Weight Loss Snacks

With research showing that over 95% of the US population snack between meals, it’s a good idea to know whether snacks can help or prevent weight loss. The truth is, snacking whilst on a diet has both pros and cons, and the amount of weight loss that is observed will depend on both the types of snacks eaten and the time of day in which they are eaten.

Pros of Snacks
As shown above, with so many people snacking as part of their daily regime, it can be incredibly hard to stop when following a weight loss regime. But maybe you don’t have to. Many nutritionists advise people to eat every three to four hours to ensure that their metabolism is maintained. Snacking prevents over-eating at meal times and it prevents the failure of weight loss regimes due to pangs of hunger.

Cons of Snacks
Most people don’t associate snacks for weight loss as being a good thing. This is mainly because when we thing about snack types we instantly think of things like crisps, chocolates, biscuits and other unhealthy foods. These types of foods are clearly never going to fit into a weight loss regime. When eating snacks most people do not allocate a percentage of their daily calorie allowance to them either which is why snacking and weight loss don’t seem to go together.

Research
A study undertaken in Seattle followed the eating plans of 123 overweight and obese women aged between 50 and 75 over a twelve month period. The researchers gave each woman a diet plan to follow and counselled them about the importance of nutrition however they did not mention anything about snack for weight loss or give any advice about whether they should snack or not.

The results were quite surprising and found that weight loss success was often down to the types of snacks consumed as well as the time that snacks were eaten. Research found that the women who did not eat a weight loss snack between breakfast and lunch, but did eat one between lunch and dinner had the highest weight loss at the end of the study. The research also found that women who did not eat a weight loss snack between lunch and dinner lost less weight than those who did.

Are Snacks Good for Weight Loss?
From the research above we can conclude to some extent that a weight loss snack eaten between lunch and dinner can be very beneficial to a weight loss programme. However, it is important to be mindful of the type of snacks eaten and not just consume empty carbs or high calorific foods. Foods that are recommended include low fat cheeses, nuts and non-starchy fruits. Drinks should be kept to water, low calorie squash, tea or coffee. Portion sizes also need to be taken into account as these can drastically alter the results of a weight loss regime. What is understood however is that it is a bad idea to not eat when you feel hungry. Weight loss snacks can help curb the hunger pangs until dinner time and they can also prevent over-eating.

Other examples of good weight loss snacks are pistachios and popcorn!

LeDiet Weight Loss Meal

The LeDiet weight loss programme is a French based diet that encourages people to lose weight naturally and at a pace that suits them. The weight loss programmes aim to help specific groups of people and each programme is specific to each group. Although not like a usual diet the LeDiet weight loss programmes have been proven to have fantastic results and even the most important medical website in the United States (www.webmd.com) has cited them as being the ideal solution for a balanced and healthy weight loss.

How Does the LeDiet Work?
The LeDiet is split into five different programmes which aim to help specific members of society individually. The five different programmes available are:
• A balanced slimming programme
• An express slimming programme
• An anti-cellulite programme
• A weight loss programme for people over 45
• An after-baby slimming programme

Most people will know which category they fall into or which programme they would rather embark on however the best way to know for sure is to fill in the online survey on the LeDiet website. This will then create a diet plan that is specific to you as an individual.

The Pros of the LeDiet Weight Loss Programme
The main pro of the LeDiet weight loss programme is that each diet plan is specifically designed to your profile and just by filling in your height, current weight, planned weight and a few extra details you can receive an individual weight loss plan. Many believe that the LeDiet and weight loss go together because of this alone. Most diets are not specific and many people believe that this is the reason why they are only successful for a small amount of the population. In addition no foods are restricted on the LeDiet weight loss programme enabling you to continue to eat the foods you love within reason.

The Cons of the LeDiet Weight Loss Programme
The main thing that people dislike about the LeDiet weight loss programme is the hefty questionnaire that needs to be filled in before you can start it. However for the weight loss programme to work successfully a profile of you in your current state needs to be built and you would have to go through a similar process if you were seeking help from a nutritionist or a professional trainer. In addition there is no exercise regime included with the programme and so you will need to create your own exercise plan to complement the diet.

Further LeDiet information can be found on the LeDiet website however all in all we think that this is a pretty solid plan. Most people who have embarked on the programme found that they lost around 7lbs a month until they reached their target weight. Once a target weight was reached most participants claimed that they found it simple to stay at that weight and they did not put the excess weight back on. Teamed up with an exercise plan it seems that the LeDiet and weight loss really do go hand in hand.

