PEERtrainer Weight Loss, Fitness and Health Community
Invite your friends pair jogging
PEERtrainer Weight Loss, Fitness and Health Community
Join PEERtrainer
Spotlight
PEERtrainer Articles

Natural Weight Loss

The Foods That Help You Lose Weight

(And Why Natural Weight Loss Supplements Usually Don't Work)

April 9th, 2012



Written By MS, CNS, MMC, Edited By
PEERtrainer


Ever purchased natural weight loss foods or supplements because some celebrity TV doctor or Women's Weekly declared them the new it thing to help you melt away fat?

Hands up if in the end you just felt disappointed, slightly betrayed, and embarrassed that you fell for another empty promise.

A recent study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism showed that most natural weight loss supplements do a lousy job helping people burn fat. Likewise, you've probably tried natural weight loss foods that failed to deliver the results some expert promised.

Stop falling for hype and hoopla. Take control right now by incorporating these five science-based, time-tested strategies that guarantee you'll burn fat and boost metabolism.

1. Eat breakfast. Want to start your day storing fat and feeling lousy? You have two options: skip breakfast or eat carbs. Either way, you set yourself up for disaster about 10:30 when the siren call of a bagel cart or snack machine beckons to your cubicle, perpetuating the blood sugar roller coaster that's guaranteed to crash.

Don't let that happen. Start your day with fat-burning protein. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that more protein at breakfast helps you eat fewer calories and burn significantly more fat than if you eat cereal or a bagel.

Organic eggs make a great way to start your day, whether you have an omelet or hard-boil them for a grab-and-go breakfast. A study in the International Journal of Obesity showed egg eaters experienced 65 percent more weight loss compared with those who started their day with Special K and skim milk or some similar high-carb catastrophe.

Of course, one cannot lose weight without a massive intake of vegetables. Think outside the box here, and find a way to eat two dinner servings of vegetables for breakfast. Greens in particular contain high levels of protein on a per calorie basis. We tend to think of vegetables as having no protein- but broccoli for example contains roughly one gram of protein per one ounce serving. (Although this is not considered a "complete" protein with a full array of amino acids.

Foods That Help You Lose Weight

One cup of peas contains roughly 8 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber. So you get a real "twofer" there. In 7 years we (PEERtrainer) have seen hundreds of thousands of people losing weight, no one has success with protein only strategy.

Salad is still the main course and green vegetables must be your main focus as you think about your meals. If you choose organic eggs, add some spinach and mushrooms. A shake disguises the taste of kale completely. Green vegetables are proven to help you feel full and improve your health.

If time isn't on your side and making breakfast seems a herculean chore, have a protein smoothie. Load two scoops of MediClear SGS with berries, coconut milk, and Medibulk. Bam. You're out the door in less than five minutes.

If you don't have a dairy sensitivity, you can also do whey protein. A study in Nutrition & Metabolism showed people who drank whey-based smoothies lost more fat and preserved more muscle compared to the placebo group.

Whether you opt for whey or rice/ pea, a protein smoothie gives you a superfast, filling no-fuss breakfast.

2. Eat more protein, especially if you eat a high carb diet. What natural weight loss foods help you sustain energy and burn fat all day? No contest: high-protein foods. A study in the Nutrition Journal concluded a higher-protein diet burned more fat and lowered blood pressure better than a high-carbohydrate, high-fiber diet for overweight and obese women.

Protein also keeps you full better than carbs. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Link, for instance, showed people felt fuller and burned more fat on a higher-protein diet. In fact, they consumed 441 fewer daily calories eating protein-rich foods.

That's because unlike carbs, protein triggers a hormone called cholecystokinin, or CCK, that signals your brain to put down your fork. CCK explains why you can eat a dozen chocolate chip cookies, but there's no way you're going to eat a dozen hard-boiled eggs, even though they have roughly the same calories.

3. Eat the right fats. Despite countless studies concluding otherwise, fat still gets a bad rep. Don't think so? Next time you're at the grocery store, count the shelves lined with fat-free yogurt, cookies, and other sugar-loaded processed fake food.

