Foods that Promote Weight Loss

I am two days out from my next bikini competition, and my food choices are becoming scarcer. I’ve limited my portion sizes, and my diet plan is getting a little bland without a lot of variety. For those of you who do not know, I am a NPC bikini competitor, and my upcoming competition is a national qualifier in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday, May 25, 2013.

 

I’d also like to take a moment to recognize a fellow vegan bodybuilder, Sam Shorkey. She is an inspiration to many, and is prepping for her first bikini competition, Northern BC Classic on June 8, 2013. The Vegan Project will be accompanying her on a road trip from their home in Vancouver through Northern BC. For more details on this amazing journey checkout the Vegan Project’s blog, or Jacked on the Beanstalk’s Facebook page.

Now, here is the low down on some great fat burning food choices, which promote weight loss, and happen to be in my diet for prep.

Asparagus

·        Is considered to be a great vegetable for weight loss, because it is low in calories (40 calories per cup) and is a great source of dietary fiber which will help in suppressing your appetite. Asparagus is also high in vitamins B6 (prevents heart attacks) and C.
·        Asparagus is also a natural diuretic, which flushes your bodies fluids and helps deplete the body of excess sodium. If you’d like to read more about asparagus, and view a great recipe by my vegan friend Sam click here.

Sweet potatoes

·        While sweet potatoes have a naturally sweet taste, they contain natural sugars which are slowly released into the blood stream, stabilizing blood sugar levels (due to low GI levels), ensuring a balanced source of energy, and enabling the body to stay in a fat burning mode. Click here, to learn the difference between white and sweet potatoes.
·        A great sources of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D (plays an important role in our energy levels), iron, magnesium (relaxation and anti-stress mineral), and potassium (an important electrolyte that helps regulate heartbeat and nerve signals). Sweet potatoes also have antioxidants that ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging.

Brown rice

·        Brown rice is better for you than white — but you probably already knew that, if not, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt! Brown rice is considered to be a whole grain that has a low GI rating, making it a great weight loss food. The side hull and bran on brown rice are nutrient rich, allow for quicker cooking times, and are also lighter in the stomach, making it easier for your body to digest.
·        Rich in selenium, manganese (1 cup is equivalent to 80% daily requirements), naturally-occurring oils (normalize cholesterol levels), and have a high fiber content (supports bowel regularity, and prevents colon cancer), which promotes weight loss. In addition, brown rice also creates a feeling of fullness, meaning smaller portion sizes.

Quinoa

·        Did you know quinoa is one of the most protein-rich foods we can eat? Quinoa is a seed, but is often mistaken as a grain; quinoa is often cooked like a grain which causes confusion. This protein rich seed is considered to be a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids.
·        Quinoa contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains. Fiber regulates digestion, and makes you feel fuller for longer and is less “energy dense” which means it has fewer calories for the same volume of food, which makes it a great weight loss food.Quinoa also provides a great source of iron, lysine (supports tissue growth and repair), magnesium(works as a detox), B2 (improves energy levels), and manganese.

Celery

·        Celery has often been coined with the name of a, "negative calorie food". What does this mean? The caloric energy it takes to chew and digest celery, is more than its caloric content. Since celery is so low in calories (16 calories per cup), it makes it a valuable food which promotes weight loss. Celery is also filling because it stores a relatively large amount of water. I’ve always enjoyed eating my celery with peanut or almond butter and raisins, as a daytime snack. Check out this article on, 13 health benefits of celery.

 

Grapefruit

·        Another negative calorie food is grapefruit. Grapefruit is very low in calories (53 calories). Grapefruit is also know to have a compound that improves your insulin sensitivity, which prevents your body from releasing excess or unnecessary insulin that can contribute to unwanted fat storage. Thus, grapefruit is considered to be a fat burning food and a great food for weight loss. I eat half a grapefruit every morning with a serving of nuts.



Grocery Shopping



Last night I stocked up on asparagus, literally bought out the stores remaining supply. I will be able to consume all of it within the next couple of days. You can also see some other nutritional food densely populating my grocery cart.