6 Simple, Stay-Skinny Secrets

If you’ve logged onto any social media platform today, you’ve probably been bombarded with fitness and nutrition buzzwords. “Souping”, “intermittent fasting”, “genetically-modified”; it’s enough to make your head spin! If you’re like me, you probably just want to fit into your jeans. Life is complicated enough without constantly worrying about nutrition. So here’s a secret straight from the nutrition coach’s mouth: staying slim and healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Check out my 6 super-simple, stay-skinny secrets. I guarantee they’ll have you loving those jeans (stress not included).

Try Yogurt-Based Dressings and Dips

Yogurt-based dressings and dips are popping up at supermarkets across the country, and for good reason! Yogurt-based dressings and dips contain all the flavor and creaminess of regular dressings without the addition of unhealthy ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup or partially-hydrogenated oils (a.k.a. trans fats). Best of all, yogurt-based dressings and dips contain roughly half the calories of traditional dressings and dips (about 70 calories per 2 tablespoons). These products deliver all the flavor with none of the guilt. So grab some lettuce and eat up!

Skip the Bread

Avoiding wheat and gluten can be a great way to eliminate bloating. Did you know that 18 million Americans suffer from gluten sensitivity?¹ This common problem can cause digestive issues, inflammation, fatigue, headaches, and even depression!¹ If you’re not up for eliminating wheat and gluten just yet, switch to a fibrous, whole-grain bread. I recommend Ezekiel brand products. If you avoid or switch up your bread, your waistline (and colon) will thank you!

Start with a Smoothie

Smoothies are great way to kick start the day. They provide a blast of vitamins, minerals, and fiber to get your engine revving. If you’re a smoothie newbie, keep it simple and save the wheatgrass and kefir shots for later. Start by blending one favorite fruit and one favorite vegetable with water and a scoop of protein powder. From there, begin gradually experimenting with different flavors. With a bit of practice, you’ll learn which recipes get your early-morning motor running.

Bake with Applesauce

This tip is an oldie but a goodie. Applesauce is a great replacement for liquid oils in baked goods. This food swap reduces calories and the measurement is a 1:1 ratio (that’s a fancy way of saying ½ cup of oil = ½ cup of applesauce). Most importantly, you won’t taste the difference. Next time you bake your favorite cake, give this tip a try. I won’t tell the kids.

Stop Drinking Your Calories

We all know that soda is not the healthiest choice, but other drinks are also damaging the average American’s diet. Specialty coffee drinks, sports drinks, and iced teas often come loaded with extra sugar and calories. While many people don’t like the taste of water, good hydration is crucial to staying slim. Indulge me while I get scientific for a moment. The hypothalamus of the brain controls both hunger and thirst. When a person is dehydrated, their brain may tell them it’s time to eat, when all they need is water! Water also helps the stomach feel full, leading to a reduced calorie intake. If you don’t like the taste of water, toss in some sliced fruits and let them infuse natural flavor and nutrients into otherwise bland water. You can even pick up an infusion water bottle or pitcher, like those made by Define and Contigo.

Swap Your Sour Cream

We’ve come full-circle. We’re back to yogurt. Sour cream is tasty, but it can add lots of extra calories to your favorite dishes. Try replacing sour cream with low-fat or fat-free plain Greek yogurt. Not only does it taste like sour cream, but it’s also lower in calories and adds gut-friendly probiotics to your meal!

Losing weight and staying slim shouldn’t be complicated. Eating should be enjoyable. More importantly, healthy habits should be simple and easy to implement, allowing you to form good habits that will last a lifetime. These 6 slimming secrets will help you stay slim, healthy, and best of all, stress-free!

Are you ready to REALLY simplify your eating habits? Check out our 30 Day Food Makeover: http://funnels.flatabsfitness.com/30-day-food-makeover-program. This easy, 30-day meal plan will help you reduce cravings, burn fat, and fall in love with healthy eating!