A number of diets will enable you to burn fat. The key is to combine them with regular exercise, drinking lots of water and, most of all, patience. Anyone who goes on a diet is undertaking a lifestyle change, and often a significant one at that. But with planning and dedication, fat loss is indeed possible.
Shrewd Moves
One way to lose fat is to just be sensible and eat five or six smaller meals (as opposed to the traditional Big Three of breakfast, lunch and dinner) each day. Of course, each meal should consist of healthy choices and be low in calories as well as fat. When following this plan, you will want to eat one serving of protein (chicken, fish, lean meats) and one serving of carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice) three times per day, with each serving being about the size of your fist. These meals should be complemented with snacks such as fruits, vegetables or even a protein drink every few hours.
Protein Pickings
Protein is not only considered the building block of muscle, but it's also widely regarded as a component that assists the body in burning fat. That is why high-protein diets such as the Atkins and South Beach have become so popular during the past 10 to 15 years. The nice thing about high-protein plans is they allow followers to eat relatively freely, as long as carbs are kept at a minimum. This means lots of eggs, chicken and beef, and very little fruit and pasta or other flour-enriched foods. Protein diets also have been credited with lowering cholesterol, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Mediterranean Munchies
The Mediterranean diet is a more recent "fad" diet that is said to assist fat loss. But unlike high-protein plans, the Mediterranean menu consists mostly of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and pastas--and limits meat and poultry. Someone on the Mediterranean diet might have a low-fat yogurt, an orange and a slice of plain wheat bread for breakfast, a spinach salad with carrots, broccoli and low-fat cheese for lunch, and broiled salmon and another salad for dinner. More fruit and a small handful of tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans) could be eaten as between-meal snacks.
Veggie Delights
Eating nothing but fruits and vegetables is another way to shed fat. The nice thing is that on this plan you can eat as much as you would like--by "grazing" throughout the day, as opposed to eating three or four meals (although that would work, too). You will also want to choose fresh fruits and vegetables, not frozen or canned. Since fruits and vegetables have no fat, your body will burn what is already stored.
Helpful Hints
Checking labels is a good way to keep yourself from putting unknown quantities of fat (and sugar) into your body. Also, drinking six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day will improve your circulation and speed up metabolism--the key to melting fat.
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