When you eat high-quality animal protein, you get a two-for-one deal for natural weight loss: optimal protein plus healthy fats.

Wild-caught fish like salmon, for instance, provide fat-burning omega-3 fatty acids. If fish isn't your thing or you don't eat it enough, a high-potency fish oil can give you therapeutic amounts of these essential fatty acids.

A study in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition, for instance, concluded that using fish oil (1,600 mg EPA and 800 mg DHA) for six weeks significantly increased muscle mass and decreased fat mass. Fish oil also reduces your stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels practically guarantee you'll store fat.

Grass-fed beef provides another protein-good fat combo. Compared to grain-fed meet, grass-fed is lower in saturated fat and higher in conjugated linolenic acid (CLA). Studies show CLA can help burn fat and even inhibit cancer-cell replication. (Grass-fed beef is more expensive, so a good tip is to cut what you would normally eat in half. This will help justify the added cost- and remember that you want to keep your animal protein relatively low in relation to vegetables- especially the GOMBBS.)

A meta-analysis in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that CLA reduces body fat in therapeutic doses. You'll need to supplement to get those amounts, though grass-fed beef and full-fat dairy also provide good amounts of this fat-burning fatty acid.

You can even get beneficial fats with your vegetables. Coconut oil provides medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a fatty acid your body burns for energy rather than stores.

A 16-week study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, with 49 overweight people, for instance, found that 18 – 24 grams of MCTs burned more fat than the same amount of olive oil.

Along with those fat burning MCTs, when you cook with coconut oil you'll better absorb the vegetables' fat-soluble nutrients like beta-carotene.

4. Snacks To Help You Lose Weight

You're juggling incessant emails and a dreaded meeting in 30 minutes when you suddenly realize you didn't eat enough lunch. You feel your energy crash and you just want to lay your head on your desk to nap.

Your Weight Watchers-loving coworkers happily munch on those 100-Calorie packs, but you know these snack traps just spike and crash your blood sugar, leaving you hungry and craving more.

Instead, when you need a 3 p.m. pick-me-up, you grab fat-burning almonds. A study in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, concluded almonds helped people sustain greater fat loss than people who watched their calories and ate a higher complex-carb diet.

Talk about perfect combos: almonds and other nuts and seeds come loaded with protein, good fat, and fiber. Unlike those sugar- and gluten-loaded snack packs, nuts and seeds keep you full, focused, and burning fat for hours.

Nuts also help you keep that weight off permanently. A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for instance, concluded nuts could help control your weight and prevent weight gain.

Nut butters also make a smart snacking option. Smear some almond butter on organic apple slices and you've got a delicious fat-burning snack that's loaded with protein, good fats, fiber, and antioxidants.

5. Why Fiber Helps You Lose Weight

If you are a member of the PEERtrainer community, there is a 90% probability that you are getting enough fiber. A study in the journal Nutrition, concluded that most Americans get half the recommended amount of 25 to 38 grams.

Fiber relieves constipation, but it also slows stomach emptying, balances your blood sugar levels, and reduces your hunger hormone ghrelin. In short, fiber proves a natural weight loss food (or supplement) that works.

A study in the journal Nutrition Reviews, showed that 14 grams of dietary fiber helped people lose four pounds over as many months. That's pretty impressive considering these people made no other dietary modifications.

Manufacturers have cashed in on fiber's popularity with fiber-infused muffins, snack bars, cereals, and other processed foods that are often loaded with sugar, gluten, artificial flavors, and preservatives. These ingredients vastly outweigh fiber's benefits.

Skip these foods for nature-packaged high-fiber foods. Top choices include avocado, raspberries, artichokes, lentils, green vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

If meeting your fiber quota from food alone proves impossible, you can throw Medibulk into your protein smoothie. Each scoop provides a therapeutic eight grams of fiber from psyllium husk, prune, and apple pectin.

Also worth noting: remember the study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, that showed most natural weight loss supplements don't work? One of the very few exceptions was fiber.

Next: Why Belly Fat Burns Differently Than Other Fat!

