Slimming down is one difficult thing to do but reaching for that bowl of ice cream or bottle of soda won’t do your body any good.
Bad eating habits abound in the universe but some are certainly worse than others. Read on to discover the eating habits to say goodbye to pronto if you want to slim down.
Eating traditional burgers and red meat
Skipping the traditional burger for healthier alternatives is one sure way to beat belly fat. Substitutes such as black bean burger pulses help prevent fat that accumulates around your abdomen and beans are also a great plant-based protein, loaded with nutrients that help support your metabolism.
Noshing after dinner
Experts say eating only when the sun is out helps with weight loss, specifically the kind that hangs around the belly. This is because eating based on daylight cuts your eating window down from about 15 hours to just 12 hours. Also, the foods that you typically consume after dark when you’re just feeling snacky are calorie-dense and usually loaded with sugar or refined carbs which tend to lead to belly fat specifically.
Snacking on dried fruit
You may think it’s a healthier swap for candy, cookies, or other sugary treats, but it’s time to quit this if you want to be svelte. Avoid snacking on dried fruit if you are trying to lose belly fat. Although it seems like a good alternative to candy, dried fruits are high in fructose sugar which is linked to weight gain and obesity.
A serving size of dried fruit is 1 ounce, which is around one tablespoon. Since dried fruit is sweet, compact, and easy to snack on, my clients report back that it’s very easy to overindulge.
You’re all about the carbs
Pasta, pizza, pastries. Steer clear of high-carb and highly-refined meals if you’re hoping to shed inches around your belly. Instead of meals with breads, pastas, refined grains, or drinking sugary drinks, aim for meals higher in healthy fats like avocados, fatty fish, nuts, seeds, olives, olive oil, and eggs.
Eating dairy
Dairy is highly inflammatory and is usually high in fat and calories, which leads to weight gain. Studies have found that abdominal obesity, in particular, is associated with full-fat dairy intake. It is best to opt for plant-based dairy alternatives that are low in calories and sugar if you want to lose belly fat. In addition to shedding pounds, you may beat belly bloat, have better digestion, and experience more good-for-you benefits from ditching dairy.
Not reading food labels for sneaky sources of added sugars
Foods like ice cream and cookies are obviously high in sugar, but added sugar can be hiding in many of your other go-to food staples, even those that seem healthy.
Foods like cereals, protein bars, and yogurts can be chock-full of sugar, which can cause unwanted belly fat if consumed in high amounts on a regular basis, hence the importance of checking the added sugar line on the nutrition facts label as well as looking for sugar, agave nectar, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, molasses, and the like on the ingredients list.
Drinking booze
Time to say no to that brewski. Forgo the beach beer to avoid a beer belly. The best option would be to skip alcohol all together since it wreaks havoc on our healthy gut bacteria which can result in belly fat. But, if you want to join in on the summer libations limit your intake and look for healthier alternatives. Although the verdict is still out on the health benefits of hard kombucha, it is a lower calorie and lower sugar alternative which may also provide some nutrients and probiotics.” Better yet, opt for alcohol-free, low-sugar kombucha.
Culled from: Eat This Not That
