As the weather turns warm and summer becomes imminent who hasn’t experienced the sudden dread of having to shed the winter layers for shorts and tank tops? Or even worse- the dreaded swimsuit! So begins the quest for the perfect summer diet. Now is the time to get summer ready with clean eating! Here’s the secret, there’s nothing to it. Clean eating will blast your belly fat and get you bathing suit-worthy faster than any fad, crash, or prepackaged diet.

The goal is to be summer-ready all year long but seriously, how many of us achieve that? You may find yourself with an occasion that demands you expose a little flesh and find there’s a whole lot more than you bargained for swinging around your middle. Clean Eating is the Healthiest and Fastest Weight Loss Plan, and the key to clean eating is how you shop the grocery aisles.

What is Clean Eating?

Clean eating is all about simplicity. In fact, my very expensive doctor used to say to me, ” If it doesn’t swim, run, fly or grow, you are not eating it. In other words, ditch the packaged foods. Eat more fresh foods. And don’t ever eat what you can’t pronounce. If it has more than 5 ingredients, best put it back on the shelf! When you’re trying to lose weight, add more lean protein to the clean eating and you have a basic outline for getting beach ready.

Ok, I get it, no processed foods- But Why?

Processed Foods Make You Fat

First, processed foods are often loaded with a bunch of crap. Snacks, sauces, salad dressings, soft
drinks, and sweets are chock full of high-fructose corn syrup. In 2010, a study at Princeton
University showed that rats whose diet was augmented with high-fructose corn syrup experienced
unusual weight gain, particularly in the abdomen. That’s right, those rats put on the dreaded “belly
fat,” clinically referred to as visceral fat. It grows deep in your abdominal cavity, surrounds
your vital organs, and makes for a mean muffin top.

Second, most processed foods are made with predominately refined grains which
contribute to a whole lot more visceral fat than whole grains do. The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition did a study in which two groups increased their intake of whole vs refined grains. Those
eating more refined grains experienced no gains in visceral or subcutaneous belly fat, but the ones
chowing down on the white rice, white bread, and pasta sure did. Let’s not forget that cookies,
cakes, and bread will make you stupid. Do we really want to be sporting a muffin top and be
stupid? Even if the cupcake is gluten-free, it is still a CUPCAKE!

Trans fats are another huge offender. Trans fats are just liquid fats that have been modified by
adding hydrogen to them to make them solid, like margarine or shortening. Food manufacturers use
them to enhance the flavors and shelf life of processed foods. In 2015 the US Food and Drug
Administration told all food manufacturers to phase them out because it’s widely known at this
point that trans fats are linked to higher body weight, increases in bad cholesterol and lower good
cholesterol, and trans fats have even been connected with some forms of cancer.

Knowledge is Power, But Action Shrinks Fat

If you’re ready to put down the box of crackers and get your body ready for warm weather then it’s
time to start eating clean. Everyone is talking about clean eating these days. It’s kind of a
dietary buzz-phrase and that can be intimidating.

But clean eating doesn’t have to be painful. You don’t need to start shopping only at the health
food store. You can make a few simple changes that will dramatically alter your lean to fat ratio
and let me tell you, that’s what you want when you put on that bathing suit.

Here are some easy ways to get started:

• toss out the prepackaged foods
• ditch the chemical-laden sodas in your fridge
• read labels and look for foods that contain the fewest ingredients
• plan your meals and prep ahead
• choose lean proteins like fish and chicken that you prepare yourself
• stick to high fiber whole grain carbs and limit your serving
•  

It’s honestly that simple. You know about portion control. You know you need to move your body
every day. And now you know that if you want to firm up your fanny the quality of your food is just
as important as the quantity. Clean eating will provide you more nutrition for fewer calories and
that’s what you’re looking for, the most nutritional bang for your buck.

I’m always taking steps to improve the quality of my diet as I continue to learn more and more
about clean eating. I haven’t completely given up all processed foods, but t but I limit my intake and still enjoy my life. You can do it too.

So if you are looking for help in cleaning up your diet, reach out to me at WellnessbyKim.com.