[Editorial Note: For maximum weight loss results and overall better health, cleanses are often used. This aids the body with detoxification and balance, but also helps with weight loss reduction. But there are some things to be aware of before you cleanse. Nutrition, health and weight reduction expert, JJ Virgin PhD, has spent the last 15 years educating doctors and patients on how to cleanse properly.

She recently held an extremely popular webinar for the PEERtrainer community, sharing the "real deal" on cleansing to overcome weight loss resistance and more. To have this webinar sent to you, plus a free report containing JJ's top tips for cleansing, detoxifying, and dieting as well as the free PEERtrainer Cheat System, illustrating which foods to avoid when cleansing, enter your email address below:]

Share This With A Friend



Would You Like To Be Alerted The Next Time PEERtrainer Publishes A Health Article?

Just Enter Your Email Below And You'll Get On Our List!









Related PEERtrainer Articles, Blog Posts and Community Discussions

Topic: Replies: Last Post:
Why There Is No Such Thing As Healthy Sugar
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Gluten Free Diet- Good For Inflammation? 3 Tue. Aug 31, 2:30pm
Is Swimming Good For Fat Burning? 8 Mon. Aug 30, 10:10pm
Counting Negative Calories 5 Mon. Aug 30, 5:15pm
How To Quicklly Reduce Your Cholesterol Levels 237 Mon. Aug 30, 3:17pm
Waking Up MOTIVATED 12 Mon. Aug 30, 2:28pm
Women Food God - book - that book on the Oprah show 2 Mon. Aug 30, 12:50pm
Lose weight on your thighs 2 Mon. Aug 30, 11:44am
How to get over being mad at someone and let it go 6 Mon. Aug 30, 9:34am
Peer trainer should have an iPhone App! 13 Sun. Aug 29, 10:35pm
Treadmill owners: do you use them? 11 Sun. Aug 29, 9:03pm
Weekend workout tips 6 Sun. Aug 29, 5:51pm
muscular component? 0 Sun. Aug 29, 4:19pm
Is it possible to increase my husbands sex drive? 19 Sun. Aug 29, 3:28pm
Embarassing sweating 10 Sun. Aug 29, 2:01pm
I don't have time to cook evey day. What can I do? Or Buy? 24 Sun. Aug 29, 1:58am
How to keep to a diet while on your period 4 Sat. Aug 28, 6:07pm
How to Balance Schoool and Excercise 4 Sat. Aug 28, 4:51pm
50/50 group 3 Sat. Aug 28, 4:49pm
Losing Weight = Losing Friends? 2 Sat. Aug 28, 3:58pm
Do you think a little 10 minute run on the treadmill will help? 7 Sat. Aug 28, 12:11pm
Is shellfish really that bad for you? 27 Sat. Aug 28, 10:48am
bye bye breast new. please reply 7 Sat. Aug 28, 12:30am
How do you handle disappointment? 2 Fri. Aug 27, 10:45pm
RMR TEST RESULTS ????? 11 Fri. Aug 27, 10:22pm
GUMMY BEARS! FAST FOOD! GROSS!!!! 4 Fri. Aug 27, 8:29pm
Weight/Height/Size 503 Fri. Aug 27, 1:39pm
Throwing up during morning workouts! Help! 5 Fri. Aug 27, 10:10am
10 minute mile 38 Fri. Aug 27, 7:35am
Lets support eachother 0 Fri. Aug 27, 2:53am
Looking for a couple of good group members 0 Thu. Aug 26, 12:35pm
ipod + nike Pedometer pouch 6 Thu. Aug 26, 8:03am
