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Losing Weight Without Giving Up Your Favorite Foods

Posted January 26, 2008 at 11:15 AM by Denise Musumeci

Section: In The News, His Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health, His Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Diets

Have you tried every diet in the book and still have no luck? Are you avoiding your favorite foods and feel unsatisfied? Do you hunt for the low fat, fewer calorie items on the grocery store shelves, but can’t understand why you’re still gaining weight? Well, there may be a solution that will allow you to eat what you want, but still lose weight.

People who diet have been told to avoid foods like hamburgers, pizza, and ice cream and start eating lower-calorie foods. If you think that avoiding these foods will help you, think again. These foods can help you lose weight and keep it off if you eat them right. An article by Camille Noe Pagán on cnn.com gives some of the slim-down benefits that can help you keep five of your favorite foods in your life.

Red meat can help you slim down.  A study of 100 women in Australia found that dieters that had red meat in their diet lost twice as much weight than those who diet with little to no meat, but more carbs. Red meat has a lot of protein, which makes you feel satisfied and reduces hunger. The best way to enjoy it is to eat 97% lean meat, which contains less than 5 grams of fat per serving. Avoid fattening “Prime” meats and buy packages labeled “Choice” because they are leaner, but still taste good. Regardless of your choice of meat, limit the size of your portion to 3-4 ounce servings, even if you choose lean meat. Restaurants tend to serve portions that are at least 8 ounces, so be mindful of what you order.

Researchers are not sure why, but people who eat full-flavored ice cream tend to shed pounds faster than those who buy the reduced calorie cartons. Some think that a compound in milk fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may aid in weight loss. Not all studies show that dairy can help you lose weight, but Dr. Bonnie Gluck, M.S., R.D., a clinical dietitian at New York Methodist Hospital in New York City thinks that full-flavored dairy products are more satisfying.

Many people do not find the reduced-calorie dairy products satisfying, so they eat a lot of them to fulfill their cravings, devouring hundreds of calories in the process. Just a little but of the full flavored stuff would have done the trick with less damage. You don’t have to feel bad about eating ice-cream or cheese, but be sure that you limit yourself to one serving to fulfill your craving.

Eggs are a great source of protein, containing all eight amino acids. The protein in eggs also reduces hunger and makes you feel satisfied all day. The best way to enjoy eggs in a healthy way would be to eat egg whites, which do not contain a lot of fat and less than 20 calories per egg. Avoid egg yolks because they are high in saturated fat and dangerous for the heart. If you order eggs at a restaurant, be sure to ask that your eggs are prepared with cooking spray, not butter or oil. If you want more flavor for your eggs, substitute cheese with veggies or salsa.

Pizza tends to make you feel full and satisfied for a long period of time. Try enjoying your pizza topped with vegetables or lean meats, such as chicken. A whole-wheat, thin crust will reduce the number of calories and will still be tasty. While some mozzarella is fine, avoid getting extra cheese, which will greatly increase the amount of fat on the pizza. Do not order deep-dish pizza or a lot of pepperoni and sausage, since it will add unnecessary fat and oils.

For bacon lovers, try substituting you strips of regular bacon with Canadian or turkey bacon. Canadian bacon has a third less fat than regular bacon and is cut from the leanest part of the pig, the loin. Turkey bacon is much leaner than pork bacon, but has just as much protein, which will make it just as satisfying. You can enjoy both kinds of bacon with eggs, BLT sandwiches, or by itself.

Eating healthy does not mean that you have to completely eliminate all of your favorite foods; it just means that you have to limit how much you eat. So next time you cook steak, cut it down to four ounces and whip up a side of your favorite vegetables. If you have a craving, it is better to give into it than to substitute something else because not only will you not achieve the same level of satisfaction, you will eat a lot more trying to reach that fulfillment. Just be sure not to overindulge when you give in to your cravings.

Research sources and for more information: [cnn.com]

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Tags: bad foods that can help you lose weight, burgers, eggs, favorite food, hunger, ice cream, pizza, protein, reduced-calorie foods, satisfaction, steak, weight loss

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