Lose Weight by Eating More

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

12 Jun 2007 10:50 AM

Fad diets are not my thing. I lack will power, utterly and completely. I cannot deprive myself of the things I love to eat, and what's worse is that I love to bake. . .and what fun is baking if you don't get to try anything? However, I can always convince myself to eat more food. As it turns out, a new study out of Penn State is saying to do the same thing if you want to lose weight.

No, you can't eat burgers, and fries galore and that is fine by me. But studies are showing that one crucial key to weight loss is making sure that you're not hungry. I know that putting the phrase 'not hungry' into the same sentence as diet seems oxymoronic, but follow me here.

A new study says that by eating foods that have low density calories and contain lots of water is the key to losing weight. These types of foods include fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and skim dairy products. Participants could eat as much of these types of foods as they wanted--especially fruits and vegetables.

The group that got to eat as many fruits and vegetables as they wanted, lost an average of 6 pounds more over the course of the study. Weight loss gurus have been saying for awhile now that making sure you're not hungry is key to dieting success.

First of all, when you're hungry and you deprive yourself, your will power only holds for so long. The tendency for most people is that when it breaks, you binge. If you happen to binge on broccoli florets and fresh apples that's fine. . .but most of us binge on cookies, chips, soda. . .the things we know really should be off limits.

However, if you snack on a piece of fruit when you're hungry, or reach for those veggies when you feel the need to munch, you're much less likely to go on a binge. Instead, your blood sugar is level, your energy level is constant and rather than thinking about that leftover fudge cake, you're not focused on being hungry at all. Furthermore, when you do indulge in that little piece of fudge cake, you're more likely to indulge in less of it.

So go ahead. . .reach for all the food you want. . .as long as its fruits, vegetables or other low fat snacks.

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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Spoiledwife (45) 12 Jun 2007 11:54 AM

Absolutely!!

Our bodies do not differentiate between dieting and starvation. Eating more healthy foods increases our metabolisms while filling our tummies. I was fortunate to learn this after a string of fad diets that ultimately caused me to gain more weight though I was starving. Not to mention the severe bulimia that ensued.

Once I started eating 4-5 cups of veggies a day, whole grains, sufficient proteins and fruits and minimized (not eliminated) my chocolate intake, EVERYTHING felt better!

My bulimia disappeared, my energy level was incredible, my perspective on life was transformed. AND I lost weight!! Ironically, I felt so good that losing the weight was just a side benefit! My calorie intake to this day varies between 1800-2800 yet my weight doesn't fluctuate (when I'm not pregnant, anyway!!)

Science is starting to catch up!!

Just my $0.02

Valorie Delp (49340) 12 Jun 2007 11:57 AM

Thanks for sharing. So true. . .I do better when I make sure my tummy is full of good stuff too!