RMR drastic change 1 Wed. Aug 25, 11:09pm
Hair line!! 2 Wed. Aug 25, 7:27pm
Any first time Marathoners out there? 5 Wed. Aug 25, 3:47pm
New group for active participants 1 Wed. Aug 25, 1:31pm
Weight-loss Challenge--All Losers' Challenge 1 Wed. Aug 25, 10:26am
Diastasis Recti 347 Tue. Aug 24, 3:55pm
Let's support each other! 1 Tue. Aug 24, 8:37am
do you "apologize" for healthy food choices when you are with others? 10 Mon. Aug 23, 9:12pm
Ladies: I need help with my wife's birthday 35 Mon. Aug 23, 5:04pm
Birth Control Weight Gain 210 Mon. Aug 23, 1:59pm
OT: Permanent Hair Removal 13 Mon. Aug 23, 12:41pm
Clothes that are too big 3 Mon. Aug 23, 11:47am
finding old groups 2 Mon. Aug 23, 3:15am
i need a peprally. 7 Sun. Aug 22, 11:34pm
whats ur favourite vegetable or fruit? 13 Sun. Aug 22, 10:18pm
Fitflop, was on Good Morning America 14 Sun. Aug 22, 3:43pm
Echinacea causing an allergic reaction 2 Sun. Aug 22, 1:39pm
Come 3 Sat. Aug 21, 11:11pm
OT - Any tall women out there? Where do you get shirts/pants that are long enough? 2 Sat. Aug 21, 9:13pm
Join and Lose Weight Together 0 Sat. Aug 21, 8:05pm
Menstrual cramps while running RESEARCH 22 Sat. Aug 21, 8:03pm
Are Women Attracted to Fat Men? 54 Sat. Aug 21, 7:49pm
Fantasy Football? Help please!?!! 2 Sat. Aug 21, 3:21pm
How to tell spouse/significant other he/she has bad breath? 19 Sat. Aug 21, 11:50am
colonic 23 Sat. Aug 21, 7:14am
Low-Cal Pizza Recommendations? 30 Fri. Aug 20, 10:41pm
Bald men 56 Fri. Aug 20, 8:34pm
How to keep on track when boyfriend is constant snacker? 4 Fri. Aug 20, 8:32pm
not sure what to do 3 Fri. Aug 20, 4:27pm
What Is p90x? 21 Fri. Aug 20, 8:43am
Binge eating triggers... 29 Fri. Aug 20, 12:27am
Yogurt - Good? Bad? Recommendations? 51 Thu. Aug 19, 11:54pm
Short or Long Hair on Girls 70 Thu. Aug 19, 11:48pm
OT: Unhappy Husband 8 Thu. Aug 19, 11:05pm
what good habits have you developed recently? how did you do it? 45 Thu. Aug 19, 10:50pm
Feel Better/Feel Healthy Group 1 Thu. Aug 19, 10:44pm
What's for supper? 2 Thu. Aug 19, 9:47pm
What is your "real age"? 1 Thu. Aug 19, 9:34pm
Charting your weight online 6 Thu. Aug 19, 7:03pm
Stuck with fat loss 10 Thu. Aug 19, 1:22pm
What does it really take to begin a transformation? 10 Thu. Aug 19, 12:48pm
Addicted to Fast Food?!! 2 Thu. Aug 19, 9:25am
advice on friendship 28 Thu. Aug 19, 9:05am
not eating enough calories 9 Wed. Aug 18, 11:35pm
OT - How to Rebuff Someone Without Repercussions 8 Wed. Aug 18, 6:50pm
Best/Worst Snacks for Evening or Late Night??? 8 Wed. Aug 18, 3:16pm
Want to see what others are eating every day? 0 Tue. Aug 17, 8:45pm
Weight/Height/Measurements II 9 Tue. Aug 17, 7:46pm
rewards 12 Tue. Aug 17, 7:42pm
P90X Beginners Club 0 Tue. Aug 17, 2:14pm
Dropping member from group? 2 Tue. Aug 17, 10:38am
support systems! 0 Tue. Aug 17, 1:41am
For daily updaters only! 0 Tue. Aug 17, 1:13am
new weight loss plan? 1 Mon. Aug 16, 8:19pm
Movers & Shakers 0 Mon. Aug 16, 1:29pm
