I wrote my new book Eat Yourself Fit for everybody. It’s designed for those that want to lose body fat, build muscle tone, improve their energy levels, strengthen their immune system, enjoy better quality sleep and support their emotional wellbeing. Of course, not everybody wants to change their body at all, so I ensured that there are plenty of tips and recipes for those that want to just make small changes or healthier choices in their day.
However, if you are trying to lose some body fat, then these are my three top tips for encouraging your body to burn fat:
WATCH CALORIES AND PORTION SIZES (Even with healthy foods)
The healthy eating movement of the past few years has benefitted people in so many ways, though I think many people still struggle with weight loss, even when they’re eating ‘clean’. Healthy food can still contain plenty of calories, so you must be careful when replacing processed snacks with nuts and nut butters or adding avocado and dressing to salads, as their calories can quickly add up.
Do you find calorie counting tedious? Another useful way to lose weight is to use your hands for portion control. In a main meal, your serving of protein, such as beans, should be roughly the size of your palm; your serving of grains or carbs, such as sweet potato, should be the size of your fist; your portion of low-carb veggies and salad should be at least the size of your cupped hands together; and your serving of healthy fat or dressing should be about the size of your thumb.
GET ACTIVE
It’s very difficult to achieve sustainable, healthy body fat loss without exercise. Keeping active helps to burn excess calories and build up lean muscle mass to boost your resting metabolic rate. I find that a combination of weight training and cardio really works to build muscle while burning body fat, but it’s important to do what you enjoy and can fit into your lifestyle.
EAT SMALL MEALS REGULARLY
To encourage your metabolism to function optimally, try eating five or six smaller meals each day and aim to eat every three or four hours. This ensures that your blood sugar levels remain stable throughout the day and your body is fed a consistent stream of amino acids and other nutrients to support energy levels, muscle repair and a good mood.