20 Pounds In 20 Weeks: Week 8: Fruits and Veggies

This weigh-in, the scale read 190.  This means that I’ve lost 15 pounds in just 8 short weeks.  Just five pounds more and I’ll be at my goal.  I’m 75% of the way there.

When you’re trying to lose weight, one thing people often do is cut back drastically on how much they eat.  This, in general, can be good.  The average “American portion” is usually double a normal portion size (at least).  Take a plate and a pot of cooked pasta.  Fill up the plate how you would expect to be served in an Italian restaurant.  Now fill up a second, identical plate with a real serving of pasta.  The restaurant serving will likely be four times the amount of pasta as the real serving.

So how do you fill up while still slashing the calories?  It’s simply really.  Add a lot of fruits and vegetables.  Making a sandwich?  Skip the mayo and add tomatoes, cucumbers, bean sprouts and any other veggie you can think of to add in flavor.  Need a side dish for dinner?  Slice up some zucchini, place the rounds on a baking sheet, coat with a little cooking spray and add salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Next cook at 425 for 8 minutes, flip and cook for another 8 minutes.  Want a mid-morning snack?  Don’t reach for a chocolate bar, reach for a banana.  Or slice up some strawberries and enjoy with a little light whipped cream.

The more fruits and veggies you add to your diet, the fuller you will feel and the healthier you will be.  Just don’t drown your fruits/veggies with calorie and fat laden toppings like cheese sauce or heavy salad dressings.