Eat to Live. Not Live to Eat.

What you eat and how much you eat are equally important. Portion control is hugely important for losing weight. I used to over eat any chance I got. I enjoyed the taste of the foods I was eating. Why would I ever want that experience to end? I now realize that this is a bad way to eat and is a sign of compulsive behavior. You have to stop eating what is fun to eat and eat food because your body needs nutrition. I heard somewhere that it takes 15 minutes for your stomach to send the signal to your brain that you are full. If you eat slower your chances of eating less are much greater. When measuring food, keep the amount of anything you eat to the size of a fist. For example with a basic meal keep the steak, the potatoes and the vegetables smaller than your fist. Overeating is the biggest cause of weight gain! You can still have the foods you enjoy once in a while as long as you learn to control how much you eat.

You also need to get to the root of why you overeat in the first place. There is a hole in your soul somewhere and you’re trying to fill it up with food. Figure out what that hole is and repair it. If you do this you won’t need food to feel good.

Here are some guidelines that really helped me target my eating habits.

What not to eat.

I used to eat donuts on the way to work. Two sometimes three. It was quick, cheap, easy and tasted good. However since these are high in sugar they create a huge spike in blood sugar levels and trigger an insulin response. Your insulin then stores all of that extra energy into fat cells. Not only that, but because of the sudden sugar spike and drop from your bodies response you will get tired. Then because you’re tired your body craves more energy and more carbs.
The vicious cycle continues.

Stop drinking soda. I know it’s hard, but think about it. A small 16oz bottle of coca-cola has 197 calories. A 16oz bottle of coke contains nearly 20 teaspoons of sugar which is the entire daily recommended amount of calories from sugar! Think about how that affects your body.

Cut out potato chips. These suckers are pure carbohydrates! You have to cut out potatoes if you are ever going to lose weight. If you are going to have chips you will want to switch to whole grain chips, but only after you have 5-15 pounds left to lose. If you are more than 15 pounds overweight your body will have a hard time processing carbohydrates.

What about chicken sandwiches? Ever order the chicken sandwich at your favorite fast food restaurant thinking you were making a healthier choice? Guess what, chicken sandwiches made with crispy breading have more calories than it’s burger counterpart. If you’re going to eat chicken make sure it’s grilled, not fried.

What to eat.

Always eat breakfast. No matter what. If you skip breakfast you will over eat come lunch time. It took a while for me to get use to but I wake up early every morning now and cook myself some eggs and bacon (preferably turkey bacon).

Keep sugar free gum on hand. This will give you something to chew on if if you feel like a snack. As an alternative string cheese is a great snack idea, or some beef jerky.

A great dessert idea is to buy sugar free Jello and top it off with sugar free whip cream. This helps satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner.

Provided are some examples of lean protein and water rich fruits and vegetables to help you burn belly fat.
Lean Protein:

Chicken or turkey (white meat)
Tuna fish (canned, in water)
Lean beef
Egg whites
Non-fat cottage cheese
Fish (shark, salmon, flounder, etc.)
Shellfish

Water Rich Fruits and Vegetables

Broccoli
Salad (lettuce, romaine, etc.); use non-fat dressing. Cabbage
Green beans
Spinach
Zucchini
Squash
Red or green pepper
Asparagus
Tomatoes
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
Artichoke hearts
Raspberries
Strawberries
Blackberries
Apple
Pear
Prunes
Orange

If you want to burn belly fat fast then make sure that at every feeding opportunity you incorporate a lean protein choice and at least 1 fruit and vegetable into your meal plan. To reduce stomach fat consistency is the key along with the proper fat burning foods. The foods listed above meet those guidelines to burn belly fat.