calorie beverage. So frequently drinking calorie-dense beverages could increase both your hunger and your calorie intake throughout the day.

6. Green Tea

Sip at least 3 cups of green tea every day. Catechins, the antioxidants found in high amounts in green tea, have been shown to be helpful in promoting weight loss, specifically belly fat. If caffeine is a concern, decaf tea is an option. Some decaffeination processes, however, can lower the antioxidant content so you might want to have an extra cup or two.

In a study at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, participants who drank the equivalent of 3 cups of green tea a day lost twice as much weight as those not drinking tea. The tea-drinking group also lost significantly more belly fat than the non-tea drinkers.

If you like citrus, the news gets better. Replacing some of the tea brewing water with citrus juice, such as lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit, allows your body to use more of the tea’s catechins. You can drink your green tea freshly brewed for a warming hot drink, or chill it after brewing for a refreshing cold drink.

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10 Healthy Snack Ideas

Eat more veggies, drink more water, move more and get rid of the junk. All great ideas.
It also got me thinking. For me at least, the most difficult part of healthy eating is when it comes to snacks.

It would be nice to think we’re all going to start reaching for a raw carrot or celery stick when hunger strikes between meals. But it can be difficult to go from junk to super healthy in one step.
So here are a few ideas to help you snack more healthfully.

As with all things, remember that even healthy snacks are not going to be good for you in large quantities, so moderation is key.

10 Healthy Snack Ideas

Nori sheets

Head to your local Japanese or Asian grocery store and grab some nori. Yes, the seaweed stuff used in sushi rolls is delicious fresh from the pack. Although it is quite drying so you will need some water with it.

Nuts

My to-go snack, especially when I’m traveling. Almonds, brazil nuts, macadamias, pistachios: there’s so much variety to explore. Nuts are portable, delicious and packed with minerals. Look for dry roasted, preferably unsalted. And remember nuts like almonds with their skins on have more fiber than those without.

Kale chips

There are a heap of different commercial kale chips on the market these days. While delicious, they tend to be expensive, so you could have a go at making your own. Just toss some kale (or other leafy greens) in a little oil, layer on a baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes until crisp.

Salsa

Based mostly on tomato and chilli, a good salsa can be a great way to boost your veggie intake.

Nut butters

Look for unsweetened nut butters such as almond or cashew butter at your local health food store, or try making your own. Pop a handful of nuts in your food processor and whizz until it forms a nut butter, adding a little oil to help if it looks too dry.

Antipasto

The Italians know a thing or two about healthy snacking. Olives, marinated veg like eggplant, artichokes or peppers all make wonderful quick snacks. You can even throw in a little proscuitto (but don’t tell Leo).

Mezze

Similar to antipasto, these Lebanese small plates are a great thing to have in the fridge. Hummus is probably the most famous but there’s also babaganoush, tatziki and beetroot drips to make your carrot and celery sticks more appealing.

Boiled eggs

While not for the vegans, eggs are a wonderful source of protein. Boil up a whole batch at once then keep them in the fridge to peel and eat with a little salt and pepper as needed.

Roast chickpeas

I just adore chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in all their forms. And have recently started roasting them and tossing with a little spice to serve as a snack. So. Good. [recipe below]

Dark chocolate

When only something sweet will do, dark chocolate is your best bet. At least you’ll also be getting some antioxidants. Look for good quality brands that tell you the % cocoa solids. The higher the cocoa, the less sugar.

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5 Healthy Fruits You Need To Eat

Virtually, all fruit is beneficial as part of a healthy diet, but there are some that have higher concentrations of vitamins and nutrients. These “power fruits” are great for improving your health and encouraging healthy weight loss. 

Below is a list of the top 5 healthy fruits to eat for weight loss and general health:

Healthy Fruit #1 – Berries

Berries are loaded with vitamin C and fiber, and they are also one of the fruits with the lowest sugar content.  They are also low in calories:  1 cup of strawberries has only 50 calories; 1 cup of blueberries has 80 calories; 1 cup of raspberries has 65 calories; and 1 cup of blackberries has only 60 calories.  Berries are an excellent snack if you’re craving something sweet.

Healthy Fruit #2 – Bananas

Bananas have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being one of the more fattening fruits, but recent studies show that they are actually very beneficial.  Not only are they high in potassium and fiber, they contain a special kind of starch called “resistant starch”.  Preliminary research shows that this starch can actually help improve your body’s fat burning process and suppress your appetite.  One medium banana has just over 100 calories.

Healthy Fruit #3 – Mangoes

One medium mango has only 130 calories, more than 3 grams of dietary fiber, and substantial amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, and even a little bit of calcium.  Mangoes contain more sugar than some of the other fruits listed here, so eat them in moderation.

