Healthy diets range from structured plans like the Zone or Daniel Fast to high-protein regimens for bodybuilders. Learn how to lose weight sustainably using lean proteins, or gain weight quickly through balanced nutrition and meal timing.
While grains might seem high in calories, they're actually a healthy addition to a weight-loss diet. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, which are lost when the grain is processed to produce white flour and white rice.
Read more →
When you’re looking for lean protein to include in your diet, or when you simply crave some healthy meat, pork tenderloin is a good choice. It’s low in fat, high in protein and a rich source of B vitamins and selenium.
Read more →
Quinoa alone will not make you gain weight. In fact, it offers several qualities that make it a good choice for a weight-loss diet. A serving of quinoa provides at least 10 percent of your daily value of nine vitamins and minerals.
Read more →
Sunflower seeds can be part of a weight-loss diet. They’re packed with protein and essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, vitamin E and copper. These tasty seeds also contain fiber, which is known to help you lose weight, and they have other components that support metabolism and weight loss.
Read more →
It seems like gaining weight should be a breeze -- and it is, if you don’t worry about nutrition -- but increasing calories and eating healthy foods means you can’t rely on sugar-rich foods. Beans can support your efforts in this.
Read more →
Salmon definitely deserves a place on your weight-loss menu. It won’t help you lose weight unless it’s just one part of a reduced-calorie diet supported by regular exercise, but salmon does have some qualities that can help you lose extra pounds.
Read more →
With their hunger-satisfying fiber and low caloric content, apples and carrots can help you lose weight. They might even provide a significant amount of your daily nutrients, but that depends on how much of them you consume.
Read more →
Eliminating food after 6:00 p.m. is one way to restrict the total number of calories you consume each day -- which is a good weight loss strategy, but it won’t magically help you lose weight. Eating small, nutrient-rich snacks after 6:00 p.m. may even have some benefits, such as boosting muscle protein synthesis.
Read more →
Everyone slips up and over-indulges every now and again, but you don't have to feel guilty: Overcome the damage by getting right back on track. To lose weight after a heavy meal, pay strict attention to the basics: Watch calorie intake and exercise every day.
Read more →
Restricting calories and getting aerobic exercise may result in a loss of 10 pounds over two weeks, but it’s not a realistic goal for everyone -- it's downright impossible for some. Calories must be severely reduced, which may not be feasible, and isn't a "natural" way to lose weight.
Read more →
Broccoli is a great choice for a weight loss diet because it’s so low in calories, but that’s not the only benefit you’ll gain. It’s packed with essential nutrients and contains fiber, which contributes to satiety.
Read more →
You may be motivated to drop a few pounds, but your body cares more about survival than weight loss. It’s actually driven to maintain stores of fat because they’re the back-up source of energy just in case you go into starvation mode.
Read more →
You can gain 10 pounds over a reasonable amount of time, but upping your weight at a fast pace probably won't give you satisfying results. Adding pounds too quickly will only pack on fat because there's a limit to how quickly you can gain muscle.
Read more →
If you’re over 300 pounds, you can approach weight loss the same way as someone who has less to lose, but it’s critical to consult your physician first. Being overweight puts a significant amount of stress on your heart, muscles and joints, so protect your health and get a complete checkup before you start.
Read more →
Bananas contain fiber and resistant starch, which support weight loss. They’re also a nutritious, low-energy-density food, which is good for dropping pounds. And they don't live up to their once bad reputation of being a diet-wrecking fruit to avoid. But whether they’re good for weight loss comes down to calories.
Read more →
If you’re healthy, chances are you can follow an egg diet for a limited time, lose a few pounds and not worry about side effects. But you will face a few challenges. For one thing, the specifics of the egg diet are hard to pin down, with several versions and few specific instructions to follow.
Read more →
Body fat percentage charts make it easy to see whether you need to lose, gain or maintain weight, but first you’ll need to measure your fat. It’s not hard to do using a skinfold test, but it helps to find a fitness trainer or professional who can do it for you.
Read more →
Weight control is all about calories in vs. calories out. To gain weight, you'll need to take in more calories than you burn, and gaining 2 pounds per week requires eating 1,000 extra calories each day. Exactly how many calories you'll need overall, however, depends on your body size, activity level, age and gender.
Read more →
Soba noodles look like whole-wheat spaghetti, but they possess a nutty flavor thanks to their defining ingredient -- buckwheat flour.
Read more →
Pectin’s ability to thicken jams and jellies represents the same quality responsible for its health benefits. After it enters your stomach, it forms a gelatinous mass that may support weight loss by creating a feeling of fullness.
Read more →