(3).jpg) By Johnny Firecloud | Summertime is almost here, gentlemen. It's already getting hot outside, but you've still got the beer belly and back fat you promised yourself you'd get rid of before it was time to hit the beaches. |
We're not about to tell you to start eating frozen grapes or sucking on ice chips - first off, you're a guy. Secondly, there's no need to starve yourself to get thinner - the "secret" to weight loss is to simply choose healthy foods and take in fewer calories than you burn. It's easier to eat less in the summertime, when everybody's wearing practically nothing and you've got 3 sweatshirts on to hide your man-jugs. So pay attention: next to exercise, the following foods are the best friends you've got when you're trying to cut down on those extra chins.
Grilled Veggies - A plate of grilled vegetables is a perfect summertime food. Side dishes to shish ka-bobs, it's a cheap, easy and delicious way to eat healthy. Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, veggies are a great replacement for the salty grease fat you're used to. Bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, asparagus, the list goes on and on.
Grilled Chicken - High in protein, low in fat, you can't go wrong with grilled chicken. Protein keeps your blood sugar steady, dulls your hunger and helps build muscle. There are millions of recipes involving chicken that you can work into your "diet" (we hate that word).
Salads - A quick, healthy meal that requires no cooking. Add whatever the hell you want: greens, fruits, veggies, low-fat cheese, grilled chicken - and there are plenty of low-fat salad dressings out there that don't taste like paint. You could always use lemon juice if you don't have any dressing handy as well.
Beans - Find a kind you like and learn to love them. Beans are chock full of protein, fiber and iron, three essential ingredients in maintaining good health. We don't think we need to remind you of the heart and digestive benefits...
Green Tea - Some people like it, some don't. But if you do, this natural weight-loss stimulant is a great way to help trim down. It's rich in antioxidants, promotes heart health, aids digestion and regulates blood sugar. It raises the metabolic rate and speeds up fat oxidation, which means you'll burn off those Krispy Kremes that much faster. The more, the merrier; Drink it daily to boost your metabolism.
Grapefruit - The perfect breakfast and a great way to drop some pounds. A 2004 study at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California found that eating half a grapefruit before a meal can actually help boost your metabolic rate. Grapefruit also contains cancer-fighting compounds, which are great if you're looking to avoid an agonizing death.
Watermelon - Who doesn't love watermelon in the summertime? Squeeze a lime over a slice for a sour punch. Sounds weird, tastes weird, but it's awesome, it's filling and it's mostly water.
Low-calorie drinks - Drinking your calories each day makes your other weight-loss efforts basically useless. Smoothies like Jamba Juice products (which have 97 grams of sugar on average), soda, energy drinks or sweetened coffee drinks like the Starbuck's products that can be found in any convenience store are an easy way to undo the progress you've made. Stick to water or low-calorie sport drinks that will replenish what you need instead of filling you up with things you don't.
Sardines - Sardines are loaded with protein, and they're a great source of omega-3s, which not only strengthen the cardiovascular system but also are helpful in boosting serotonin levels (the stuff in our brains that make us feel happy). When you're in a good mood, you're bound to gravitate away from comfort foods that are often used to replace happiness. They're cheap, easy to find and very low on the food chain, which means they're free of contaminants such as mercury and heavy metals found in other fish. Just make sure you've got some breath mints handy (tic tac's are only 1 calorie each).
Egg Whites - It may be hard to get over the embarrassment of being the guy who orders egg whites at the restaurant, but it's even more embarrassing to be the fattest guy in the place. They're a great, low-fat way to get a massive dose of protein in the morning to help build muscle. Great as a pre-workout meal.
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