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Weight Loss Exercise

Smoothies for Weight Loss



Trying to lose weight can be very difficult for many people. When you’re on a diet, you have to watch what and how much you eat. People often find it hard to prepare a meal that provides the right nutrition without going overboard in terms of calories. If you want to incorporate good nutrition into your diet, smoothies for weight loss can provide a healthy and balanced diet without unneeded calories.

How Does a Smoothie for Weight Loss Work?

Smoothies for Weight Loss

Smoothies for Weight Loss

To get the most weight loss benefit, start your day with a smoothie breakfast. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A good breakfast jump starts the metabolism and helps your body burn more calories throughout the day. Many people make the mistake of eating a breakfast that is high in quick burning carbohydrates. This leads to hunger pangs and snacking very early in the day. The right breakfast smoothie recipe will curb hunger pangs while providing the body with the ideal amount of fat, proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates.

A smoothie recipe for weight loss contains the right balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates. The recipe should include whole fruits, yogurt and whey protein. Fiber from fruit helps to fill you up while eliminating the extra calories. With the right balance of nutrition, carbohydrates are metabolized more slowly to prevent a sugar rush followed by a sugar crash.

A healthy smoothie for breakfast is important because it sets the stage for the day. If you make healthy food choices at the start of the day, you are more likely to eat healthy the rest of the day.

Fruit Smoothies for Weight Loss

Smoothies are often made with a combination of fruits. High in fiber but low in calories, fruits are ideal for weight-loss smoothies. If you want to add fruit juices to your smoothie, make sure it has no added sugar. You may want to mix yogurt or tofu to give a creamy consistency. The protein and small amount of fat in yogurt and tofu also make you feel full longer.

There are many different fruits that you can add to your smoothie, including mangoes, berries and bananas. A banana and strawberry smoothie tastes delicious. You can also try other fruit combinations. Experiment with different fruit smoothie recipes and you’ll never get tired of the same diet foods.

Green Smoothies

One of the best smoothies for weight loss is a green smoothie. A green smoothie may not be everyone’s favorite drink but it is amazingly nutritious and has a very low calorie count. You may want to consider mixing leafy greens with a fruit smoothie if you are trying to lose weight. Spinach or kale can be combined with bananas and berries to make a good-tasting smoothie for weight loss. If you are not a fan of green smoothies, combine them with a strong-tasting fruit to mask the taste of the greens.

How to Make a Healthier Smoothie

Green smoothies and fruit smoothies are the most popular choices for weight loss. You can make your smoothies more nutritious by adding fat-free milk or unsweetened fruit juice. Smoothies are rich in many different nutrients and fiber but are much lower in calories, fats and sugar.

  • Smoothies for Weight Loss


Smoothies for Weight Loss

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Categories
General Weight Loss Tips

What Eating Less Really Means

I’m realizing that weight loss= eating less. I already knew that, and you probably did too. But, what does that actually look like? Tonight at dinner I gave myself a challenge. The challenge wasn’t to pick the healthiest thing of the menu, or to measure everything out, or to be concerned with the calories. The only challenge was to slow down and enjoy the meal, guilt free, and to stop eating when I was full.

What did it look like? I ordered chicken fajitas with my husband to share. I ate a few tortilla chips, slowly and mindfully while we waited on our order to come. I put the food on my plate and took a bite. Chewed. Put my fork down. Took a drink of water. Then I took another bite, chewed, put my fork down and drank water. I repeated this process until my brain said full. I looked down at my plate and realized that I had eaten about a fourth of what I normally do. And I was satisfied. I was full, but not stuffed and I asked for a to-go box.

I know all of this sounds incredibly elementary, but I just couldn’t believe it. Josh actually kind of looked at me to say “are you not feeling well?”.

I bring this up because sometimes I have moments when I realize how much I complicate weight loss. How much emphasis on what I’m eating rather than how much. It’s a nagging thought I’ve had for awhile, and one I’ve mentioned before. The realization that I’m capable of losing weight if I just listen to my body. That understanding that at my weight, eating less, being mindful and stopping when I’m full is more important than worrying if I’ve had enough vegetables in the day. I do believe in good nutrtion, but deep down, I know that that will work itself out eventually. Today, a success is not cleaning my plate and then wanting more. Success is not feeling shame when I eat and enjoy my dinner.

