10 Fat Burning Foods.

1) Water
A recent study seems to indicate that drinking water actually speeds up weight loss. Researchers in Germany found that subjects of the study increased their metabolic rates (the rate at which calories are burned) by 30 percent after drinking approximately 17 ounces of water.

I don't suggest using water to suppress your appetite that some people do. It simply bloats me up. But i drink at least 2 litres a day and i cannot do without my huge ass water bottle.

2) Chilli
Eating hot peppers can speed up your metabolism and cool your cravings, researchers at Laval University in Canada found.

Here's why: capsaicin (a chemical found in jalapeño and cayenne peppers) temporarily stimulates your body to release more stress hormones, which speeds up your metabolism. I love chilli but i used to think too much chilli will make you break out. But that could be just my puberty.

3) Apples and Pears
Overweight women who ate the equivalent of three small apples or pears a day lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didn't, according to State University of Rio de Janeiro researchers.
I hate pears but i eat them because of the above reason (haha. vain) and i will choose green apples over red. Due to green apples being more acidic, i think it works better.

4) Low-Fat Yogurt
Researches say the above helps but i have my reservations. Yogurt is still animal protein, and too much animal protein is no good. Yami yogurt is my weakness. I have a cup with toppings (nuts or granola) every time i see one. It's a healthier alternative to ice-cream. But I still do have ice-cream when I feel like it (Haggen Daz’s Tiramisu, Udder’s D24), just that nowadays ice-cream is super $$$!

5) Soup

According to a Penn State University study, soup is a super appetite suppressant because it's made up of a hunger-satisfying combination of liquids and solids.

My digestive system is rather poor. Once I eat, my stomach stays full and bloated for the entire day. So if I know I have a shoot or I will need to be wearing a form fitting dress for an event later, I will take soup from Soup Spoon. They do not have cream or MSG and is gluten-free. You can choose the meat options for a heavier meal or go vegetarian and it’ll still keep you full.

6)  Green Tea

The benefits of green tea has been reported over and over again. Other than anti-cancer properties, I found that green tea cures sore throats.  Even if they’re not pure! Like the canned/bottled ones (which is always VERY sweet).

I was in Thailand and I had a sore throat. I was apprehensive in getting Strepsils because those lozenges ALWAYS makes my sore throat worse. I remembered reading that green tea helps, but I was so sure that they meant the pure green tea! Not being able to find any pure green tea around, I decided to take a chance with the “soft drink” version. Fearing the sugar in it will make it worse, it did the opposite.  I’m not so sure about green tea helping you to lose weight though. I never did try. But I do drink tea regularly, but it’s Sunrider tea (read my post on Saving Skin). I have a very old aged thinking that too much tea will be too cooling for the body, thus my family only trusts Sunrider because though it’s called tea, it’s actually a blend of xxx number of herbs.  It clears up our arteries and detox our organs.

7) Broccoli

Study after study links calcium and weight loss. Broccoli is not only high in calcium but it's also loaded with vitamin C, which boosts calcium absorption.

This member of the nutritious cabbage family also has plenty of vitamin A, folate and fiber. Plus, it contains powerful phytochemicals that protect against disease.

I wasn’t a fan of broccoli, but I figured there must be a reason why mothers love feeding their babies broccoli. I force myself to eat more cauliflowers too.

8) Oatmeal

This heart-healthy favourite is great because it's a good source of cholesterol-fighting, fat-soluble fiber that keeps you full and gives you with the energy you need to make the most of your workouts. I am not a fan of oatmeal but I started eating muesli from my days living in Australia. Museli is a mixture of oats along with other things and it can be really yummy! Particularly the roasted ones. The café I worked at uses Brookfield’s macadamia roasted muesli. 

Be sure to choose steel cut or rolled oats, not instant oatmeal, to get your full dose of nutrients.

9) Lean Turkey

Rev up your fat-burning engine with this bodybuilder favorite. Studies have shown that protein can help boost your metabolism and build lean muscle tissue, so that you burn more calories.

I don’t really consume this enough, but if I was at the deli, and I feel like having ham, I would choose the turkey slices instead.

10)  Grapefruit

The grapefruit diet is not a myth. Researchers at Scripps Clinic found that participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal in a 12-week period lost an average of 3.6 pounds.

The study indicates that the unique chemical properties in this vitamin C-packed citrus fruit reduce insulin levels, which promotes weight loss. I don’t eat grapefruit for weight loss, but I eat them to stay youthful.

Frankly, all of the above is not my food Bible that I follow religiously. They’re tips from experts, which coincidentally is what I eat too! So I guess there is some truth to their weight loss properties because I am living example?

I cannot abstain from unhealthy food. I can’t give up chocolates, I can’t give up Char Kway Tiao, I can’t give up Pockey and such.  Amidst all the junk food, the only thing I seldom touch is soft drinks and fast food. I always choose water over soft drinks (saves a lot of money too. A coke at a restaurant can cost $3, triple of what supermarkets sell ok! But if you go overseas, then water is not free. They can cost as much as a soft drink. But that’s another matter.)

 So I make it up with exercise for the lack of discipline over religiously eating healthy. I run daily, practice yoga alternately and sometimes skip running to swim or roller blade.  Exercise should not rule your life though. I used to be a stick-in-a-mud. I loved my exercise so much that I wouldn’t go out and socialise. Then I realised, if I keep rejecting invitations, I will end up marrying my running shoes, and that won’t be rosy but smelly indeed.

I’m not born with the skinny genes. I can put on weight and I can get fat if I don’t watch it.  My heaviest was 52kg, bordering onto 54kg. Those were my poly days where I snacked SO MUCH during and in between lectures. 3 hour break, nothing else to do but eat mah. Then in Australia, no matter how much I run (daily), the scales never went down but it maintained at 50kg.  I used to have a rule. That I eat as healthy as possible and only let loose on the weekends. Then I realise why make yourself be so miserable with so many diets and rules!

Eating healthy has become part of my lifestyle and doing sports is my habit. I love exercising and sitting still bores me. 

Nothing Loose, Nothing Hanging.