Flat abs are really made in the supermarket! Supermarkets sell over 50,000 items, yet studies show that if you have more than 100 items in your refrigerator and cabinets combined, you’re guaranteed to have weight problems!
We all know that we should shop the perimeter of the store, but many of us are still sidetracked into the snack aisles to get our fix! It’s no wonder why we struggle to lose weight, but it’s really as simple as buying only the foods that promote weight loss. Remember, you can’t eat it if you don’t buy it! Focus on the foods that are good for weight loss and shop only in those aisles.
Learn what aisles to shop in and what aisles to avoid if you’re trying to lose stubborn body fat.
Shop: Near-Zero Calorie Produce
Choose produce that creates a near-zero calorie flow. That means choosing foods that are so low in calories that you’ll be burning them while you eat them: shredded cabbage, celery, spinach, romaine and all lettuces. Any vegetable that’s leafy and green is good for weight loss. Not buying enough vegetables is the number-one mistake people make when shopping. Vegetables help keep us feeling full and it’s the answer to living lean, so buy at least a week’s worth of vegetables and fruits so you’re never without.
Keep in mind that you are supposed be eating at least 7 servings a day, and that’s 42 servings a week. Stock up and never underestimate the power of frozen veggies! They stay fresh and are always available when you need them.
Buy More: Romaine lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, celery, radishes, mushrooms, cauliflower and broccoli, frozen spinach, and green beans
Buy Less: Carrots, tomatoes, corn and peas
Shop: Metabolism-Boosting Proteins
Lean proteins are the key to boosting your metabolism! My rule is the lighter and whiter the protein, the better your weight loss will be because it’s very low in fat and calories. The top three proteins for weight loss are Whey protein (high quality only), white fish, and egg whites.
Check out fresh fish when it’s on sale and try flash frozen because it’s fresher; you can stock your freezer so you’re never without a clean-lean protein. Buy three times as much fish to poultry and you’ll lose weight faster! Poultry and other meat are higher in fat and calories and harder to digest, slowing weight loss.
Buy More: Complete whey protein, sole, scrod, cod, tilapia, barramundi and egg whites
Buy Less: Chicken, turkey breast, and stay away from red meat if you’re serious about losing weight – and that includes pork! It’s not the other white meat!
Avoid: Grains, Pasta, Bread and Cereals
Run – don’t walk – past these aisles! If you’re trying to lose stubborn body fat, it doesn’t matter how healthy the grain is. If you’re storing excess fat around your stomach, you don’t need more carbs! However, we all live in the real world and need snacks. If you need to crunch, go for popcorn!
Consider these foods dessert and you’ll send fat packing!
Buy More: Air-popped popcorn and Japanese Ak-mak crackers
Buy Less: Cereals, pasta, bread, crackers, rice, potatoes, and, yes, even quinoa and couscous are fat-storing carbs!
Avoid: Sugary Beverages
We are drinking ourselves fat! No one ever thinks about these types of empty calories and the dangerous substance is called sugar. We are now taking in 66 pounds of added sugar a year. Most of these excess sugar/empty calories come from not-so-obvious places, like our coffee from adding creamers and sugar. Agave and fat-free creamers count! A few other unsuspecting fat-belly culprits are fruit juice, even if it’s 100% fruit juice and vitamin-packed waters, coconut water and energy drinks! No matter how harmless they may seem, they are at the heart of our growing national obesity problem. If it’s not calorie-free water, it’s liquid calories!
Buy More: Zero-calorie, zero-sugar water, calorie-free green tea and coffee
Buy Less: Coffee creamers, juice, energy drinks, sports drinks, almond milk, and soy milk
By None: Alcohol because it stops fat loss dead in its tracks every time!
Avoid: The Health Halo Aisle
Believe it or not, this aisle is responsible for more weight gain than the candy aisle. Most protein shakes and bars contain more sugar and fat than a bag of candy! The tricky part is that we think they are healthy because they came from the health food aisle. If you’re trying to lose weight and stubborn body fat, you should run past this aisle. There wasn’t one item in this aisle that could be used for health or weight loss because they are all loaded with calories. If it seems too good to be true it is! For example, you can’t buy a protein shake mix for $15.00 and expect that it is a high-quality supplement. It’s the quality that counts, so in the end, you wind up spending more, and you’ll most likely end up putting on more weight.