Takecare Magazine™ Takecare Magazine Nov/Dec 2017 | Page 61

Health and Fitness There are many ways to lose a lot of weight fast. However, most of them will make you hungry and unsatisfied. You literally have to be extremely strong-willed or else hunger will cause you to break your commitment. This plan once committed to will: • Make you lose weight quicker, without hunger. • Reduce your appetite cravings. • Improve your metabolic health at the same time. Here is a simple 3-step plan to lose weight fast. 1. Cut Back on Sugars and Starches The most important part is to cut back on sugars and starches (carbs). These are the foods that stimulate secretion of insulin the most. If you didn’t know already, insulin is the main fat storage hormone in the body. When insulin goes down, fat has an easier time getting out of the fat stores and the body starts burning fats instead of carbs. Another benefit of lowering insulin is that your kidneys shed excess sodium and water out of your body, which reduces bloat and unnecessary water weight (1, 2). It is not uncommon to lose up to 10 pounds (sometimes more) in the first week of eating this way, both body fat and water weight. 2. Eat Protein, Fat and Vegetables Each one of your meals should include a protein source, a fat source and low- carb vegetables. Constructing your meals in this way will automatically bring your carb intake into the recommended range of 20-50 grams per day. Protein Sources: • Meat - Beef, chicken, pork, lamb, bacon, etc. • Fish and Seafood - Salmon, trout, shrimps, lobsters, etc. • Eggs - Omega-3 enriched or pastured eggs are best. The importance of eating plenty of protein can not be overstated. This has been shown to boost metabolism by 80 to 100 calories per day. High protein diets can also reduce obsessive thoughts about food by 60%, reduce desire for late-night snacking by half, and make you so full that you automatically eat 441 fewer calories per day... just by adding protein to your diet. When it comes to losing weight, protein is the king of nutrients. Period. takecare magazine 59