A friend said something to me today and was profoud. A friend who I would consider healthy and balanced with her diet and exercise. The same friend who loves corndogs. Despite the ingredients she realized that feeling guilty about loving corndogs places the wrong emotions on food. Of course she isn’t eating them everyday, but I truly believe that guilt and shame lead to overeating.

As much as I struggle with overeating in my life. I’m realizing that there are many times in the day where I’m not eating. I’m just in the moment with whatever I’m doing. I’m trying to notice those moments more, to feel good about them, even if they’re my normal. To use them at a catalyst for motivation when I do want to eat too much food. Instead of looking at the day as a whole, I look at it in moments. Realizing that there are moments in the day where I’m content without food.  Moments of strength, awareness and thoughtfulness.

I realized that I don’t have to make weight loss confusing or brutal. I’m already the person I need to be to lose weight. My body is equipped to help me eat less if I’m willing to listen.  I don’t need to read another diet book, or count another calorie (I will for now), or keep up with the latest studies on nutrition. I know what makes me feel good. I know what true hunger and thirst feels like. And I know when I’m full without being stuffed.

It’s comforting to realize this. To realize I have the ability to eat less at any given moment. To realize that ever meal has potential to make me hear what my body is saying. Even without a meal plan, weight goal or dream about a thinner body, I choose to simply eat less. I can have what I crave and desire, guilt free.

What does eating less look like for you?

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Categories
General Weight Loss Tips

What Eating Less Really Means (to me)

I’m realizing that weight loss= eating less. I already knew that, and you probably did too. But, what does that actually look like? Tonight at dinner I gave myself a challenge. The challenge wasn’t to pick the healthiest thing of the menu, or to measure everything out, or to be concerned with the calories. The only challenge was to slow down and enjoy the meal, guilt free, and to stop eating when I was full.

What did it look like? I ordered chicken fajitas with my husband to share. I ate a few tortilla chips, slowly and mindfully while we waited on our order to come. I put the food on my plate and took a bite. Chewed. Put my fork down. Took a drink of water. Then I took another bite, chewed, put my fork down and drank water. I repeated this process until my brain said full. I looked down at my plate and realized that I had eaten about a fourth of what I normally do. And I was satisfied. I was full, but not stuffed and I asked for a to-go box.

I know all of this sounds incredibly elementary, but I just couldn’t believe it. Josh actually kind of looked at me to say “are you not feeling well?”.

I bring this up because sometimes I have moments when I realize how much I complicate weight loss. How much emphasis on what I’m eating rather than how much. It’s a nagging thought I’ve had for awhile, and one I’ve mentioned before. The realization that I’m capable of losing weight if I just listen to my body. That understanding that at my weight, eating less, being mindful and stopping when I’m full is more important than worrying if I’ve had enough vegetables in the day. I do believe in good nutrtion, but deep down, I know that that will work itself out eventually. Today, a success is not cleaning my plate and then wanting more. Success is not feeling shame when I eat and enjoy my dinner.

A friend said something to me today and was profoud. A friend who I would consider healthy and balanced with her diet and exercise. The same friend who loves corndogs. Despite the ingredients she realized that feeling guilty about loving corndogs places the wrong emotions on food. Of course she isn’t eating them everyday, but I truly believe that guilt and shame lead to overeating.

As much as I struggle with overeating in my life. I’m realizing that there are many times in the day where I’m not eating. I’m just in the moment with whatever I’m doing. I’m trying to notice those moments more, to feel good about them, even if they’re my normal. To use them at a catalyst for motivation when I do want to eat too much food. Instead of looking at the day as a whole, I look at it in moments. Realizing that there are moments in the day where I’m content without food.  Moments of strength, awareness and thoughtfulness.

I realized that I don’t have to make weight loss confusing or brutal. I’m already the person I need to be to lose weight. My body is equipped to help me eat less if I’m willing to listen.  I don’t need to read another diet book, or count another calorie (I will for now), or keep up with the latest studies on nutrition. I know what makes me feel good. I know what true hunger and thirst feels like. And I know when I’m full without being stuffed.

It’s comforting to realize this. To realize I have the ability to eat less at any given moment. To realize that ever meal has potential to make me hear what my body is saying. Even without a meal plan, weight goal or dream about a thinner body, I choose to simply eat less. I can have what I crave and desire, guilt free.

What does eating less look like for you?

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