Scared to lose weight? 21 Sun. Aug 15, 11:19am
Children and Obsesity 16 Sun. Aug 15, 10:03am
Poll: how much weight did you gain at the end of your pregnancy? 83 Sun. Aug 15, 4:40am
Need advice on helping my kids. 2 Sat. Aug 14, 5:16pm
Overcoming the challenge of feeding a family where everyone eats different things 2 Fri. Aug 13, 12:09pm
Question for serious swimmers 3 Thu. Aug 12, 6:25pm
Are there any active Groups out there? 4 Thu. Aug 12, 12:15pm
is watermelon good for you? 18 Thu. Aug 12, 6:34am
picking up women at the gym 42 Thu. Aug 12, 2:00am
Waterproof MP3 Player 3 Thu. Aug 12, 12:14am
Bra Size 7 Wed. Aug 11, 10:15pm
P90X?? 1 Wed. Aug 11, 8:27pm
Anyone else constantly hungry? 23 Wed. Aug 11, 9:33am
how to keep the hourglass while still toning up? 3 Tue. Aug 10, 1:59pm
will plastic surgery make you happy?? 15 Tue. Aug 10, 7:56am
Green Tea- believe the hype? 13 Tue. Aug 10, 7:48am
Has anybody tried Montel Williams' new Health Master? 1 Mon. Aug 9, 4:06pm
WILLIAMSBURG VA Weight Loss And Fitness Support 0 Mon. Aug 9, 2:51pm
Should I Be Eating More?? 10 Mon. Aug 9, 12:52pm
Weight Loss- What More Do I Need to Do? 2 Mon. Aug 9, 12:49pm
Please help, I'm having trouble losing weight despite really trying 12 Sat. Aug 7, 10:52pm
HCG Diet 0 Sat. Aug 7, 5:50pm
HCG Diet 0 Sat. Aug 7, 5:50pm
Never hungry? 12 Sat. Aug 7, 1:38pm
Does anybody know a way to have a greater weight loss on Weight watchers? 0 Fri. Aug 6, 3:16pm
Hand-me-down gift 10 Fri. Aug 6, 2:34pm
Starting a Gym Business 3 Fri. Aug 6, 2:39am
Acie Berry Ad is annoying PT 3 Thu. Aug 5, 5:25pm
Certified wellness coach/trainer 0 Wed. Aug 4, 10:15pm
Birth control and loss of sex drive 17 Wed. Aug 4, 4:08pm
help me get started PLEASE 4 Wed. Aug 4, 3:27pm
Are you using the new Beach Body program Body Gospel? 0 Thu. Jul 22, 7:35am
Are you using the new Beach Body program Body Gospel? 0 Thu. Jul 22, 7:35am
What have you lost? Fun for a giggle. 17 Wed. Jul 21, 11:51pm
Opinions on JuicePlus Supplements? 0 Wed. Jul 21, 9:29pm
Running songs 68 Wed. Jul 21, 12:10pm
JOIN! 0 Tue. Jul 20, 5:23pm
Help me lose 10lbs? 1 Tue. Jul 20, 12:48pm
How to get your child to eat anything but bagels and pizza 7 Tue. Jul 20, 12:39pm
help with weight loss? 0 Mon. Jul 19, 11:47pm
Traveling overseas and dieting/eating well -- Please help 7 Mon. Jul 19, 6:52pm
How many WW points in sugar free jello? 9 Mon. Jul 19, 5:48pm
Cravings. 3 Mon. Jul 19, 4:31pm
Solutions to stomach cellulite? 3 Sun. Jul 18, 7:41pm
Wii Fit 1 Sat. Jul 17, 9:03am
The difference between wanting something and expecting something... 31 Fri. Jul 16, 11:13am
exercise: every day or 2x as long every other day? 4 Thu. Jul 15, 5:29pm
at what point does "starvation mode" kick in? 1 Thu. Jul 15, 5:21pm
Night time eating 4 Wed. Jul 14, 10:31pm
Are women grossed out by cross dressers? 206 Wed. Jul 14, 12:37am
ketonuria 0 Tue. Jul 13, 9:37pm
Get moving to get yourself out of pain 8 Tue. Jul 13, 4:11pm
Achieving a Healthy Life ;D 0 Tue. Jul 13, 1:36pm
