You’ve decided that now is the time that you are definitely going to lose some weight.
Perhaps you’re going on holiday somewhere hot and you want to feel fabulous in your bikini or swim shorts?
Or maybe you have a big, special occasion coming up and you want to get your body slim and svelte enough to fit into that teeny-tiny little black dress?
Maybe it’s simply that you’ve been over-indulging yourself recently and you’ve noticed the scales slowly tipping in the wrong direction.
Then it’s definitely time to ring the changes! To kick-start your weight-loss journey, here are some of the very best superfoods that will help you shed pounds faster than ever before.
So, get down to the supermarket and adjust your shopping list to include this list.
Remember, weight loss should always be a part of a healthy living regime, always regular exercise at least three times a week to get maximum results.
1. Switch your Pasta to Spiralized Squash
Pasta is a no-no when on a diet especially as it’s refined food. You can still enjoy something similar pasta by trying spaghetti squash instead.
This superfood contains 75% fewer calories than regular pasta and is full of great vitamins and minerals (for example, vitamin A and potassium).
Pair it with a home-made vegetarian pasta sauce (skip the sugar) and you’ll enjoy a filling meal that won’t add inches to your waistline.
(Per 3.5oz / 100g, 45 calories, 12g carbohydrates).
2. Get Hot with Spicy Salsa
Switch up your sugary tomato ketchup for tomato salsa.
Make sure it’s freshly made too so you can see exactly what ingredients you’re using.
Ketchup has 19 calories per tablespoon but salsa has just 5 and there’s no added sugar.
The tomato content is full of fiber and vitamin C and if you like a hot pepper, whizz one up and add it to your salsa.
Peppers are an excellent way of boosting metabolism because they contain Capsaicin a natural fat-burner.
(Per 3.5oz / 100g 36 calories and 7g carbohydrates).
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a brilliant food for weight loss.
It’s also a rich source of protein (it contains the same amount of protein as an egg).
Start your day with a bowl of oatmeal, add some fresh slices of fruit and you should sail through to lunchtime without a tummy grumble.
It’s an excellent slow-release energy food too and good for you.
(Per 3.5oz / 100g 68 calories and 12g carbohydrates).
4. Greek Yogurt
Extremely healthy and high in protein, Greek yogurt is the perfect sweet pick-me-up.
Have it with sliced fruit, eat it for breakfast – you can enjoy it as a snack too.
Definitely switch out your fruit yogurt for Greek yogurt.
Remember, fruit yogurt, even the low-fat varieties are packed full of sugar.
Greek yogurt is totally delicious too!
(Per 3.5oz / 100g 59 calories and 3.6g carbohydrates).
5. Eggs
Eggs are seriously underrated when it comes to weight loss foods.
They are an enormous source of protein and there are so many ways to enjoy them.
Eating an egg for breakfast will help you stay fuller for longer.
One hard-boiled egg contains less than one gram of carbs and just 54 calories!
They are an excellent source of amino acids and antioxidants too, vital for healthy organs and for cell renewal.
Just watch out for fried eggs and scrambled eggs as cooking in butter or oil increases fat and calories.
6. Quinoa
Replace your rice with Quinoa; it’s one of the best weight-loss grains you can eat.
A rich source of fiber and protein, just 8oz / 225g equates to 220 calories and as quinoa is a plant food it contains every amino acid so the body can convert it straight into muscle.
Delicious too, you can use it served on the side with hot food or make some flavorsome, filling salads with it.
7. Whole Grains
Quinoa is also a whole grain but there are other whole grains that you can eat.
Change over your refined white grains (pasta, rice and white bread) for whole grains.
Not only are they far better for you, but they are also lower in calories and they speed up your metabolism.
Whole grains are rich in fiber too, vital for heart health.
Examples of whole grains include barley, buckwheat, bulgur wheat and brown rice.
(Per 3.5oz / 100g, 265 calories and 43g carbohydrates).
8. Almonds
Some nuts are high in calories but all nuts are good sources of protein and natural fiber.
Eaten in moderation, they can add weight-loss as a small handful will stave off hunger pangs.
Just 1.4oz / 40g of almonds eaten every day could improve cholesterol levels.
Studies also show that a few almonds a day can reduce your waistline.
So, use them as a mid-afternoon pick me up (instead of a calorific chocolate bar), sprinkle chopped nuts on a plain salad or add to Greek yogurt for breakfast.
Just don’t eat too many. (10 almonds contain around 100 calories and 6g of carbs).
9. Pistachios
Another nut that isn’t just delicious it’s nutritious too is the humble pistachio.
Snacking on pistachios has been proven to aid weight loss, or so a study by the UCLA Centre for Human Nutrition researchers tell us, when they held a study on two groups, each given a low-cal diet for three months.
One group was given 220 calories of pretzels to enjoy as an afternoon snack, the others 8.5oz / 240g of pistachios.
One month later, both groups were reviewed and the group that consumed pistachios reduced their BMI by one point as well as improved their cholesterol levels.
The pretzel group did not have the same positive change.
(0.4 oz / 10g of pistachios contains 56 calories and 3g carbohydrates).
10. Cayenne Peppers
Cayenne peppers are known to speed up your metabolism because they contain Capsaicin.
This is the ingredient responsible for the spicy flavor and it helps to boost weight loss.
Another study, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition was conducted on those who supplemented their diet with Capsaicin and they ate 200 fewer calories at their next meal.
(Per 3.5oz / 100g, 318 calories and 57g carbohydrates).
11. Sweet Potato
Trade your regular potatoes to sweet potatoes.
They are nutritious and contain protein, fiber and vitamin A, plus there’s a 5 calorie difference per 3.5oz / 100g, in favor of sweet potatoes so you’re already reducing your calorie intake by making the swap.
(Per 3.5oz / 100g, 86 calories and 20g carbohydrates).
12. Green Tea
One of the best drinks you can have for weight loss (next to water) has to be Green Tea.
This antioxidant tea is rich in nutrients and it boosts metabolism due to its catechins content.
This is an antioxidant that is responsible for encouraging weight loss while discouraging fat.
There have been many positive studies on the effects of Green Tea on weight loss, try replacing your regular tea and coffee for Green Tea (you can drink 3 or 4 cups a day).
Do be aware that Green Tea contains caffeine (also good for aiding weight-loss as it speeds up metabolism) so if caffeine interferes with your sleeping pattern, restrict your consumption of Green Tea to morning only. (Per cup, 0 calories and 0.7 g of carbohydrates).
Try This Peculiar ‘Carb-Trick’ That Melts Up To 1 Pound Each Day
”All this by Flavor-Pairing?” I asked.
I met an old friend for lunch last month and I was super impressed with how good she looked.
She said, “It’s not so much about the Flavor-Pairing, but more about how it re-awakens what the Japanese call, ‘the weight loss doubling molecule’ which signals 22-hour a day fat-burning effect in the female body.”
Even though I was skeptical, I’ve been struggling with my weight over the last few years, so I gave it a shot and watched the same video she did.
Well, it’s only a couple weeks later and you know what they say about how “you can’t transform your body overnight”…
They’re right – it actually took me 16 days to lose 22 pounds.
Now it’s my girlfriends asking ME what I’M doing differently 💅