Healthy Dinner Fajitas

Contrary to what you may think, cooking a healthy dinner does not have to mean slaving over an oven for hours after a lengthy preparation period. There are actually lots of quick healthy dinner recipes and many can be made even if you have a busy lifestyle. There are numerous health benefits to eating a healthy dinner with controlling your weight one of the main ones. With all things healthy however, preparation is the key.

Healthy Dinner Preparation
The key to a quick healthy dinner is preparation. If you take the time to prepare healthy dinner, you will not be left searching for the take-away menus at the last minute just to get something on the table. To start off you should make a list of some healthy dinner recipes that you like the sound of. This way you can make a shopping list and purposely shop only for the ingredients that you need. Shopping without a shopping list can lead to unhealthy purchases which whilst okay from time to time should not be part of your regular meal programme.

Healthy Dinners can be Affordable!
Yes, we know that when you watch the cooking shows on TV, or see Gwyneth Paltrow talking about her latest recipe book that it can be hard to know exactly what is going on, but healthy eating doesn’t have to be like this. Healthy dinner recipes do not have to cost the earth, and if you buy locally your ingredients should be more than reasonable. You might also want to shop for seasonal produce as this is likely to cost a lot less than produce that is out of season and it has higher nutrients than food that is frozen and imported from abroad.
To make your meals stretch further, you may want to get into the habit of cooking for two to four people instead of just yourself and then freeze a few portions. This can help your ingredients to last longer, and it can provide you with a quick but healthy meal to eat after a busy day at work.

Healthy Dinner Recipes
Healthy dinner recipes can be found all over the place from culinary magazines to cookery books to the internet, and there are also some fantastically delicious after healthy dinner deserts that you can make. Thing summer fruit salads, and melon sundaes – both can be prepared so that they are completely healthy. Easy healthy dinner recipes can literally incorporate anything that you like eating. How about cook healthy dinner fajitas? Or salmon with new potatoes, or even a pork chop with seasonal veg. It may surprise you to know that even a family favourite such as a beef burger can be prepared in a way that is healthy. Quick and affordable meals don’t have to be unhealthy. If you take the time to prepare you can enjoy some truly delicious healthy dinner options that the whole family will enjoy!

Diet and Diabetes

Although the treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes differs, the diet for diabetes sufferers is pretty much the same. The key to managing diabetes is controlling what and how much you eat. Fortunately this doesn’t mean you have to cut out all of your favourite foods, but it does mean eating more healthily. A diabetic’s nutritional needs are pretty much the same as an average person’s and due to this the principles of healthy eating are the same.

Why is Healthy Eating for Diabetes so Important?
Obesity is linked to a number of conditions. Among them are type 2 diabetes, hypertension and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. For this reason it is important for people who are already suffering from diabetes to follow a diabetes diet. A good diet for diabetes helps to control the condition as well as helping to keep the blood pressure at a normal level and reducing the risk of heart disease.

People suffering from pre-diabetes (the stage before full blown type 2 diabetes) are also advised to follow a pre diabetic diet. In some cases a pre diabetes diet can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes altogether.

What You Need to Know about Diet and Diabetes
A diabetes diet is concerned with three main things:
• What you eat
• When you eat
• How much you eat

A good diet for diabetes will include a minimal amount of sugary drinks, refined carbs, alcohol and unhealthy fats and instead include healthy fats, fruits and vegetables. A diabetic will also be taught about the importance of regular meal times as these can help to keep your blood sugar level constant and avoid fluctuations. A good diet for diabetes will also include small portions – managing weight is a huge part of the condition and so it is important not to overeat.

Making Sure You Are Following a Good Diabetes Diet
If you are worried about your diabetes diet it is advisable to contact a dietician or be put in contact with one through your GP. A dietician can speak to you about diet and diabetes and help you to work out your calorie needs in relation to your lifestyle. They can also help you to plan meals that are not only healthy but are based around the foods that you enjoy. Once you begin to understand the principles of a good diet for diabetes, your diet plans should fall into place naturally within time.

Diabetes doesn’t have to mean a life sentence of fruit and vegetables. It does however mean changing your current lifestyle to one that is much more healthy to avoid further complications with your condition. Many people find that by following a good diabetes diet, they are not reliant on insulin in any form.

The Amazing Soup Diet Recipe

If you’ve enjoyed some of the soup recipes we’ve featured on Weight Loss Tips then you’ll be impressed by the amazing soup diet. The idea behind this diet is to eat a low calorie soup before you have your meal in order to reduce your calorie intake during the meal, and thus helping you lose weight. Diet soups should never be left out from your weight loss plan!

The amazing soup diet works because soups are low in calories, but high in water-based substances which make you feel a bit fuller than you actually are. This means you will feel satisfied after a smaller main meal, even though you’ve reduced your calorie intake. This principle doesn’t just have to be used on diet soups, it can be applied to any low calorie food; soup simply has the best effect.

Basic Diet Soup Recipe – Ingredients
The basic diet soup recipe contains the following ingredients:
1 pound of sliced carrots
3 medium onions
4 large celery stalks
2 large cloves of garlic
2 cans of whole tomatoes in juice
Half of a green cabbage
1 pound of sliced green beans
1 can of chicken broth
6 cups of water
3 medium zucchinis
2 bags of baby spinach leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Basic Diet Soup Recipe – Method
This might seem like a lot of food, but this diet soup recipe will be enough to last you for a whole week of the diet. You’ll need to prepare it in a large pan, but if you find you don’t have enough room you can do it in 2 separate pans.

First, cover the inside of your pan with non-stick cooking spray then, over a medium to high heat, cook your carrots, onions, celery and garlic until soft. This should take about 8 minutes.

Next add in the tomatoes (including the liquid) and break them up by pressing them with a spoon. Add in your cabbage, green beans, broth, water, and a little salt and black pepper. Increase the heat to get the mixture boiling and occasionally stir the soup.

When the soup is at boiling temperature, reduce the heat of your cooker and allow the soup to simmer for 10 minutes, again stirring occasionally.

Stir in your zucchini and spinach and then allow the soup to boil again. Leave it to boil for a minute. After this, reduce the temperature down to low again and allow the soup to simmer for a further 10 minutes, or until all the vegetables are at your desired consistency.

You should now have enough soup to last you for one week of the diet. After the week passes you can vary your diet with the Chinese weight loss soups. Bon Appetit!

Pistachio Weight Loss Snack

Nuts are a guilty pleasure a lot of us enjoy, but they are seen as highly calorific and therefore not good for weight loss. A recent discovery conducted on the number of calories in pistachios indicates they contain 5% less calories than previously thought and can make a good weight loss snack – a much, much better alternative to eating other types of nuts.

The benefits don’t stop there – pistachios, although small, are packed full of essential nutrients. Pistachio nutrition per calorie is a lot higher than the vast majority of other nuts per calorie. For example, 20 pistachios contain about 120 calories (making the number of pistachio calories per nut only 6 calories), 10.4 grams of fat (we’ll get to their fat content later – read on!), 5.6 grams of carbohydrates, 3.2 grams of protein, and 2.4 grams of fibre.

To get the right amount of nutrition we recommend eating a pistachio healthy snack, of around 20 pistachios, as much as once a day. This is because pistachios are such a good provider of nutrition compared to other snacks. However, you should remember to keep your diet varied, so try not to eat more than one portion per day.

The really clever bit about pistachios is that most of the fat in them doesn’t get absorbed into your system. This is because pistachios are plants and the fat is held in cells that are not organically decomposable. A lot of the cells in a pistachio snack therefore can’t be broken down by our systems, and the fat held in the cells is simply passed right through our systems. This means that the number of calories stated on the packet is significantly reduced when you consume the product – by around 5-6% – making a pistachio snack of 20 nuts contain a mere 113 calories.

With around 113 calories in 20 pistachios they contain the same number of calories, but much more nutrition, than a KitKat bar. Whilst pistachios aren’t chocolate, lots of people get the same satisfaction out of a portion of these nuts as they are fun to take out of their shells and have a refreshing, natural taste and interesting flavour to them.

To sum up if you like nuts, but don’t want to eat them because you are worried about weight gain, then pistachios make an excellent alternative. A portion size of 20 will give you the right nutrition you require when eaten every day.

Of course that the pistachio snack has to be included in a weight loss program for optimal results. Diet programs associated with constant physical exercising are a guarantee for natural weight loss!

Onion Soup for Weight Loss

Here at WeightLossTips.co.uk you may have noticed we really love soup. We bombard you with weight loss soup recipes because we genuinely believe that soup is a great food to help you lose weight. It fills you up, it’s nutritious and it’s low in calories. Everyone can find a flavour of soup they like too. This article concentrates on onion soup for weight loss so, naturally, we’ll tell you how to make our recommended onion soup!

Onion soup is one of the oldest and most traditional soups out there so there are plenty of recipes from English onion soup to French onion soup and Lipton onion soup. The best recipe for weight loss is a variation of French onion soup. French onion soup traditionally contains cheese, but this can be replaced with lentils to improve the weight loss properties.

Onion Soup Ingredients
250g Onions
1/3 TBSP Olive Oil
500ml Vegetable or Beef Stock
1 Bay Leaf
1.5 fl. oz Green Lentils
Parsley and Thyme to taste

Onion Soup Method
First, peel the onions then cut each one in half and thinly slice them. Also wash through the lentils and get rid of any impurities. Heat the oil in a fairly large pot and add in the onions. When the onions are in and the oil is hot, lower the heat so as not to burn the onions.

Now add in the stock, thyme and bay leaf. Let the ingredients boil by covering the pan with a lid. Add in the lentils and allow these to boil too.

Cook all these ingredients for about 40 minutes on a low heat with the lid covering them to soften it all up. Once all the vegetables are soft you are ready to serve the soup, just sprinkle with parsley to finish the dish off.

Enjoy this onion weight loss soup as often as you like. It’s usually recommended to change your soup every 3 or 4 days. Don’t worry there are plenty of other soups which fit in a weight loss diet: sorrel soup, lettuce soup, vegetable soup, tomato soup and many others!

Collecting Hair for Chemical Analysis

A cutting edge type of chemical analysis allows you to have your hair tested to find out what your metabolic type is. You can then follow your appropriate metabolic diet plan to increase the efficiency and chance of success of your weight loss programme. Using advanced medical technology can significantly improve your chances of winning the weight loss battle!

The best metabolic diet for you is the diet plan that will result in a constant and balanced rate of metabolisation of food within your body – this means a constant and balanced rate at which your body turns the food you have consumed into energy.

Your ideal metabolic diet is determined by how your autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that controls all your subconscious operations, such as heart rate) is tuned; whether this is more relaxed or aggressive.

Testing for your metabolic diet can be done with a blood sample, but a blood sample provides only an instantaneous result. Food that you have eaten recently, or an experience you have had on the way to the testing clinic, will affect the sample and may produce a false result. Instead, a better way is to use hair analysis to find a metabolic diet plan.

Because your hairs are part of you, their chemical build-up changes as they grow; the tip of your hair might contain significantly different chemicals to the end attached in your scalp for instance. You can take a single hair as a sample for a hair analysis, and the specialist can read many weeks of different chemical make-up in your hair much like how the rings of a tree dictate what a year was like. They can then determine your metabolic type.

Your metabolic type will come out as type 1, type 2, or a mix. Those people whose hair analysis states they are type 1 should follow a metabolic diet for weight loss built up of proteins, fats and oils including organ meats and beef. They should keep their carbohydrate consumption low.

For type 2 the focus is on increasing carbohydrate consumption; the reverse of the type 1 metabolic dieters. People of this metabolic type should aim to eat lots of carbohydrates. If you find out you’re a mix of types 1 and 2 then you simply eat an equal mix of carbohydrates and proteins.

As you can see, once you know your metabolic type, it is easy to follow a metabolic diet plan for weight loss – the routine is very simple to follow. Furthermore, the diet recognises that we are all individuals and therefore we get different effects from following different diet plans. You can still follow any other diet that’s out there once you know your metabolic type – it can just be used as a tool to help decide which diet is best for you. For example, the Atkins diet is suitable for metabolic diets based on the type 1 person, and the Zone diet is suitable for those that are a mixture of the two types.

Weight Loss Drink

You should have worked out by now that so-called ‘diet’ fizzy drinks aren’t actually proper weight loss drinks. Here we’re going to feature five drinks for weight loss that have claims that are backed up by scientific results. You might be surprised that the most common drink, on the planet, contains zero calories! So move on, read this article and find out which are the best weight loss drinks!

0. Fruit Juice
Contrary to popular belief, fruit juice isn’t that good to drink as a weight loss beverage. This is because it contains very high quantities of sugar, relative to the volume you’re drinking; if you want fruit juice you should eat the whole fruit not just its juice. Did you know it takes 20 oranges to make a glass of orange juice?

1. Vegetable Juice
However, vegetable juice is an excellent substitute for fruit juice as it contains, on average, about half the calories that fruit juice does for the same volume of liquid and will give you the same hydration and satisfaction. If you’re trying to get more protein in your diet you can easily drop a bit of soy or whey protein in the drink too.

2. Smoothies
Smoothies are a well-known drink for weight loss but what is less known is that you should try your best to stick to homemade smoothies. This is because you can control exactly what is in the smoothie – all you should put in is fresh fruit, water, and a protein source and blend it all together.

3. Black Coffee
Fortunately, black coffee also features in our weight loss drinks list so you don’t need to give up your caffeine! Black coffee is virtually free of calories and has a very high quantity of antioxidants in it. A moderate intake (around 2 cups of black coffee per day) can even improve your mood and concentration; it has benefits all round!

4. Green Tea
Green tea is another weight loss beverage, and is in some ways similar to the black coffee mentioned previously. How it differs however is that is contains much less caffeine than coffee, and has even more antioxidants, further helping your mood and concentration. It also has the added benefit of aiding your metabolism. Unlike coffee, the constituents of green tea have a much shorter life span (meaning they digest in your body much quicker) and so you will need to consume green tea in greater quantities than black coffee; 3-4 cups a day is more than enough.

5. Water
And finally, the absolute best weight loss drink on our list is water. Because water is just, well, water it contains no calories – unlike soft drinks. It has also been shown that it can increase the metabolism in some people which helps speed up digestion and aids weight loss. But how much water should you drink? First, find your weight in pounds, and then halve that number. You should drink that number of ounces in water every single day if you are sedentary. If you are active you’ll need many more.

Diet Tips

There are so many dieting tips available on the market today that it is hard to choose which one to follow. You should also bear in mind that certain diet tips for weight loss may even be dangerous, particularly when they encourage cutting certain essential food groups from your diet. Next, we look at some common mistakes people make during dieting and share with you some easy tips, that help you accomplish a healthy and successful weight loss venture.

Crash Dieting
Crash dieting means you follow a diet that allows you to lose a lot of weight very rapidly. However, this is generally achieved by not allowing you to eat certain food groups and the weight loss is usually only fluids. Often with crash dieting, you will put the weight that you lost back on very quickly, sometimes even more than the amount you lost.
Free diet tip: when trying to lose weight, try to pace yourself. Your body enjoys changing slowly and this will make your weight loss more sustainable.

Skipping Meals
Many dieters will attempt skipping meals in the belief that this will lower their overall calorie intake. However, skipping meals will disrupt your metabolism, potentially making your body store more fats in the belief that you are in a situation of starvation.
Free diet tip: plan your meals in advance and ensure you have at least three meals a day.

Weighing Yourself Too Often
Many people become obsessed with the scales. However, stepping on the scales every day or even several times a day will allow you to only see very small changes and can be very frustrating.
Free diet tip: weigh yourself once a week at the same time and write down your results.

Fat-free does not mean Food is Low Calorie
Many people will opt for fat-free meals when trying to lose weight quickly. Although this is generally a good idea, it is important to remember that many fat-free products have a lot of sugars in them, which increases your calorie intake.
Free diet tip: Check your nutritional labels – ensure you know the fat, sugar and calorie content of what you eat.

Cutting Out Fat Altogether
Unfortunately, fat has received some bad publicity and those who are trying to lose weight will often cut fat out of their diet altogether. However, fat is what gives your body the energy to adequately transport vitamins across your body.
Free diet tip: Ensure you eat unsaturated fats in moderation. Healthy oils will be a good source of unsaturated fat.

Cutting Out Dairy
Dairy is generally a fatty substance and many dieters choose to cut dairy products out of their diet completely. However, dairy products include calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and it has also been determined that calcium assists the body in burning fat.
Free diet tip: Ensure you have a sufficient intake of calcium through low-fat dairy products.

No Snacking
Snacking is seen by many dieters as the source of many evils. However, having a regular snack during the day will keep hunger at bay, meaning you will be less likely to force your body into starvation mode or to pile the food on your plate when it comes to diner time.
Free diet tip: Allow yourself regular snacks during the day. Choose healthy options such as nuts or fruits.

Quick weight loss, in conclusion, is not achievable if you are looking to maintain your weight, nor is it healthy for your body. In order to lose weight in a stable way that will last, follow the diet tips provided in this article and don’t forget to exercise!