Safe Snackin’

One of the biggest misconceptions about burning fat is the amount of food you can eat and how often. Most people think eating fewer meals and starving yourself is key to being thin – not true. This article explores safe ways to snack and explains why it’s so important.

First off, it’s not how much you eat so much as what you eat that makes all the difference. For example, you can eat 10 lbs of celery per day and actually lose fat! On the other hand, eating fast food twice a day can put you on the fast track to the Fat & Obese Outfitter’s Warehouse.

Most people seem to know this, yet continue to eat too much of the wrong foods at meal times – saying all the while “I’m starving – I need this.” Not true – you are not starving, but you are hungry, hungry because you’ve denied your body food for too long.

The theory that if you starve yourself your body will retain more fat calories making you fatter and just lower your metabolism to compensate does not seem to have as much effect as once thought, but it does make sense to keep a healthy supply of calories coming in to avoid the “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse” syndrome.

In order to keep your metabolism running and have energy to work, exercise and enjoy life, you need calories. Depending on your sex, height, weight and metabolism, you need a fixed amount per day your to keep your body running smoothly – this is your Base Metabolic Rate. There are many calculators online – try this one if you are not sure what yours is: bmi-calculator

If you are skinny as a rail and can eat two cows without gaining weight, you can stop reading here – you metabolism runs high enough to burn any calories you eat. For the rest of us, read on.

Your BMR is all you need to keep going – eat this amount everyday and will neither gain nor lose fat. Eat just 20 calories more per day and you will slowly but surely start to resemble the Hindenburg.

So while you can’t change your BMR total, you can and should spread it out throughout the day. Because while technically you could eat all your calories in one sitting, it would be uncomfortable indeed to do so.

In order to keep the hungry pangs at bay, you need a carefully devised plan – winging it will just not do – too many fat-filled temptations await those who are unprepared.

So, then, what to snack on? The list is both long and appealing without being fattening. Look in these basic food groups for ideas: complex carbohydrates, low fat dairy and high protein items.

Complex Carbohydrates

This food group includes vegetables of all types. One great snack idea is to disinfect and chop up raw cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots into bit sized pieces and squeeze some fresh lime on them. This zesty snack in low in calories, tasty thanks to the lime and natural flavors from the vegetables and full of beneficial macronutrients since it’s not cooked. You can eat almost as much of this as you want and not gain an ounce.

Pop these morsels into a Tupperware container and take them with you to work. Place them where you can see them and feed your face whenever you feel like it – it’s good for you!

Your crunching away may even provoke your co-workers to join you! Beat them with a stick and make them get their own snack – or be nice and share, it’s up to you.

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