Group openings 0 Tue. Jul 13, 5:43am
Suffering from Extreme Fatigue 13 Tue. Jul 13, 1:02am
PA system 0 Mon. Jul 12, 5:44pm
OT- Wisdom Teeth Removal 28 Mon. Jul 12, 4:10pm
I need help choosing the right multi-vitamin. Help, please? 1 Mon. Jul 12, 3:23pm
REBOOT!!! 1 Mon. Jul 12, 3:22pm
Do you talk during a massage? 22 Mon. Jul 12, 12:31pm
What Foods You Should Buy Organic 1 Mon. Jul 12, 12:29pm
Training and fundraising to save lives! 2 Mon. Jul 12, 9:42am
Join Arizona Sizzlers 0 Mon. Jul 12, 4:46am
is my weight right? Can't go any lower no matter what! 2 Sun. Jul 11, 11:28pm
Come talk about your BeachBody Program 5 Sun. Jul 11, 10:56pm
killer workouts 6 Sun. Jul 11, 10:53pm
Any other pole dancers or acrobats out there? 2 Sun. Jul 11, 10:49pm
How much did you gain while pregnant with your first baby? 78 Sun. Jul 11, 10:14pm
Anyone on the Eat Right for Your Type plan? 20 Sun. Jul 11, 4:26pm
Should I log sex as workout/exercise? 158 Sun. Jul 11, 2:22pm
How much protein should I consume each day? 18 Sun. Jul 11, 11:21am
Questions about Wii Fit 2 Sun. Jul 11, 9:02am
Cocktails while on a diet? 25 Sun. Jul 11, 12:23am
Was I eating too little? Where do I go from here? 8 Sat. Jul 10, 11:49pm
New Group--Foodie Fatties 0 Sat. Jul 10, 10:39am
Calling all members of the public safety community 0 Sat. Jul 10, 10:26am
Unwanted emails ...... 2 Sat. Jul 10, 6:42am
Support 0 Fri. Jul 9, 3:14pm
I ate 4 Entimens donuts yesterday 4 Fri. Jul 9, 2:38pm
Dealing with weight loss and hypothyroidism 31 Fri. Jul 9, 12:26pm
Looking for a 4th member 0 Fri. Jul 9, 10:55am
anyone had Lap Band surgery? 10 Fri. Jul 9, 9:07am
Breaking the Wine Habit 5 Fri. Jul 9, 7:54am
Have Health Issues or Disabilities? Want to Eat Healthy & Live Better? 1 Thu. Jul 8, 11:11am
TOO MUCH EXERCISE??? 6 Thu. Jul 8, 7:55am
Good book suggestion? 74 Wed. Jul 7, 7:51pm
What are your "golden rules" for weight loss? 25 Wed. Jul 7, 4:47pm
Looking for accountability partners for motivation!!!! 2 Wed. Jul 7, 11:59am
Looking for members 0 Tue. Jul 6, 10:55pm
Losing wieght fast 1 Tue. Jul 6, 7:32pm
spinning classes 23 Tue. Jul 6, 6:05pm
Success and failure 0 Tue. Jul 6, 5:25pm
momswithmorethanone 0 Mon. Jul 5, 7:04pm
What waist size is a "size 4"? 46 Mon. Jul 5, 10:56am
I need a good book.. Have an a Suggestion? 54 Mon. Jul 5, 10:52am
REAL Diabetic Recipes 7 Sun. Jul 4, 3:29pm
I am happy to be an American!!! 0 Sun. Jul 4, 2:36pm
weight loss duh! 1 Sun. Jul 4, 12:50pm
Help. I need a group 1 Sat. Jul 3, 1:03pm
NO JUNK CHALLENGE 45 Sat. Jul 3, 6:53am
How is your weight loss journey going? 3 Fri. Jul 2, 9:29pm
MUSIC!!! A FUN ONE 1 Fri. Jul 2, 4:16pm
How To Eat Healthy At A Party 22 Fri. Jul 2, 11:00am
Over 50 female with 10-50 lbs to lose? 0 Thu. Jul 1, 11:13am
A better DVD program? 1 Thu. Jul 1, 10:46am
Anybody Have a Hard Time Due to People Holding a Grudge On You? 21 Thu. Jul 1, 9:54am
Why do my knees still hurt? 0 Thu. Jul 1, 6:37am






peertrainer cheat system