For decades people have been making a very common mistake that ultimately stalls their fat loss: eating too FEW calories.
It seems to make sense at first glance: eat less, lose more – right? Wrong!
When you cut your calorie intake below a certain level, your body instantly tries to defend itself from starvation by slowing down your metabolism, retaining water, and turning fat loss into a slow, frustrating process.
The trick to steady fat loss is to eat enough so your body’s survival mechanisms aren’t triggered – but still take in less calories than your body needs to maintain your current weight. It’s a fine balance, to be sure!
Here are a few ways to make it easier:
– Adequate water intake
When you drink plenty of water during the day, your body will release water it may have retained to protect organ function. An extra bonus is that your liver (which burns stored fat) functions much better when you are fully hydrated – hence, more fat loss!
– High fiber, low calorie foods
There are plenty of nutritious foods you can eat that are high in fiber and very filling, but still low in calories. Good choices include: asparagus, celery, peas, spinach, lettuce, berries, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, grapefruit and cauliflower. (There are dozens more too.)
– Eating often
Eating every 3-4 hours is another way to prevent your body from slipping into survival mode. Some people prefer to eat 4-6 smaller meals a day rather than 3 larger meals. If you don’t want to do that, another option might be 3 moderate meals along with 2-3 small snacks.
No matter how you choose to do it, remember that working WITH your body to lose fat safely will always pay off more than sacrificing your health in an attempt to lose fat faster.