Healthy Fruit #4 – Apples

The old adage goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” – and with good reason!  Apples are definitely one of the healthiest fruits you can eat.  A medium apple has less than 100 calories, more than 4 grams of fiber, and a good dose of vitamin C.

Healthy Fruit #5 – Grapes

One cup of grapes has just over 100 calories.  They are rich in vitamin C, but they have only a modest amount of fiber.  If you have a choice between green grapes and red grapes, go for the red!  Red grapes have more antioxidants and a bigger nutritional punch than green grapes.

There are many other healthy fruits to eat beyond the five we have shared with you here, but these are a great start if you want to improve your health and drop a few pounds.

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12 Things You Can Do To Live Healthy

The Problem With Most Diet Plans

New fad diets in books and magazines and the Internet are a dime a dozen. Some of them are actually pretty decent, but almost all of them have one single flaw that will make it very difficult for anyone to stick to them.

The flaw? 

They try to get you to change your entire diet at once. That just doesn’t work for most people. I’ve tried lots of diets, and for the first week, I’m extremely enthusiastic and determined. But such a drastic change in diet is hard to sustain, and soon you give in to temptation and then it falls apart. We’ve all been there.

The Power of Small Changes

That it is about is making changes to your diet one small step at a time. Baby steps. The miracle of this is that we adjust to these small changes after a couple weeks, until they seem normal and we don’t feel like we’re depriving ourselves of anything.

Take meat for example. Let’s say you wanted to become a vegetarian, and you cut out all meat from your diet completely. You’d feel very deprived, and you might have a very hard time. Most people wouldn’t last very long — maybe a week or two at most — before caving in and eating meat and feeling guilty.

But let’s say instead that you just started with beef. Well, at dinner tonight, you probably wouldn’t notice much because you could have chicken or fish or turkey or pork — all the stuff you might normally eat. After a few weeks, going without beef would seem normal, and you probably wouldn’t miss it much.

Repeat that process for pork, and soon you’ve cut red meat from your diet (assuming you don’t eat much venison or buffalo or otter or whatnot). Then do chicken — this might be a difficult stage for many — and just eat seafood for awhile. After a few weeks of that, though, you’d get used to it. Next step is dropping seafood, and soon you’re a vegetarian who doesn’t miss meat one bit.

I’m not saying you need to become a vegetarian. I’m saying that small steps, taken a few weeks at a time, makes the process much easier. I’ve done it with meat, with fried foods, with sweets, with eating more fruits and whole grains, and many other food changes, and it’s worked every time.

You get used to it, if you do it a bit at a time.

The 12 things you can do to live healthy

Actually, what follows is just an example. You can use as many steps as you want, making whatever changes you want. This is just a sample of what can be done, to give you some ideas.

The rules:

• Apply these changes, one at a time, until you get used to them. This will probably be 3-4 weeks per step. But in a year’s time, you’ll be eating as healthy as possible.
• Focus as much energy as possible on each change for at least a couple weeks. Don’t deviate if you can. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.
• If it seems too difficult, make a smaller step instead. For example, instead of cutting out sweets, just cut out cakes and donuts. Smaller steps make things much easier.
• Always replace bad food with healthy food that you enjoy. What I’ve given are just examples — everyone has different tastes.

OK, so here’s an example of the 12 things you can do to live healthy:

1. Eat fruits for snacks. If you snack on junk food during the day, have some fruits by your side at all times. When you’re feeling hungry for a snack, eat a fruit. One of those bags of small apples is a handy thing — you can’t go wrong with apples.
2. Drink water instead of soda. The only thing I drink (besides an occasional beer) is water. I’m not saying you need to do that, but try to cut out sugary drinks a bit at a time, replacing them with water.
3. Eat whole grain bread. If you eat white bread or bagels or whatever, replace them with whole-grain versions. Be sure to look at the ingredients — it shouldn’t say enriched wheat flour, but whole grain. Also try to avoid breads with high-fructose corn syrup (actually, avoid that ingredient in anything).
4. Add fresh veggies to dinner. If you don’t already, have some steamed greens with dinner. Cut out a less healthy side dish if you usually eat something else.
5. Cut out red meat. You can still eat poultry and seafood for now. You can later cut those out too if you want.
6. Make pizza instead of ordering. Homemade pizza is the best, and if you haven’t made it yet, you should. The simple way is to get a ready-made whole-wheat crust, although making your own tastes even better. Start with the simple version, though, as you don’t want to make things too difficult. For the simple version, just add some gourmet spaghetti sauce (not Ragu), cut up some veggies (I like tomatoes and mushrooms and spinach and olives, but you can use anything, even potatoes). Brush the veggies with some olive oil. You can add grated cheese or soy cheese if you want, though it’s not necessary. Bake till it looks cooked. Mmmm..
7. Nuts instead of chips. If you normally snack on chips, try unsalted peanuts or raw almonds.
8. Soy milk instead of whole milk. Whole milk is fatty (not to mention the suffering done by the cows in modern dairy factories). Soy milk is much healthier. You get used to it after awhile, like all the changes on this list, but if soy milk is a problem at least drink 1% milk.
9. Whole grain cereal. If you eat sugary cereal, try a whole-grain cereal instead.
10. Berries instead of candy. This is a recent change of mine, and it’s actually been much easier than I thought. I used to snack on chocolate candy all the time, but now I try to eat berries to satisfy my sweet cravings and it works!
11. Scrambled tofu instead of fried eggs. Scrambled tofu is a secret vegan wonder.
12. Try some great veggie dinners. There are so many good ones out there if you haven’t tried them.

