Simplifying Nutrition For Weight Loss

Starting a health & fitness journey on your own can be VERY overwhelming at first. Nutrition CAN BE a very complicated & in depth subject, but it doesn’t necessarily NEED to be. To kickstart your health &/or weightloss journey, here are 4 SUPER easy, uncomplicated strategies to create wins in your day & to help you develop confidence when it comes to starting your health journey no matter the END GOAL.

Strategy #1: Protein With EVERY Meal

Protein is by far the most talked about macronutrient, & this is for good reason, it is a SUPER important aspect of nutrition when trying to lose weight. To keep things as simple as possible, you will want your protein sources to come from majority animal sources, such as: eggs, poultry, beef, wild game, fish, & non-fat or low fat dairy products. If you are someone who does not eat meat, you will want to stick to beans, lentils, & tofu. Either way, make sure you have some type of protein with EVERY meal.

*Extra tip: I like to have my clients finish the protein portion of the meal FIRST, as this will lead to staying fuller longer & help avoid overeating the other sources of foods on your plate that could lead to excess weight gain.

Strategy #2: Plants

Instead of removing things from your day like most diets will suggest, try focusing on ADDING more high fiber, green vegetables & fruit. This strategy in itself will help naturally limit the amount of processed foods by helping us fill up on the “good stuff” & leaving less room for “junk”. It will also help improve metabolism & gut health.

Strategy #3: Limit Processed Foods

As you can see, it is not stated to REMOVE processed foods completely, this is an unrealistic strategy. Instead, limit the amount of pre-packaged foods like foods that come in: wrappers, cans, boxes, or bags. An easy way to incorporate this strategy is on your next trip to the grocery store, try to shop the PERIMETER, avoid going down aisles where all of the pre-packaged food is sold. Save your pre-packaged food for when in a time crunch.

Strategy #4: Hydration

Hydration is an overlooked component of weight loss & overall health. When it comes to weight loss, staying hydrated keeps our metabolism moving & keeps our gut healthy & also keeps us from thinking we are hungry when in reality it is thirst. Start your day off by drinking a large glass of water & then continue to keep water intake up throughout the day, I recommend starting off by aiming for about ½ a gallon per day & then eventually upping that once you have maintained that for a week or so.

*Extra tip: I recommend getting a ½ gallon jug that you can keep with you at all times. Start by drinking 1 full jug a day & then you can increase it to 1 ½ when you feel ready!

As I previously stated there are tons of confusing & complicated strategies that make it almost TOO difficult to get started. Focusing on the basics when getting started on your journey is the BEST & EASIEST way to go if you want long term, sustainable results. So remember; protein, plants, more whole foods, less processed foods, & hydration, stick to these & you will be on your way to a healthier, happier, & more confident YOU!