Foods for Rapid Weight Loss

There are certain steps you can take and certain foods you can eat to help you lose weight safely. In order to lose weight and continue a healthy lifestyle, losing one to two pounds per week is an ideal number to shoot for. Losing weight more quickly over a short period of time can put you at risk for gall stones, an eating disorder and loss of muscle as well as other problems. However, you can encourage a healthier lifestyle for yourself and naturally lose weight at a steady pace without facing the problems of losing weight too quickly.

Foods Encouraging Weight Loss

Some foods naturally flush the fat from your system and "wake up" your metabolism. Citrus fruits and fruits such as apples and berries, as well as soybeans and garlic oil, are examples of foods that flush the fat.

Eat more water-rich vegetables with your meals--zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers and celery. Other examples of water-rich food are soups and salad. In fact, add more vegetables overall to your eating regimen, and keep them on hand for snacks throughout the day. They add more fiber, help you feel fuller and have plenty of good carbohydrates and nutrition.

Eat equal portions of vegetables and grains at dinnertime. A cup of vegetables equals about 50 calories, while a cup of rice or other grain is approximately 200 calories. Fiber-rich vegetables will fill you up fast.

Replace the soft drinks with plenty of water--at least eight glasses a day. This helps flush your body of unwanted and unnecessary toxins and keeps you hydrated.

Eating whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juices fill you up and keep you satisfied longer. There is more bulk and less sugar in a piece of fruit than in a glass of fruit juice.

Use flavorings, seasonings and spices to liven up your food, avoiding butter and margarine since they are major sources of bad fat.

Eating low-fat yogurt two or three times a day helps the weight loss and keeps the body fat low. It is also a good source of calcium.

Other Healthy Habits

As well as eating foods that encourage weight loss, get into the habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes every day. The combination of healthy eating and exercise quickens your progress of losing weight and changes your lifestyle from a sedentary to an active one. Remember that weight loss results when more calories are burned than consumed. Making exercise a part of your weight loss regimen is a "win-win" situation for you.