Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are great choices when you are trying to slim down, not only are they loaded with antioxidants and nutrients they are low in calories at about 50 calories per cup. Berries are also rich in fiber to help keep you full, and the flavonoids they contain have been shown to boost production of hormones that promote fat burning.
Eggs are another good choice, especially for breakfast as they provide nutrients and help you to feel full without gaining weight; an egg contains 6 grams of protein and only 70 calories. Eating more protein in the morning has been shown to lead to more satisfaction and greater weight loss.
Yogurt is known as being a healthy food, but not all yogurts are created equal as Greek yogurt has twice as much protein and half of the sugar as regular yogurt. In one study participants trying to lose weight increased protein consumption from 15% to 30% of their total calories and ate 441 fewer calories each day.
Pistachios contain about 6 grams of protein per ounce and only 100 calories for every 30 nuts making them another excellent choice. Be sure to buy pistachios still in their shells though as studies have shown eating them while still in their shells resulted in consuming 41% fewer calories than consuming pre-shelled pistachios which was thought to be because it slows you down and tricks the mind into thinking you have eaten more.
Oolong and green tea can also help in weight loss goals due to their catechin compounds that work with caffeine to boost metabolism. Drinking green tea has been shown to help promote fat burning in addition to containing zero calories while being rich in antioxidants.
While better food choices are great to help slim down, you really need to get up and get moving. If you are already exercising on the regular and not losing weight, you may need to re-evaluate and your adjust fitness routine such as increasing intensity. HIIT workouts combine cardio and toning exercise to increase the heart rate and keep the burn going after working out which is excellent for weight loss goals. Try walking or strength training when not doing high intensity workouts as the low intensity exercise will draw on fat stores and triglycerides within the body to convert into energy.
