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Are you in the market for weight loss meal plans? If yes you’re among the majority of us. First things first, it is important to keep things SIMPLE. Keeping it simple not only helps you see the possibility, and get you to see started, it also helps you stay on track.
There are many books out there on the right diet, and they will go through a very complex process that is near impossible to live by. Thankfully there are other ways to weight loss.
In this article, we are going to take a look at smart food choices, foods that aid in weight loss, and take a look at a sample meal plan to get an idea.
Choosing fresh whole foods is your best bet to making sure your home is stocked with foods that can get you to your goal. Avoid pre-packaged foods. Pre-packed foods contain little nutrients so your body will continue feeling like it needs more after you have eaten.
They are also cram-packed full of things that your body doesn’t need, so it will set it aside and store it as fat. Make it easier on yourself and only bring home fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy fats.
There is also a variety of certain foods to include in your diet meal plans, that increase your metabolism, so just by eating these, you can efficiently burn more calories throughout the day.
You may have heard about the benefits of snacking or having smaller meals more often, and this can help you burn more calories. Below is a sample meal plan to help you get a head start.
Daily Meal Plans For Weight Loss
Breakfast
1 orange, about 71 calories 1 cup whole milk yogurt, about 8 grams of protein and 149 calories 1 Tbs honey, 64
Calories 1 cup green tea, 0 calories Total 284
Snack
A small handful of almonds, 50 calories one apple, 72 calories total 122
Lunch
4oz salmon with fresh dill and lemon, 210 calories 1 cup steamed spinach, 74 calories, with garlic sautéed in 1tbls olive oil, 110 calories half-cup balsamic glazed beets, 40 calories total 434
Snack
1 each carrot and cucumber, 45 calories with a pinch of salt and juice of half a lime eight calories one rice cake, 60 calories total 113
Dinner
1 baked chicken breast, 140 calories half a baked potato, 65 calories tsp butter, 35 calories 1 cup green beans, 44 calories total 284
Snack
1 pear, 120 calories, with a drizzle of 1tbls honey and a dash of cinnamon, 64 calories total 184
Daily total calories 1421
With an entire day of the calorie intake of 1,421, it leaves you a bit of room to play around with sauces or spices, an extra wise snack if needed, or be on a fast track to weight loss.
As you can see, there are snacks in between every meal. Eating less more frequently aids in your body having a consistent stream of energy and won’t leave you feeling hungry.
When you go for long periods of time without eating and get hungry, you are more likely to binge, and gobble down something you didn’t give thought to. Keep a healthy snack nearby, so that you can avoid grabbing the wrong quick fix to your hunger.
You can try making your own daily meal plans for weight loss. Craving sweets, it has been said that are linked to the need for more protein.
If you find yourself daydreaming about desert grab a handful of nuts, a piece of beef jerky, or smoked fish. Give it time to see that it helped.
As stated above, choosing foods that increase metabolism is a great choice for weight loss plans. Foods such as;
Beans
Citrus
Cruciferous vegetables
Chilies
Coconut oil
Coffee
Cucumber
Melons
Oats
Lean meats
Spices
Try using these foods often in your diet to speed up your weight loss. Adding spices to your dishes not only gives them a flavorful kick, but it also gives your metabolism a kick. So go ahead and have some Indian food and add lots of spices such as cumin and turmeric.
One of the best metabolic boosters is water. Keeping your body, and organs included is essential to weight loss. Getting plenty of water will keep you feeling full, so you won’t feel hungry as often.
Remember 8 cups of water a day is the MINIMUM, aim for at least that and increase during hot weather and physical activity.
Boosting your metabolism is key, you can be burning fat even when you sleep. Speaking of sleep, aim to eat your last meal of the day earlier rather than later.
Eating earlier allows your body to go into healing and elimination during rest, instead of digesting that large meal you just ate before bed.
It can be a good idea to eat your larger meals during the earlier part of the day, and less as it gets later. This sounds controversial to the standard American way. However it can make a big difference, so give it a shot.
As always coupling a healthy diet with moderate exercise can increase your weight burning greatly. Add in a daily routine that’s doable. Start small and add on as you feel comfortable. Getting your heartbeat up even for a short time will give you results. Aim for quality over quantity.
A shorter but more intense workout is shown to be more beneficial than long drawn-out endurance cardio. Get your whole body into it and try just adding more movement into your daily tasks.
Squat down while picking up things off the floor, park farther from the store and walk at a faster pace, adding movement to your day will keep you feeling better and burning more.
Do what you can. If you start off with a super complex plan, it can be a daunting task that you may not be able to fulfill and will leave you feeling worse than before you started. If you begin with a clear and manageable plan you a much more likely to succeed and follow through.
Keep the stress at bay there is no need to get overwhelmed. Stressing can cause cravings we don’t want, slow our metabolism, and zap us of the energy we need. So take a breath, take it easy, and literally take it one bite at a time.
