Weight loss is a journey and reaching your destination can be quite frustrating. There are ups and downs, some failures and then there are days you would just not feel like working out at all.

Exercise and diet go hand in hand in order for this journey to be a successful one. You might have joined a gym or are running regularly, but why don’t the numbers on the scale budge? Another common problem is that you might’ve shed pounds really quickly in the beginning but are stuck now.

Yes, we know getting your body in shape and losing the pounds can be very frustrating; but you have got to remember it is about losing the pounds and not your mind. In order to lose weight and make sure it stays off, you must make some changes in your lifestyle. Take a look at what you eat all day long. How often do you intake liquid calories? Which seem harmless but can be a major culprit when it comes to packing on pounds. How active are you throughout the week?

We know it is not easy counting calories all the time, however choosing the calories wisely will do the trick.

Obviously, you have to reduce your caloric intake when trying to lose weight. However, there are some basic foods which nutritionists have classified as super foods or foods that burn fat fast. These gifts of nature can burn more calories than other food groups. Read on to find out which foods these are.

1. Whole Grains

When trying to lose weight replace any sort of white grains with whole grains. Simple rule is, replace white, which is starch with brown which is fiber.

Did you know your body burns twice as many calories to digest whole food than the regular processed ones? Whole grain options include bran bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and oats. If you start your day with a bowl of oatmeal you tend to stay fuller for longer, as it takes a bit more work to digest. They are an excellent way to control cholesterol as well as blood sugar levels. Whole grain foods also regulate your metabolism and reduce bloating. Both these things are responsible for accumulation of fat cells in our bodies. If you are not too fond of oatmeal there is a variety of whole wheat cereals to choose from as well.

 

 

2. Apples & Berries

What our mothers told as children that “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away” can now be replaced with “an apple a day, keeps those pounds away”. The same goes for berries such as blueberry, black berry and strawberries.

These fruits are natural antioxidants and loaded with pectin. Pectin fastens to the water in our bodies; thus, limiting the fat absorption from the food we consume. The antioxidants regulate our body’s liver function. The liver is the pivotal organ in our digestive system.

When it works properly oxidants are flushed out, there is no water retention and thus no bloating. You can either include them in your breakfast or mealtime or have them as a healthy snack whenever you are hungry.

3. Leafy vegetables

The leafy green vegetables are our best source of iron, folic acid, Vitamin A, C and K and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. They are rich in dietary fiber, making them harder to digest and thus consume a greater amount of calories to break down.

The greens also help in maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood-sugar levels. They help in keeping our immunity up, and vitamin K makes our bones strong. There are immense benefits of these; including them in your meals will do you a lot of good in the long term.

When trying to lose weight you must fill up on these power houses of nature. You can make salads using lettuce, spinach, romaine lettuce. Other options include cabbage, kale, broccoli and mustard greens. An apple and spinach smoothie is another alternate way to add greens to your diet. If you haven’t tried it yet, you can also add chopped spinach to your omelets.

We have mentioned just a few foods here. A rule to live by is to stay as far as you can from anything which is unnatural and processed.

Changing your eating habits is one of the most difficult things to do, but when you start seeing the benefits you will be hooked on to this for sure.

About the Author:

• Catherynne Johns

Catherynne is the senior writer for OLWOMEN.com, an avid reader, fashion and make up enthusiast who simply lives to write and talk about all kinds of stuff. Focusing on foods that burn fat fast these days!