Easy Tips To Create A Balanced Nutritious Meal

It is incredibly easy to create a balanced meal that is delicious, nourishing, and healthy. To do so, include the following: ⁠

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates fuel the body with much needed energy. However, not all carbs are created equal. Focus on eating mostly complex carbs which have more fiber, and are a great option for weight control, managing your blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Examples are bulgur, brown rice, beans, whole wheat pasta. ⁠

High Quality Protein: Protein is essential for building muscle mass, repairing tissues, and supporting neurological function. It also helps to suppress your appetite. When choosing animal protein try to select antibiotic and hormone free options. Plant based protein options include: Tofu and Lentils. ⁠

Healthy Fats: Healthy fats help to curb hunger and cravings, are involved in hormone regulation, support healthy brain function and improve your good cholesterol-which enhances your heart health. Examples are olive oil, avocado, nuts. ⁠

Vegetables: Veggies are rich in antioxidants, help to boost your immune system, regulate digestion, and protect against diseases like heart disease and type 2 Diabetes. Aim to eat a variety of different colored vegetables, and at least 5 cups a day. ⁠

Food is medicine, and in my nutrition coaching program I educate my clients on the types of foods to eat to supercharge their health. If you are confused about the kinds of food to eat to attain your health goals, let’s chat! Reserve your spot with me for a free dietary assessment call.

Strategies To Reduce Stress To Avoid Weight Gain

Not only can stress lead to poor eating habits, it can also impact your ability to maintain a healthy weight. Stress also causes hormonal changes, which can signal the body to gain weight.⁠

For example, when you are under stress, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol.⁠
Elevated levels of cortisol can lead you to crave sugar-laden food. Consuming too much sugar elevates your blood glucose and therefore your body stores this excess sugar as abdominal fat. Cortisol also slows down your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight.⁠

When you’ve gained weight and your clothes no longer fit, it’s easy to become more stressed. This leads to a vicious cycle of eating more, gaining weight, and staying in a state of perpetual stress. ⁠

Although you can’t completely cut out stress from your life, there are a few strategies you can use to reduce your stress and better regulate your weight.⁠

1) Engage in mindfulness based practices like meditation & deep breathing exercises⁠
2) Keep a food journal so you can pay attention to your food habits⁠
3) Practice mindful eating by savoring your meal without any distractions⁠
4) Make mindful movement a priority such as taking a walk or trying yoga⁠
5) Don’t skimp on sleep – aim for at least 6 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep⁠
6) Make room for your hobbies⁠
7) Be kind to yourself⁠

If you’re struggling with weight gain and are ready to ditch those 10, 20, 30 + pesky pounds, I can help! Book your spot for a free dietary assessment call with me and let’s get you started to lose weight and keep it off for good.⁠

Snacks Won’t Harm You On Your Weight Loss Journey

Does snacking fit into your weight loss plan? Some people think that snacking can sabotage your weight loss efforts and this may have some degree of truth ONLY if you choose snacks that are not supportive of your health and weight loss goals. I encourage my clients to snack between meals if their body calls for it.

This is because it has a ton of benefits:
1)Eating the right combination of snacks can actually help you lose weight
2)Consuming a healthy snack between meals can suppress your hunger
3)Snacking can prevent overeating at meals by controlling your appetite throughout the day
4)Snacking provides necessary fuel needed to prepare and recover from exercise
5)It can help you close nutritional gaps in your diet

To make the most out of your snacks, WITHOUT sabotaging your weight loss efforts, Choose snacks that satisfy your hunger, supply your body with energy, and are rich in nutrients. In order to ‘snack smart’ choose from the following food categories:

Fruits and Vegetables – These are nutrient dense and have low calories

Whole grains­ – Rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates for an efficient energy boost

Dairy– Great source of protein which helps to reduce your hunger hormones

Nuts and Seeds – Provide healthy fat for satiety.

Watching your portion sizes and planning ahead by having healthy choices on hand can make your weight loss or weight maintenance plan successful.

If you are confused about the kinds of food to eat to lose weight or achieve your health goals, let’s chat! Apply today to reserve your spot for my nutrition coaching program.

How Leptin Play A Significant Role In Weight Regulation

Leptin also known as the ‘satiety hormone’ plays a significant role in weight regulation. ⁠

Research shows that low levels of leptin in the body or leptin resistance can cause weight gain. Insufficient amounts of leptin makes your brain thinks your body is starving, even when it has enough fat stores. Your brain then sends signals for you to 1) eat more and 2) slow down your metabolism. ⁠

Lifestyle changes can help counteract low levels of leptin and leptin resistance. Strategies to try include: ⁠
1) Eating a fiber rich diet⁠
2) Avoiding processed food which often drives inflammation ⁠
3)Lowering your triglyceride and LDL levels⁠
4)Eating adequate amounts of protein ⁠

There is more to weight gain and weight loss than just calories in and calories out. Our hormones play a huge role in this process. ⁠

If you’re ready to work with a true weight loss expert, are tired of counting calories, dieting without seeing any results, and want to LOOK and FEEL amazing without starving yourself, then my nutrition coaching program is perfect for you. Apply today to reserve your spot for nutrition coaching.⁠

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