The idea of eating in order to lose weight is often thought of as a bit of a weird thought. After all, most ‘diets’ tell us that in order to shed the pounds, we need to limit our diet. In many cases, it certainly can be. After all, if you are already eating a poor diet full of saturated fats, and not exercising enough to burn off the calories, you are going to put on weight. With this in mind, many people continue to eat the same diet, but just less of it. When we restrict food from ourselves, our bodies realise we are hungry and can go into starvation mode. When this happens, our bodies survivalist instinct kicks in and it does all it can to hold on to the few calories it is receiving. Instead of processing certain fats through the body, our body tries to hold on to them to keep what it perceives as its diminishing fat stores afloat. It is for this reason that people on a very low-calorie diet actually stay the same weight as they were before.

So is there a way to eat a normal amount and still lose weight?  Well, most of us would be pleased to know that the answer to that is a big fat (no pun intended) YES! Eating a hearty but well-balanced diet that covers all the food groups gives you greater energy to exercise and shed fat in the right places. So next time you’re thinking of dieting, really think about what your fitness goals are and how you can do it in a healthy manner. In fact, there are actually certain types of food out there that can actually aid you in weight loss for a whole host of different reasons. There’s no reason why you need to go hungry!

Up Your Fiber Intake

Many people assume that eating more fiber essentially acts like a fat burning machine. This is because a lot of people on high-fiber diets do tend to see amazing weight-loss results. But this is actually more psychological than medical. Foods high in fiber tend to fill you up for longer, meaning you are simply much less likely to snack on fatty foods that will give you a quick energy boost. So, what miracle foods can you start buying that will add a healthy dose of fiber to your weekly shop? It’s actually easier than you might think to incorporate these into your diet. Avocados are full of fiber and make a great breakfast dish when paired with wholemeal toast. Leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and even broccoli all come under this category. The important thing when cooking a high fiber meal is to bulk it out with these kinds of veggies. Beans and pulses are also great for making a filling meal with – try making them the main bulk of your dish. However, that’s not to say that you need to shun carbohydrates completely. We need carbs to function and would feel pretty lethargic without them!

Look Into Fats

We all know that a diet full of saturated fat is bad for us. But many people simply aren’t educated in the difference between good and bad fats. Saturated fat is the type we’ve all heard of, and we generally know that we need to avoid it. The main cause for concern is that it can contribute to the amount of cholesterol in our blood. When cholesterol builds up in our veins, it can cause them to narrow, leading to high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks among other things – gross. Foods that contain high amounts of saturated fats include convenience and fast foods. But it’s not all doom and gloom. If you have found yourself in a situation where it is literally impossible to avoid saturated fats (on holiday, for example), there are things you can do to lessen their effects. Taking orlistat tablets can help decrease the amount of fat the body absorbs. 

Protein, Protein, Protein

If you ever watch diet shows or follow health bloggers on social media, you’ll know that everyone has gone mad for protein. We’ve seen a lot of different diets come to light over the years – even crazy things such as the baby food diet and the controversial Atkins diet. But nowadays it seems that trying to get a lot of protein into your diet is the new thing. If you’re new to this world, you might be wondering why. Well, first off, we need a fairly large amount of protein in order for our bodies to function normally. Every single cell in our body is made up of amino acids, which need protein to help heal them should they become damaged. In terms of weight loss, the benefits are also huge. Along with carbs, it is the biggest fuel for fat burning that our body has. Without carbs and protein, our bodies cannot efficiently turn fat into energy. You also lose muscle as well as fat when you burn off calories. So, it’s important to up your protein intake to retain healthy muscles throughout this process. This is why bodybuilders, or anyone else who has a high muscle to fat ratio, eat a lot of protein in their diet. Many people rely on supplements such as protein shakes, but you can actually get protein into your diet naturally too. Lean meat such as turkey and chicken are your best sources and can be eaten every day as an evening meal. Eating eggs and yogurts can also increase the amount of protein in your body. You will probably feel as though you are bursting with energy! If you are vegetarian or vegan, don’t panic – you can still get protein in your diet too. Edamame, soybeans, and asparagus are all great sources of natural veggie protein. It’s easier than you might think to eat your way to a new you!

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