When you're trying to lose weight and look great, there are two things you have to do. First, you have to exercise. You have to get your body moving, so it burns more calories. This is simple enough to understand. Second, you have to eat right. And a lot of people find this part more confusing. So that's the part we're going to talk about today. Because when most people think of eating right, they put all their focus on the things they should NOT eat. The things they have to cut out: the pasta, the cookies, the cakes, the potato chips, the candy. And sure, this stuff is important. Nobody will ever look and feel their best if they're constantly eating junk. But just cutting those foods out won't do you any good unless you know what to replace them with.
More from MamásLatinas: 8 Exercise apps for girls who hate working out
Your body needs nutrients in order for it to burn fat. If it didn't, then you'd be able to starve yourself and easily look like a bikini model. But if you've ever tried, you know that isn't how things work in the real world. Not only does it make you feel miserable, but it destroys your metabolism and gets your weight loss to come to a screeching halt.
Once you cut out the junk, you need to start eating more fat-burning foods that are packed with the vital nutrients your metabolism needs to keep moving along at full speed. Here are five of the best foods for accomplishing that:
Eggs are a great way to start off the day. They're packed with complete protein, vitamins and minerals. One of the amino acids found in eggs (leucine) has been shown to support weight loss. It helps maintain lean muscle, while allowing fat to be burned. I love to add my eggs to some mushrooms and peppers to make an omelet loaded with protein and important fibrous carbohydrates.
Oatmeal is the breakfast of choice for many fitness enthusiasts. It combines protein with complex carbohydrates to kick-start your day with a boost of long-lasting energy. Oatmeal is also rich in fiber, which helps to control your appetite.
Grapefruit is big in taste, but incredibly low in calories, making it an ideal snack for anyone trying to lose weight. It's packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants like lycopene. It also works wonder in improving your body's response to insulin. Studies have shown that eating half a grapefruit before your meals is associated with significant weight loss.
Chicken is a great-tasting source of lean, high-quality protein. Chicken is a staple food of anyone trying to lose weight and look great. It gives you many options to make delicious meals. It can be grilled, baked, or even shredded to make a nice healthy wrap (or to top off a salad). Which way you prefer to eat it is up to you.
Either way, the protein found in chicken will help to burn fat and build some lean, shapely muscle from your workouts.
Berries (blueberries, blackberries, acai, etc): These super-fruits are an ideal addition to any weight loss plan. They are rich in fiber, which helps to control your appetite. They're also incredibly packed with antioxidants, which keep your immune system healthy, so your body can function at optimal capacity. You can throw some berries into a blender (with a scoop of protein powder) to make a delicious breakfast smoothie when you're pressed for time.
These fat-burning foods provide the building blocks of a bikini body. They're high in protein, loaded with nutrients and fiber, and don't contain any empty calories that are stored around your belly, butt and thighs.
Image via Thinkstock
