Trying to lose weight can feel challenging, but the thought of shedding 25 plus kgs? Impossible, youre probably thinking. Maybe youve switched up your exercise routine but just arent seeing the results that you want, even though youre working really hard to slim down. So, what gives?
Anyone whos attempted to lose weight knows that good nutrition matters a lot when it comes to weight loss, just as much as exercising. Even a calorie-torching fitness plan needs to go hand-in-hand with healthy eating, or you may not reach your goals.
And if you thought that a healthy diet means bland, unappetising diet foods, think again. The truth is you can eat a ton of tasty foods that nourish your body, speed up your metabolism, and help you steer clear of cravings so you can finally lose weight.
To prove it, we asked seven women whove lost 25kgs or more to share their go-to healthy meals, and the results were surprisingly appetisingeven bacon and chocolate make cameos! Here are the exact plans that helped these women find long-term success:
Jodi, 44, had struggled with her weight due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance. But after a nutritionist helped her devise a low-carb, high-protein eating plan, she lost 32kg and is now training for a half marathon. Its important to find a nutritionist who understands your health issues and supports your needs, she says.
A typical days meals:
Breakfast: a protein bar with 20 grams of protein or more, plus a banana on workout days
Lunch: tuna salad with a side salad of mixed greens and tomatoes with aged balsamic vinegar
Snack: cucumber slices with a tablespoon of hummus
Dinner: salmon or crockpot chicken with a side of spinach or avocado
Dessert: kid-sized cup of frozen yoghurt
Motivated by a warning from her husbands doctor, Jennifer, 41, and her hubby overhauled their eating habits together. We went from a diet of processed foods, fast food, and dining out two or three times a week to a whole-food, plant-based diet, she says. We went all-in from day one, and the weight started melting off. To date, shes lost 36kg and now works as an online health and fitness coach.
A typical days meals:
Breakfast: rolled oats with almond milk, peanut butter, and pure maple syrup
Post-workout snack: green smoothie with spinach and frozen fruit
Lunch: Kale salad with hummus and rice vinegar, topped with fresh cucumbers, red peppers, and chickpeas or lentils
Afternoon snack: apples with peanut butter
Dinner: a Pad-Thai inspired dish using spaghetti squash instead of pasta
After-dinner snack: a piece of fruit
Petrina, 43, started the Atkins diet because her sister was interested in the plan. She asked me to do it with her for support, she says. Petrina eventually modified her diet for more balance and has lost a total of 45kg. She says the key has been taking it one day at a time. Too many people devote too much focus to the end game.
A typical days meals:
Breakfast: a healthy cheese Danishmade by mixing egg with cream cheese, liquid Splenda, and a dash of cinnamonalong with bacon or sausage
Lunch: salad with full-fat blue cheese dressing, bacon bits, and diced chicken
Dinner: steak with steamed broccoli and butter
Snack: homemade sugar-free peanut butter cup (made with baking chocolate, butter, liquid Splenda, and peanut butter)
The approach of a milestone birthday motivated Whitney, 29, to get serious about her eating habits. I had been overweight my whole life, and I was determined not to go into my 30s fat! she says. By following a low-carb, high-protein dietwith some extra carbs added in on workout daysshes lost 30kg so far.
A typical days meals:
Breakfast: fruit smoothie with some spinach or kale and a scoop of protein
Snack: granola bar
Lunch: jerk chicken with homemade cauliflower rice
Dinner: baked chicken with broccoli and brown rice
Snack: cup of peanuts or cashews
Erica, 32, found that a little patience goes a long way. Shelost 27kg over the course of two years by cutting out fast food, sugar, and liquid calories like soft drink and alcohol. The weight came off slowly, but its stayed off, she says. I went from being obese, binge drinking, and chain-smoking to a three-time marathoner, yoga instructor, and online personal trainer.
A typical days meals:
Breakfast: zucchini oatmeal
Snack: fresh fruit
Lunch: homemade burrito bowl
Snack: a scoop of peanut butter
Dinner: protein smoothie made with a frozen banana, a cup of spinach, chocolate whey powder, almond milk, ice, and a touch of honey
Anne, 56, tried a few tactics before finding what worked best for her. She started by weighing foods and counting calories: That was great for helping me readjust my ideas of portion size, but impractical for a daily lifestyle, she says. Last year she went on an elimination diet to identify food intolerances. Now she follows a mostly Paleo plan of lean proteins, healthy fats, and fresh produce, and shes lost a total of 36kg.
A typical days meals:
Pre-workout breakfast: coffee and a banana or two dates covered in coconut
Post-workout breakfast: coffee, a bowl of fruit, and two poached eggs
Lunch: an apple with two tablespoons of almond butter and a few sticks of celery
Snack: a stalk of bok choy and a carrot
Dinner: Cobb salad with a few tweaks (turkey instead of ham and bacon; hold the cheese and croutons; oil and vinegar on the side)
Snack: cucumber slices or pickles
Christian, 30, says she stopped using food as a reward and started thinking of it as fuel for her goals. I live with the philosophy that weight loss sparks greatness in all areas of life, she says. Though she was scared to look at a scale before starting her weight loss journey, she estimates shes lost around 32kg by tracking calories and journaling her eating habits.
A typical days meals:
Breakfast: salmon and potato hash
Snack: pineapple dairy-free yoghurt
Lunch: burrito with ground turkey, black beans, and bell peppers
Snack: tuna packet
Dinner: steak with broccoli
This article originally appears in Australian Womens Health
Read the original post:
7 women reveal exactly what they ate to lose 25+ Kilos - 7NEWS.com.au
