Going to the gym every morning might not be possible for all of us. And those guilt provoked three days/weekend works out is what you try to fit into your busy schedules.
But how helpful are they and more over how loyal are you to them? So if your lifestyle forces you to cheat on your exercise routine, here’s what you can do to keep your weight under control. We tell you five simple ways to reduce your calorie intake to keep yourself healthy.
Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits, like lemon, guavas and grapes, are rich in vitamin C and fiber. While fiber helps to keep the intestines busy for a longer time, the high concentration of vitamin C is used for the body’s fat burning processes. Vitamin C is also required for stimulating formation of critical amino acids like Carnitine. This tends to fasten the body’s metabolism, ensuring that metabolic processes are kept busy, helping to overcome the hunger pangs. The high water content in most citrus fruits induces that typical, feeling of being quenched, which delays feeling hungry, again.
Low-Fat Yogurt Anytime of the Day: Yogurt or the humble Dahi, made from low-fat milk, is the perfect, around-the-clock kind of food. For starters, the low-fat variety too has a certain degree of creaminess to it. This tends to coat your tonsils, inducing the feeling of having eaten something substantial. Yogurt also induces a unique kind of aftertaste that turns-off the temptation to eat something else for some time. Further, yogurt provides the much needed dosage of healthy bacteria for better digestion and calcium for stronger bones.
The Anytime Wonder—Oatmeal: Oatmeal is among the most recommended of complex carbohydrate options that helps to keep you fuller without inducing a calorie overload. It can be eaten for breakfast or lunch. It takes the digestive system much longer to break down the complex fiber present within oatmeal. This helps to regulate the insulin levels, keeping you satiated for a longer time. Boiled oatmeal mixed with yogurt is the perfect, low-calorie choice that can keep you fuller for many hours.
Green Veggies: Some veggies have a very high concentration of soluble and insoluble fiber along with having a thermic effect. This refers to the overall effort exerted by the body in digesting foods. While proteins have a very high thermic effect, veggies like Spinach too have a high thermic value. When the metabolic processes are busy, trying to digest such foods, the tendency to feel hungry is automatically reduced. Further, more calories are burned in digesting such foods, which means they contribute to your weight-management goals! The idea is here to use Food itself as a tool for eating lesser, burning more calories and remaining healthier.
Eggs for Breakfast: Eggs are the perfect breakfast time. For starters, eggs are loaded with protein which needs a longer time to get fully digested. Two eggs, when eaten in the boiled or omelet form, comprise a healthy breakfast, of course, along with a few slices of whole grain bread. This combination of protein and complex carbohydrates helps to prevent spikes in blood sugar levels and keeps the digestive system engaged for a longer period, preventing you from feeling hungry soon.
Soups for Midday Meals: Some cultures suggest that soups are appetizers. However, this doesn’t need to be true if you consume more than average amount of soup and that too, the natural variety, consisting of lots of vegetables. Eating or sipping upon soup induces the feeling parallel to having a two-course meal. This helps the brain in perceiving that you are going through a proper meal. Around two bowls of vegetable soup to which some spicy condiments have been added are perfect for keeping you satiated for at least a few hours. The water content of soups ensures that you feel a bit heavy. However, this isn't the kind of heaviness associated with overeating. Fiber-rich soups, like those made from spinach, are particularly good for this cause.
Whole Grains for All Major Meals: Eating whole wheat or multi-grain bread or rotis is recommended since complex carbohydrates release glucose slowly. Slower release of glucose means that sugar levels are kept at a constant. Since there are no spikes or dips in sugar levels, there is lesser chance of being hit by a sugar craving. Further, whole grains are among the best sources of various types of Vitamin B.
Drink water before your meal
Half a glass of water before your meal will fill you up. This way the chances of overeating reduce drastically. This way, you will also reduce the chances of feeling stuffed post the meal.
Switch to skimmed milk
Replace your regular packet milk to a low calorie skimmed milk. Add the healthier milk to your morning cup of java. Another option for you is goat milk as it is tastier and healthier than the regular high-on-cream milk.
Eat slowly
The elders tell you to chew your food for a specific number of times before you swallow it. The trick is that, when you chew your food well, it aids the body in the digestion process. Your body understands the food well and you land up eating almost half of what you would normally eat. Ideally, one should spend a minimum of 20 minutes over each meal.
Select smaller portions
When eating out eat only half the portion of what has been served to you. Share the meal with your partner. Outside foods normally come in large portions and added ingredients like soda and Ajinomoto make the food difficult to digest. So, the next time you go to a deli split your serving with your partner.
Resist the calorific food
When you next visit a subway avoid adding mayonnaise, cheese to the sub. Initially, the flavour might be difficult to adjust but eventually you would get used to it. Replace the mayo with mustard. Bread is an integral part of our diet these days, switch to a lighter bread that will cut down upto 100 calories at least.
It is always best to carry your own lunch and eat wholesome home cooked food. Eat as many vegetables as you can and also make sure that you add a lot of colour to your platter. When craving for sweets, avoid chocolates or other desserts, binge on fruits or yogurts to satisfy the craving. If you follow these few tips while eating, your calorie count will steadily come under control and you will never have to feel guilty about missing your workout!