The key is to persevere, taking baby steps, one step at a time. However slow you are, no matter what, if you're persevering, you'll eventually get there. Good luck!

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5 Tips To Burn Fats

I'm going to share with you 5 practical tips on how to turn your body into a fat-burning machine – information that you can implement on your daily basis, both in and out of the gym or any workout environment. A lot of times they say that 'you are what you eat' so it's actually very important that you know how to work on what you eat first rather than just jumping into the workout schedule and hope everything goes as planned. Instead of quantity specific amounts, I'm going to give you simple ideas that you can almost immediately put it to plan in your everyday life. So let's get started.

Eat Fiber

A high-fiber diet decreases fat and cholesterol absorption in your intestine (preventing fat storage), slows glucose absorption in the bloodstream (meaning more sugar gets burnt as energy, less gets stored as fat), stabilizes insulin levels and delays stomach emptying (both of which decrease your appetite), and makes you full faster (so you eat less). Research has shown that a low-fat, high-fiber diet results in nearly three times more weight loss than a low-fat, low-fiber diet. 

So how do you get your fiber? Here’s how I get mine: 

• 1 fully loaded salad
• 1 bowl of oatmeal
• 2-3 raw fruits every day (fruit bonus: vitamin C in citrus fruit can also help burn fat)

Eat Calcium

Research shows that three or four daily servings of low-fat dairy products can help reduce body fat. Higher levels of calcium stored in the fat cells may help enhance fat breakdown, as well as induce an increase in thermogenesis (the body’s core temperature). The best calcium should come from dairy products like low-fat milk, yogurt and cottage cheese (and not from a calcium supplement). Other good sources, especially for those who are lactose intolerant, include dark leafy vegetables, salmon, almonds, and oats (notice the extra fiber bonus).

Eat Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies have shown that people who include a large and healthy breakfast in their diet lose significantly greater amounts of fat than those who avoid breakfast. Skipping breakfast will not help you shed extra pounds, but may instead result in muscle loss and metabolism decreases, both of which hinder your fat-burning ability. A great breakfast example is a large glass of water with a bowl of oatmeal, fresh fruit and nuts. Just remember: breakfast can also work against you if it’s not healthy: fried meats, sweet muffins and croissants, sugar loaded cereals, or processed packages do not count as a healthy breakfast!

Eat Frequently

You’ve heard it a million times before: 5-6 small meals a day is better than 3 large meals. I'd like to step that up a bit: as high as 10 times a day or more may be necessary, depending on your energy consumption and needs. Here's an example (from my personal nutrition log): 

1. Banana 7AM
2. Oatmeal w/ raisins 9AM
3. Handful almonds 10:30AM
4. Three turkey slices 12PM
5. One yogurt 1PM
6. Apple 2PM
7. Large salad 4:30PM
8. One protein bar 7:00PM
9. Handful raisins 8:15PM
10. 1 scramble egg with spinach 9PM (bed at 11PM)

The philosophy behind eating frequently is that the physical act of digestion has a metabolic cost, and by continually feeding, you are maintaining a higher metabolic rate. As long as your grazing is healthy, this results in more calories burnt throughout the day. On the flip side, eating too infrequently causes your body go into starvation mode and conserve energy, which results in increased fat storage and lower digestive and overall metabolism.

Eat Water

Your body constantly uses water to create energy, build muscle, and burn fat, and without adequate water, studies have shown that the muscles are less active, the metabolism drops, and your body burns fat less efficiently. This slight decrease in metabolism can add up to over 10 pounds of fat a year! Water also assists in suppressing the appetite and giving you a “full feeling”. So drink several glasses of water each day, drink a glass of water at least 30 minutes before your workout, sip water regularly at the gym, and drink a glass of water after your workout (speeds up recovery too!). Many naturally occurring foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are also high in water content (as well as fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, etc.), so this is another great way to get your H2O.

