Hi all! Coach Ali Cody here!
Would you like to know the secret to maximizing your zero BITES? Hopefully you know by now that beyond staying within your BITE range it's super important to have plenty of water and fiber in order to flush out your system and accelerate weight loss. I am currently reading Dr. Michael Greger's "How Not To Diet" book and just had a major "aha" moment!! It's a super large book and about a third of the way into it he discusses "Water-Rich Foods".
"Like Fiber", he says "... water adds bulk to foods without adding calories." Meaning, they will not only hydrate you but fill you up!!
He also points out that there's a difference in having water alongside with your food (highly important of course read a blog post on that HERE) and eating foods with water inside them. It has to do with a phenomenon called sieving. When water is consumed outside of the food the stomach siphons it off from the chunks of food and strains it out... which leads to a rapid drop in stomach volume. However, when water is IN the food it forms one homogenous mass that slowly empties your stomach over time. Both of these are important components of weight loss.
Fortunately, he goes on to list out the water content of foods. I have taken the top (80%+) highest water filled foods and matched them up with the zero bite food list on the Better Balance Plan. By focusing on these foods (listed below) when you are hungry for a snack or by adding these to your meals you can help your body jump start into releasing more belly fat!
90%-100% Water Content Zero BITE (Better Balance) Foods:
Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Greens, Green Beans, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Bell Peppers, Pumpkin, Sprouts, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon (all Melons), and Zucchini.
80%-89% Water Content Zero Bite (Better Balance) Foods:
Apples, Apricots, Artichokes, Berries, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Cherries, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Mangoes, Pears, Peas, Pineapples, Plums, Squash, Tofu, and Yogurt.
By focusing on these foods your diet will swim with water-rich veggies, fiber-filled fruits, and plenty of nutrients as well! I pray this helps you in reaching your goals! Also, in case you missed it, Coach Lisa has started a Wednesday series about retraining your brain read HERE.
Happy Tracking!