Summer is approaching, and thusly I have dug out the bathing suits from last year; my favorites still fit but there is a little extra ‘me’ poking out here and there. So, like many of my fellow women, I have begun trying to lose those extra few pounds that will make me look better in a bikini.
This year I have a special advantage, I am taking a comparative nutrition class. I have learned a lot through this class and intend to use it! I discovered this ‘breakfast diet’ by accident. I ate what I felt like eating, but when the pounds started to fall off I did some research.
The ‘Diet’
During the week I eat 2 boiled eggs on whole wheat toast with pepper and a thin slice of colby jack cheese for breakfast. On the weekends I eat a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch in a cup of 2% milk. How easy is that? If I know I won’t have the 10 minutes to boil eggs one morning, I boil them the night before and put them in the fridge. This is the only alteration I have made to my diet and I have already lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks! There has been no change in my activity level either, but I feel like I have a little more energy.
Why It Works
Protein, whole grains, and dairy (in moderation) are your friend.
The amount of protein you consume is directly related to the amount of food you eat and weight you gain. Eating more protein causes you to feel fewer hunger pains and encourages your muscles to burn more calories! Two eggs provide around 12 grams of protein, 24% of the recommended daily intake. Getting protein in the form of eggs is especially great because the egg is a true ‘super food.’ The egg is filled with good fats and vitamins.
Whole grains also help you feel full longer. If you take in carbohydrates, your best bet is to take them in the form of whole grains! Adding whole grains to the diet increases your fiber intake. Fiber helps keep your intestines ‘clean’ and functioning at optimal levels for absorbing nutrients from food. One bowl of Raisin Bran crunch has 4 grams of fiber, which is roughly 17% of the recommended daily amount. Two slices of whole grain bread has around 4 grams of fiber also.
The calcium in dairy can boost weight loss by increasing fat breakdown, particularly in the belly! Eating calcium as a food encourages this more than taking it via supplement (pills). Calcium is also very important in the contraction of muscles and maintaining proper hydration- which help during exercise. Dairy also adds protein and other nutrients to your diet. 1 cup of 2% milk has 286 grams of calcium, almost 30% of the recommended daily amount.
You don’t have to copy my diet to lose weight; you can take what you have learned and apply it to your life. There are whole grain bagels, low fat cream cheese, a multitude of cereals, and we all know an egg can be eaten a million ways!
Disclaimer: The author is not a dietitian. Any diet should be considered based on the individual. Contact your doctor with special health concerns before starting any diet.