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Do 'Fat Burning Foods' Really Exist?

Image courtesy of Thinstock Photos

The problem these days are that when people think about fat burning foods, they think of foods that would actually make you lose fats instantly, or magically. As if the foods they consumed contained secret fat burning compounds that will transform your body with no effort.

Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a food that will make you lose 5 pounds over-night or actually doubling or even multiplying your fat burning rate just by consuming it. 

Don't get me wrong, fat burning foods do exist. But more often these foods are considered as fat burning because of what they do NOT contain, not because of some secret formula or ingredient inside.

Technically, any food that is raised, grown or picked off the ground in a relatively clean environment, free of dangerous contaminants and that gives your body essential nutrients, CAN be considered fat burning.

If you eat how like how the people used to eat back in the olden days and eat the way nature intended, also exercising to some degree, your body will naturally get rid of those extra fats. It's really that simple.

So with all that said, why are people from all over the world so fat if it's so simple? Simply cause "simple" does not rhyme or go along with "easy". 

In actual fact, our food supply is becoming more and more processed and contaminated with fattening chemicals every year – which makes finding REAL fat burning foods way more difficult and complicated compared to the olden days of human hunting for foods naturally.

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LABEL LIE: Why Your Beef May NOT Be Grass-Fed At All

Image courtesy of Keith Weller/USDA/Wikimedia

Each time you invest more money to buy healthier beef, there’s a chance that you end up getting less quality than what you paid for.

But thankfully, my friend Nick Pineault, AKA “The Nutrition Nerd”has figured it all for you. Here’s what you need to know..

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The Real Truth About Free-Range Egg Yolks

Yesterday, my great friend and cutting edge nutrition expert, Nick Pineault shared why the grass-fed beef you’re paying top dollar for might really NOT be grass-fed at all.

  

Unfortunately, he’s back today with more bad news…

  

Pay close attention:

BAD NEWS About Free-Range Eggs

By Nick Pineault, The Nutrition Nerd and author of Truth About Fat Burning Foods

Claims on eggs cartons can be VERY misleading.

  

Free-range... pastured… organic… added lutein… added omega-3…

  

So which ones are the best?

The simple answer is:you want the eggs than come from the healthiest hens possible.

In other words, hens need to have access to sunshine and be able to eat the omnivorous diet they’re supposed to. Yes, hens are in fact omnivores (mostly insectivores), and do not usually eat the grains most farmers feed them with nowadays.

Eggs raised this way (“pastured eggs”) pack a ton more nutrition than regular factory eggs.

• 66% more vitamin A
• 200% more omega-3
• 300% more vitamin E

Very much like beef, eggs’ claims are mostly not regulated.

For example, a farmer could say that its hens are “cage-free” but, in fact, they could still be packed into an overcrowded barn in the dark – leading to very poor life conditions for them and ultimately eggs that contain way less nutrients in your shopping cart.

Also, another misleading claim (that just isn’t worth the extra money you pay) is “Added Omega-3”.

It’s true that using flax as part of poultry ration can increase the ALA omega-3 content of egg yolk fat.

BUT --- there’s a caveat: this type of omega-3 is 8 to 33 times less absorbable than the animal-based omega-3 (EPA and DHA) naturally contained in eggs.

To make it even worse, the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s independent lab tests revealed that certainenriched eggs contain less than half of the omega-3 claimed on the packaging.

The bottom line: just like buying grass-fed beef, knowing your egg farmer personally remains the best way to make sure you’re getting the nutrition you’re paying a premium for.

“Pastured” and “organic” are probably the two labels that I would trust the most, but if you’re still in doubt, make sure to verify the color of the yolk.

If the yolk is a pale yellow, chances are that these eggs aren’t really pastured. But if it’s bright orange, you’ve got a keeper.

Important reminder: Of course, if you can only get regular factory eggs, remember that they’re still MUCH better than any granola bar as a filling snack, or as any pastry or cereals for breakfast.

------------------------

Thanks Nick!

Now in case you didn’t already know, this type of stuff is going on EVERYWHERE inside your local grocery stores and restaurants.

Look… we all know that nutrient-dense foods improve our health and ultimately our results, right?

Might as well know you’re investing your hard-earned money to get the real deal, and get deceived by these food marketers.

Make sure you learn TheTruth About Fat Burning Foods BEFORE your next trip to the grocery store.

=> Learn the REAL truth about the food you eat

You’ll thank me for it.

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