Eat More to Lose More

Wave goodbye to hunger pangs and constant deprivation!

Eating more to lose weight? It sounds counter-intuitive. However, food consumption is exactly where dieters make the biggest blunder – they abruptly restrict their calories. When you consume less food, your metabolism slows down. Despite dropping a few pounds initially, your body will adapt to this snail-pace metabolism in order to maintain homeostasis. It’s actually in your best interest to eat more to lose more.

When you restrict calories, your system downgrades its processes, burning every calorie you consume at a sluggish rate. This is why some people pair a 1000-calorie menu plan with hours of cardio without shedding a pound!

What should you do? The ticket to successful weight loss lies in what and when you eat. A diet chock-full of low-density and water-filled foods will keep your metabolism from spiraling and your energy levels in check. We’re cluing you in on ways you can eat more while watching the pounds melt off!

1. If you can pick it from a plant, eat it.

Skinny Fruit Yogurt Salad

That’s right – we’re talking fruits and vegetables. There’s a reason you’re constantly being told to eat more of them! These foods are high in water and naturally low in calories, thanks to their fluid content. With fruits and veggies, you feel like you’re eating more because of the sheer volume space they take up in your stomach. For example, compare a cup of grapes to a half cup of raisins. The former takes longer to eat and contains way fewer calories! We love the Skinny Fruit & Yogurt Salad for any meal of the day, including as an afternoon snack.

Don’t let produce go to waste! Check out these super storage tips when it comes to produce: Say “No” to Slime! Easy Tips to Keep Produce Fresh.

2. Pair protein with every meal

By including lean protein in every meal, you’ll feel fuller, faster. Protein boosts satiety levels, but experts say the by-products of digested protein block certain receptors and tell the brain to release appetite-suppressing hormones. As a result, you’ll end up eating less in general! Eat more protein with Crock Pot 3-Ingredient Balsamic Chicken, 35 grams of protein per serving.

Sick of eggs and deli meat? Take this High Protein Shopping List when you go food shopping, and you’ll be set in the protein department. Additionally, these 10 Protein Packed Workout Snacks are deliciously foolproof options when you want to shake things up!

3. Don’t skip breakfast!
Skinny Protein Breakfast Frittata

Breakfast is the ultimate weight loss tool. Eating breakfast within 30-60 minutes after getting up will jumpstart your metabolism and crank up your body’s fat-burning abilities. The morning meal stimulates the output of leptin, a hormone that suppresses your appetite and curbs cravings throughout the day. Don’t ignore the most important meal of the day! Make this easy, quick, and portable Skinny Protein Frittata.

Start your day skinny with these 10 Flat Belly Breakfast Recipes certain to help you trim and tone!

4. Down some soup!
Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Soup

Eating low-calorie soup before a meal can help accelerate weight loss! How, you might ask? Well, like fresh fruits and veggies, soup has an extremely high fluid content, taking up space in your stomach and making you feel fuller, longer. Get the recipe for creamy potato soup made in the slow cooker.

Researchers found that people consumed 20 percent fewer calories after kickstarting their meal with a bowl. For some super simple ideas, see 10 Simple and Healthy Soup Recipes. Soup’s on!

5. Squeeze in more snacks!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Snack time shouldn’t be reserved for kids. Nibbling on something light in between meals can curb hunger and prevent overeating later on. If you don’t snack smart, you can wreak havoc on your waistline! The key to a revved up metabolism and successful weight loss involves snacks low in sugar, but high in fiber and protein. Pop in a Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bite.

Out of ideas? Look no further than these 50 Clean Eating Snacks, which features the Skinny Protein Yogurt Dip, made with just two ingredients.

6. Eat before and after exercise.
No-Bake Workout Bars Recipe (1)

Foregoing food before a workout will force your system into starvation mode, resulting in calorie burn from protein instead of fat. Don’t eat away at your muscle mass! Fueling before exercising is crucial and will help you perform better and boost your fat-burning abilities! Munch on No-Bake Workout Bars before or after your workout.

Likewise, eating after a workout refills energy stores and repairs broken-down muscles. The result? A faster metabolism and higher calorie burning rates all day long! Get the scoop on what makes this snack so crucial: Your Post Workout Snack: The most Important Meal of the Day. Need options for munchies? Check out Quick and Easy Post Workout Foods.

We love feedback! Head to the comment section to let us know what you think of this post, or what you’d like to see on our site.

This post may include affiliate links.

Ellie Krasner

Ellie is a full-time violinist living in Las Vegas, and a writer with an insatiable appetite for clean eating and fitness! She is a graduate of Binghamton University with degrees in English literature and violin, and loves investigating the world of healthy living.

More by Ellie

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *