It's Time For A Refrigerator Makeover

According to government data, 64 percent of people are overweight or obese, which is defined as being 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight. If you're one of those people, and you're trying to lose weight, the first place you think of heading is to the gym, right? Wrong. Your weight loss journey begins with what you keep in your house. Let's bring it right on home — it's what you keep in your refrigerator. It's time for a refrigerator makeover!

Taking control of your weight starts with taking control over what you eat, and that begins with what you keep in your refrigerator. Studies prove that people eat what is in their immediate environment so it's critical that we fill our refrigerators with the kinds of food that support weight loss goals. Avoid temptation by not keeping the wrong types of food in your house.

In fact, you can actually set yourself up for success by strategically arranging your refrigerator so the foods you should be eating are staring you in the face every time you open the door. Weight loss is 90 percent diet so what you eat matters more than how much you work out. That's why it's so important to arrange your refrigerator this particular way. It's all about having healthy replacements for the foods we love.

First, focus on foods that promote weight loss that you can eat more of. There are specific foods you can eat, called thermogenic, meaning they heat up your metabolism. You'll burn more calories all day long. Thermogenic foods also:

• Re-calibrate your appetite
• Switch off hunger cravings
• Lower blood sugar levels while boosting health

LEVEL ONE: Eye Level — It's all about hydration

Remove the diet disasters: Juice (this includes all vegetable juices) and those so-called healthy milks (soy, coconut, all creamers).
Replace with metabolic boosters instead: Water (try bubbly zero-calorie waters), Iced Green Tea, and instead of milk use Melt Fat Milk (pre-made Vanilla Protein Shake that you can use in your coffee).

Hydrating your body can boost metabolism by three percent vs. drinking fluids that add calories. Using Melt Fat Milk can boost your metabolism by 25 percent instead of slowing it down the way coffee creamers can.

LEVEL TWO: Leafy and Low — The leafy green group

This is the food group that none of us eat enough of because it's easier just to grab the wrong foods that make us gain weight.

Remove the diet disasters: Avocado (high-fat), carrots (high-sugar), and tomatoes (technically a high-sugar fruit).
Replace with metabolic boosters instead: Leafy greens, spinach, romaine, and celery (the slimming superstar). Make sure you cut them up as soon as you get home from the store so you can grab-and-go when you feel the need to crunch.

Every time you eat a metabolic boosting vegetable it's like taking a diet pill. Greens have thermic super powers and rev up your metabolism every time you eat them.

LEVEL TWO (B): Low-Sugar Fruits — Not all fruits are created equal

Remove the diet disasters: Bananas and grapes
Replace with metabolic boosters instead: When it comes to choosing a good-for-you fruit, choose fruits that are full of fiber. The higher the fiber the better blood sugar level control. They will also keep you feeling fuller longer. Go for grapefruit (cleanses the liver which is great for weight loss), green apples (burns off hunger hormones), and Kiwi (full of fiber).

LEVEL THREE: Lean Proteins

Remover the diet disasters: Red meat (this includes pork)
Replace with metabolic boosters instead: When it comes to losing weight quickly and lowering cholesterol choose seafood (especially white fish). Seafood can super-charge your metabolism. Seafood contains iodine that helps enhance thyroid function and contains little to no fat. Keep in mind, the lighter and whiter the fish, the better it is for your metabolism. Choose flash-frozen or tuna in foil packets so you'll never run out.