Swimsuit season is here and most of us are probably not quite ready to set foot on the beach or go poolside. Along with working out in the gym to burn some calories and get your body in shape for the summer, you'll need to alter your diet to get your body where it needs to be.
Here are ten tips to get yourself beach body ready, oh and you won't have to starve yourself to get there.
10. Shrink Your Plate
Studies have shown that reducing your plate size actually helps you to eat less. It's simple; less food can fit on a smaller plate. So when filling up your plate for breakfast, lunch or dinner, opt for the smaller plate. You'll be surprised how much less you'll consume at each meal.
9. Cut Out Unnecessary Calories
Think about all of the extra things you add to your plates, like cheese, crackers, nuts and large amounts of salad dressing. Be more conscious about the amount you incorporate into your meals because these things add up fast. Just ¼ cup of cheese is about 100 calories and 9 grams of fat; two tablespoons of salad dressing can range anywhere from 70-180 calories (sometimes more). So the next time you're wanting to add something high in fat and calories to your plate, measure it or simply don't add it.
8. Drink A Glass of Water Before Each Meal
Drink a glass of water to fill your stomach up before you eat. If you're full of water, you can suppress your appetite slightly and reduce the amount of food you're about to consume. Other than just drinking water before meals, fill up on water throughout the day to stay hydrated throughout the summer.
7. Eat Lots of Spices
Add flavor to your food with tons of herbs and spices, such as basil, cilantro, mint, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and ginger. Incorporate these spices into tea and water, and into meals. Spicy foods can also speed up your metabolism.
6. Fill Up on Greens
Cabbage, spinach, kale and lettuce are great leafy greens to fill up your plate for each meal. Not only are they ridiculously low in calories, but the water in each green helps fill you up, so you won't be too hungry later on throughout the day. Not to mention the vitamins and minerals you gain.
