10 Ways You’re Wrecking Your Belly Fat Loss Goals, Say Dietitians — Eat This Not
Losing belly fat is such a frustrating goal for so many people because it can be difficult to pinpoint a specific food or behavior that’s the root cause of weight gain. There are many, many ways we can sabotage our efforts to eat healthily and lose weight. After all, food is everywhere we turn today, and the greatest volume of options seem to be those high in calories and in enticing flavors that keep us eating more and more.
That’s why dietitians are so adamant about practicing mindful eating. It’s that awareness of the temptations and our responses to them (the munching without thinking) that can give us the greatest control over what and how much we consume. So, to put mindful eating into practice, put these fat-loss wrecking habits on your radar. Then try these Mindfulness Hacks to Lose Weight.
We’ve been indoctrinated into thinking that eating as little as possible is the most effective way to lose weight when that approach often backfires.
“Not only can this lead to increased cravings and potentially feeling more out of control around food, but entering the starvation zone can slow down your metabolism through adaptive thermogenesis,” says medical board member Lisa Moskovitz, RD, a registered dietitian with the NY Nutrition Group and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan.
Your body needs a certain number of calories and nutrients to function properly. Threatening that basic need can cause your body “to hold onto fat cells and send your body into a protective, premature plateau instead of burning body fat,” she says.
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If you’re not eating foods in their whole, natural form regularly, you are likely eating too many overly processed, empty-calorie foods like cakes, cookies, and the like that can sabotage your weight loss efforts.
“Processed foods tend to be high in calories, saturated fat and added sugar and low in nutrients your body needs to stay healthy,” says medical expert Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CND, author of the best-selling Diabetes Create Your Plate Meal Prep Cookbook. “There’s no need to stay completely away from these foods but try to fill up on wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean protein, low/nonfat milk and dairy, and healthy fats first and then if you are craving sweets, make it a small portion.”
Leafy greens are powerhouse weight-loss foods. Why? They deliver mostly water and healthy nutrients for very few calories.
“Fresh leafy greens from spinach to kale to romaine lettuce take up a significant volume on our plate and help ‘trick’ us into feeling more satiated,” says medical board member Molly Hembree, MS, RD, LD. “Leafy greens provide only about 5-10 calories per cup, and this barely makes a dent in our calorie needs for a meal or snack. They also provide fiber, vitamins A and C, folate, and other beneficial compounds to help control our health and body weight.”
You can turn a healthful, fresh vegetable salad into a total calorie bomb and not even realize it by pouring on heavy salad dressings, warn medical experts Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT, and Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT, also known as The Nutrition Twins. Creamy dressings like ranch and Caesar can pack about 12 grams of fat and more than 140 calories in a two-tablespoon serving (and most people use more).
“Instead of calorie-dense oils and fatty dressings, use lemon; spritz it on salads, vegetables, fish, chicken, rice dishes, and more,” they say. “It’s a flavor-enhancing trick used by top chefs to build a lot of flavor while keeping meals light.”
Research suggests lemon’s polyphenol antioxidants may help to suppress body weight and body fat accumulation.
“Fiber helps keep us full and break the cycle of overeating that may lend to excess calorie consumption and weight gain,” says Hembree.
But bland oatmeal isn’t your only option.
“Berries, ideally blackberries or raspberries, have a high-fiber content at five grams or more per serving,” she says. “Throw blackberries into your next oatmeal or raspberries into your next pudding or yogurt parfait.”
You’ve heard the term “liquid lunch.” It doesn’t only mean having a beer at noontime. High-calorie beverages are often a sneaky way to consume more calories every day than you realize. Make water, sparkling water, and unsweetened iced tea your go-to beverages.
“We tell patients to reconsider any drinkable calories, like soda, juice, and even healthy ‘green’ smoothies or juices, because they are not typically seen as a meal,” says Avantika Waring, MD, and Chief Medical Officer at 9am.health. “Most of them contain sugar. Make sure to check the nutrition facts on all beverages you buy and drink.”
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