Most people gain fat during the end-of-year holiday season. They eat anything and everything in sight. But, you don’t have to be “most people.”
Here is how to start off the New Year lean!
You can either make excuses (we all do this easily enough, especially during the holidays) or you can take positive action. Which one is most likely to happen if you are prepared, have a goal, and have a plan?
When you’re prepared, you can still indulge and enjoy your favorite holiday foods without your fitness goals falling apart.
A nutrition program high in fiber is a vital key to any fat loss plan. Fiber helps you to feel full, making it easier to eat fewer calories. In addition, more calories are burned from digesting high-fiber foods. Good sources of fiber include lots of veggies and plant materials.
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose fat, build muscle, and recover faster from your workouts.
Good fats include: polyunsaturated (especially Omega-3’s), such as those from fish and nuts, as well as monounsaturated fats, such as those from peanut butter, olive oil, egg yolks, and fish oil. There are lots of ways to be smart about eating fat. The key is knowing what to look for. A few of my favorite fat sources include:
- Avocados
- Avocado oil
- Salad dressing made with avocado oil
- Olive oil
- High-quality lard and tallow from pastured animals
- Grass-fed meats
- Grass-fed butter
- Coconut oil
- Coconut butter
- Flaxseed Oil
- Walnuts
- Almonds
An increase in your protein intake will boost your metabolism and help to maintain your muscle mass, both key ingredients in losing fat and keeping it off.
