Fitness Tips

The Best Meals and Snacks For A Fat Loss Diet

The best meals and snacks for a fat loss diet include choices that are high volume, high fiber, high protein and lower in calories.

Including meals and snacks that fit this criteria help to ensure better satiety and hunger regulation. This makes it easier to stick to the calorie deficit required to lose fat.

In addition, a high protein diet is crucial for muscle retention while dieting. Otherwise the risk of muscle loss during dieting makes any weight loss results less sustainable. Aiming for 1g of protein per pound of ideal bodyweight everyday is a great target.

It’s also important to include foods that are delicious and flavorful. Any fat loss diet that lacks the opportunity for food enjoyment requires unnecessary levels of will power. When we feel overly restricted and bored, diet adherence disintegrates.

Next is a list of some of my favorite meals and snacks to include in a fat loss phase.

  • Air Popped Popcorn seasoned with grated parmesan cheese and garlic powder
  • Fresh Fruit such as sliced apple dusted with cinnamon
  • Frozen Fruit such as mixed berries sprinkled with cocoa
  • Hearty Soup or Stew packed with a lean protein source and loads of vegetables
  • Huge Salad filled with a variety of vegetables, a lean protein source, and a light dressing
  • High Protein Homemade Baked Treat such as chocolate brownies made with greek yogurt instead of butter and protein powder instead of wheat flour
  • Fruit And Protein Smoothie containing a scoop or two of flavored protein powder and frozen strawberries and bananas

I highly recommend putting the time in to learn how to turn your favorite foods and recipes into healthier versions by swapping in better ingredients. My e cookbooks are filled with ways to do this. They are also filled with over 100 of my tried and true recipes for soups, dressings, brownies, cookies, smoothies, and so much more!

Click for details. https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

They contain all the recipes I have personally created and used consistently to lose fat, build muscle, and keep off over 140 lbs for years!

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.
www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fitness Tips

Exercise Snacks: How To Include More Exercise Into A Busy Day

black skip rope
Photo by Dom J on Pexels.com

Any amount of exercise is always better than nothing at all.  By utilizing “Exercise Snacks” you can ensure you are getting something in every day no matter how busy you are.

Don’t be discouraged. You do not need to skip exercising entirely if you are busy and can’t dedicate 30-60 minutes to get in a workout.

You can do short bursts of various exercises for only 60 seconds at a time.  

Even 4-5 bouts of 60 seconds of simple exercises sprinkled throughout the day such as

  1. Bodyweight squats 
  2. Jumping jacks
  3. Push ups
  4. Briskly walking upstairs
  5. Jogging in place etc…

will promote your fitness and health.  

Not only do you receive benefits such as

  1. Improved cognitive function
  2. Improved cardiorespiratory fitness
  3. Improved metabolism

Including regular movement and exercise can become a more normal (and less daunting) part of your everyday life.  

Rethink the potential of your day.

 It’s Just 1 Minute. 

Ready. 

Set. 

Go!

If you have thought about having me as your coach to support you along your own fitness journey check out the Online Fitness Coaching page on my website for more info and how to inquire about my online fitness coaching service. Receive customized activity and nutrition plans, monthly virtual calls, and weekly email check in’s.

See my client testimonials.

www.melaniewales-sustainableliving.com

Follow me on Instagram for more tips, free recipes, and full days of eating.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

To learn more about the science of exercise snacks (and much more) check out this great Found My Fitness Podcast Episode by Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D. interviewing Dr. Martin Gibala, Ph.D.

Fitness Tips

How To Reach 10k Steps Per Day Without A Treadmill

When it comes to making any fitness or activity goal happen day in and day out  without fail it’s imperative to be open and creative.  If we think the only way to reach a step goal is time on a treadmill, think again.

What happens if you can’t get to the gym?  Don’t own a treadmill? 

Do these obstacles mean you need to skip getting in your daily steps? 

Of course not.  You have choices.  

Next are a few creative ways to increase your daily step count without access to a treadmill.

  1. Walk outside.  Personally I dress for the weather rain, snow, or shine and make it happen.  Daily outdoor light is a must and why not combine the time with a walk.  Enjoy a podcast, talk to a friend on the phone, or meet up with someone and make the time enjoyable.  My daughter is my step buddy.  We love our walks and talks together. 
  2. Walk inside.  Pace around the house.  Take more laps through the isles in a big box store.  Mall walk.  Take the stairs.  When tidying up at home take several trips instead of one and rack up a few more.  Every extra bit of activity counts. 
  3. Walk in place.  This is my secret weapon and I’ve done it for years and years.  This has been the way I make sure to never miss my daily step goal. I walk in place while watching a show, studying, reading, talking on the phone, and even in between sets during my workouts.  Yes, at the end of a long day I have been known to walk in place to ensure I have those last few steps before diving head first into bed.  Lol!

Make realistic goals, commit, be creative, and then make them happen. You’ve got this!

If you have thought about having me as your coach to support you along your own fitness journey check out the Online Fitness Coaching page on my website for more info and how to inquire about my online fitness coaching service. Receive customized activity and nutrition plans, monthly virtual calls, and weekly email check in’s.

http://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/online-fitness-coaching/

Follow me on Instagram for evidence based fitness tips, free recipes, and full days of eating.

http://www.instgram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving