Erin Palinski-Wade

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

When you are on a diet to lose belly fat, you may be making a few common mistakes when you attend social events. And making these mistakes means you’ll be facing even greater challenges. So avoid doing the following, and you’ll be on your way to sailing through the next social event: Getting too hungry: Don’t ever let yourself get too hungry (whether you’re at home or at an event). When you get too hungry, you start to crave more food, eat too fast, and ultimately make the wrong food choices and eat too much of them. So before you go to a party or event, eat something. Chances are you’ll get there and the food won’t be served for a few hours anyway. So you’ll be there socializing and standing around, maybe having a glass of wine (which makes you even more hungry), and then by the time the food comes out, you won’t be able to control yourself. So grab a light meal or snack before you walk out the door. The best option is some lean protein, a healthy fat, or some vegetables. Having poor food options: Have you ever gone to a house party only to find that every item on the menu was high in saturated fat or refined carbohydrates? What do you do in these situations? If that one food choice is your only option, you have to eat it. Luckily, you can introduce another choice. Before attending a social event, offer to bring a dish. Make a dish that fits within the guidelines of your Belly Fat Diet plan. Not only will your host appreciate the thought, but you’ll also ensure you have at least one healthy option available to you. Overfilling your plate, or not using a plate at all: Don’t pick at party food. Get yourself a small plate and place the food on it before digging in. Doing so helps you see how much you’re truly eating. To help prevent overindulging from wanting to try a little of everything, survey the food before filling your plate. Walk around to see what’s available. On a scale from 1–10, which foods are the 9s and 10s (the foods you like the most)? Only fill your plate with these options, and skip the ones you don’t really love. Giving in to food pushers: If the party host or family member tends to push food or drinks at you, keep a glass of water on hand at all times or a small plate filled with vegetables so you can ensure them you have already been taken care of. Stationing yourself near tempting food: Watch where you position yourself at social gatherings. It’s so easy to eat mindlessly when you’re surrounded by food. If you’re sitting directly across from a favorite dish or appetizer, you’re going to be tempted to go back for seconds (or worse). Instead, try to sit away from the food. If you can’t escape, at least sit near a more healthy dish. That way if you go back for additional servings, you won’t kill your weight loss efforts. Also, focus on the social aspect of the event and try to talk and mingle to distract yourself from the food. Drinking too much alcohol: If you’re drinking alcohol, be careful about how much you have and when you have it. Throughout a long party, it’s easy to have a few glasses over the period of a few hours. But remember that a few glasses sock you with a lot of calories before you even dig into the meal. Also, alcohol stimulates appetite, causing you to be more likely to eat larger portions. Chowing down on leftovers: If you’re hosting a party or event, send the less-than-belly-friendly leftovers home with guests so they aren’t around and tempting you for days after the party. Leftovers often lead to more weight gain than the meal itself — especially around the holidays. Allow yourself to enjoy a dessert or dish that you’d usually avoid, but keep the portion small. Eat it slowly so you can really savor it and feel satisfied.

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

Some behaviors can actually help to shrink your waistline and help you keep weight off for good. Here are ten of the best behaviors to start incorporating today to lose weight and banish belly fat for good. Deep Breathing: Stress can pack on belly fat and lead to a host of medical issues if not controlled. One of the quickest ways to reduce your stress levels and bring stress hormones (the ones that trigger belly fat storage when elevated for long periods of time) back to normal is by deep breathing. Taking a few long, deep breaths can help to instantly relax you and cut your overall stress. Meditating: Meditation is the practice of focusing and concentrating on one particular thing, whether that be a particular sound or object or even your own breath. This increased focus and concentration helps to reduce stress and promote relaxation. In fact, studies show that people who meditate on a regular basis experience less anxiety and depression as well. Exercising in short bouts: The more exercise the better, but you may not have the time or ability to exercise for long periods of time, especially when first starting out. So instead of trying to pack in 30 minutes of exercise at one time, space it out. Research has shown that working out in 10-minute intervals three times a day is just as effective for weight loss as working out for 30 minutes at once. Sleeping: Sleep is such an important factor in banishing belly fat. Without adequate sleep, your stress levels increase, thus causing you to pack on pounds and fat around your midsection. Lack of sleep is also associated with reduced levels of leptin, the hormone that helps regulate appetite and metabolism. A leptin decrease stimulates appetite and promotes overeating. So in order to shrink your belly, it’s vital to get enough shuteye. Aim for seven to eight hours a night. Chewing slowly: When you eat rapidly, your body can’t recognize when you’ve eaten enough. To slow yourself down, make it a point to chew each bite at least ten times and make sure to put your fork or spoon down in between bites. Frequent snacking: One major key to losing weight and keeping it off is to not let yourself get too hungry. When you get too hungry, you experience strong food cravings, so when you do get a chance to eat, you eat the wrong things and eat too quickly, which can prevent you from recognizing your body’s cues as to when you’ve eaten enough. Have a small meal or snack every few hours to keep you from getting too hungry. Staying hydrated: When you’re slightly dehydrated, your body holds onto more water. This excess water weight can give you a bloated or puffy look, especially in your midsection. Slight dehydration can also increase your cravings and appetite because your brain may misinterpret thirst for hunger. So drink up to slim down! Aim for 64 ounces (8 cups) of water daily. Avoiding salt: The more sodium you consume, the more water weight you retain. This water weight then bloats your belly, making your waistline look larger than it really is. So put down the salt shaker and choose fresh, whole foods over salty processed ones. Keeping a journal: One of the absolute best ways to get yourself on track with a weight loss plan (and maintain it) is by keeping a food journal. By tracking everything you eat and drink, you can notice when you begin to consume belly-bloating foods as well as double-check that you’re eating belly-fat-burning nutrients on a regular basis. Stretching: Stretching is a great way to increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, and decrease stress. In addition, regular stretching helps to reduce exercise-related injuries, which can derail your fitness routine. Aim to spend a minimum of five to ten minutes every day doing a few brief stretches.

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

Protein is essential to your belly-blasting plan because it helps to keep you full and prevents muscle loss while losing fat mass. However, you need to take in the right amount of protein each day. Taking in too much or too little can sabotage your weight loss efforts. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Lyredmila Suvorova 2009 Except where noted, one serving size of each of the foods in the following tables equals 1 ounce of protein. Portion Sizes of Lean Protein Choices Food Size of a Serving Fish All fish, including salmon, flounder, halibut, trout, cod, tilapia, herring, grouper, swordfish, and so on 1 ounce Canned tuna in water 1/4 cup Canned sardines in water 2 sardines Shellfish (clams, shrimp, crab, lobster, scallops, oysters, and so on) 1 ounce Imitation shellfish 1 ounce Poultry Chicken breast, white meat, skinless 1 ounce Turkey breast, white meat, skinless 1 ounce Cornish hen, skinless 1 ounce Ground turkey, 100% breast meat 1 ounce Ground chicken, 100% breast meat 1 ounce Pork Tenderloin 1 ounce Center chop loin 1 ounce Fresh ham 1 ounce Boiled ham 1 ounce Canadian bacon 1 ounce Beef (for all cuts, choose USDA Select and Choice cuts and trim all visible fat) Flank steak 1 ounce Round 1 ounce Tenderloin 1 ounce Eye of round roast or steak 1 ounce Sirloin tip side steak 1 ounce Top round roast and steak 1 ounce Bottom round roast and steak 1 ounce Top sirloin steak 1 ounce Game Buffalo (bison) 1 ounce Venison 1 ounce Ostrich 1 ounce Goose (cooked without skin) 1 ounce Lamb Leg of lamb 1 ounce Loin chops 1 ounce Loin shoulder 1 ounce Cheese Fat-free or part-skim varieties with 3 grams of fat or less per ounce 1 ounce Fat-free or part-skim cottage cheese 1/4 cup Fat-free or part-skim ricotta cheese 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons Other Legumes/lentils (equals 1 protein and 1 starch serving) 1/2 cup Eggs 1 egg Egg whites 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute Tofu 1/2 cup Edamame 1/4 cup Vegetable burger 1 burger (equals 2 ounces protein) Deli meat (choose varieties with 3 grams of fat or less per serving) 1 ounce Portion Sizes of Medium- and High-Fat Protein Choices Food Size of a Serving Fish Fried fish 1 ounce Fried shellfish 1 ounce Sautéed fish or shellfish in oil/butter 1 ounce Tuna canned in oil 1/4 cup Poultry Chicken, dark meat 1 ounce Chicken, with skin 1 ounce Turkey, dark meat 1 ounce Turkey, with skin 1 ounce Fried chicken or turkey 1 ounce Ground chicken/turkey, dark meat 1/4 cup Pork Top loin 1 ounce Chop 1 ounce Cutlet 1 ounce Boston butt 1 ounce Taylor ham 1 ounce Spare ribs 1 ounce Ground pork 1 ounce Pork sausage 1 ounce Bacon 3 slices Hot dog 1 ounce Beef (any USDA Prime grade of meat counts as a medium/high-fat protein) Ground beef 1/4 cup Corned beef 1 ounce Filet mignon 1 ounce Porterhouse steak 1 ounce New York strip steak 1 ounce T-bone 1 ounce Rib-eye 1 ounce Prime rib 1 ounce Short rib 1 ounce Lamb Rib roast 1 ounce Ground lamb 1 ounce Cheese Part-skim or full-fat cheese with more than 3 grams of fat per ounce 1 ounce Other Sandwich meats with more than 3 grams of fat per ounce 1 ounce

Article / Updated 05-22-2023

If you’re trying to lose weight and reduce your belly fat, but your husband keeps bringing home pizza every night and your kids are always eating ice cream while you’re in the room, you may find staying on track challenging. To be successful, you may need to recruit support of all kinds, from friends and family, from professionals, and from the Internet. Creating a support network with friends and family One of the best ways to stay on track with your healthy lifestyle is to tell your friends and family about your weight loss and health goals (and why you’re striving for them). If your family and friends know you’re trying to eat healthier options, such as whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates, they may try to be more supportive. Family and friends can also be a great support team when you’re trying to include more physical activity in your daily routine. So ask around. Maybe a friend would love to walk with you in the mornings, or perhaps your kids would love to kick the soccer ball around together at night. Finding a consistent exercise partner helps to make you more accountable as well. Bringing in professional help Sometimes you need more than just the support of your friends and family to be successful. In these cases, you may find that professional help is just what you need to achieve and, most importantly, maintain your health and weight goals. For example, if you’re struggling with eating due to emotional reasons rather than hunger, speaking to a licensed mental health provider can be a great way to learn strategies to fight emotional eating. And if you need help customizing your meal plan to meet specific dietary or medical needs or help finding motivation to get started with a weight loss and fitness routine, consulting with a registered dietitian, such as myself, is your best option. To find a qualified health professional, ask your primary care physician for referrals, contact your insurance carrier for a list of names of in-network providers in your area, or look online in healthcare provider directories for someone who specializes in your needs. Getting online weight loss support Finding support doesn’t mean you have to leave the comfort of your own home. You can find plenty of motivation and advice online. For instance, you can find many great low-cost or no-cost communities online that allow you to talk with other folks striving to lose weight and improve their health. This type of forum can be a great way to share tips, gain motivation, and foster support. Here are some great online forums to check out: Erin Palinski online: Need advice on your Belly Fat Diet plan, getting motivated to lose weight, or adjusting your meal plan to meet your specific health and weight loss needs? This website, provides online and phone coaching, custom meal planning, webinars, and even a free newsletter with tips and ideas. Hello Life: This website contains many active forums on areas of health and wellness, including everything from mental health to weight loss. It also provides insightful articles and Q&A from health experts. Weight Loss Buddy: This is a great site to gain support. You can blog, share pictures and videos, and even keep track of your food and weight loss efforts. This site is a great way to connect with others that share the same goals as you and receive praise and words of encouragement to maintain your motivation to stay on track and achieve your goals. Be careful when looking for information online. Remember that anyone can put up a website or blog. When looking for health information online, make sure you do your research. Look for credible sites run by true medical professionals or organizations. And look for information that’s backed by scientific research.

Step by Step / Updated 07-28-2022

When eaten on a regular basis, foods with anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce inflammation in the body, helping to prevent the long-term health consequences associated with it — but only if you also eliminate the foods that cause inflammation. When inflammation is under control, not only will you have more energy and feel better overall, but you’ll also find that weight loss and reduction of belly fat both become easier! Try adding anti-inflammatory foods into your meal plan on a daily basis. The more often you eat these foods, the less inflammation that will be present in your body. The following foods and nutrients can fight inflammation.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-02-2022

It may sound too good to be true, but losing weight doesn’t have to be complicated. One of the simplest ways to lose weight is by just walking, something you already do each and every day. Anyone can do it, almost anywhere, and at any time. Just get up and start putting one foot in front of the other, and you are well on your way to achieving your weight-loss goals.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-23-2022

You want to know how to lose belly fat, because it not only looks less than desirable, but belly fat and belly bloat also can have very real and very dangerous health implications. The latest research links belly fat to everything from heart disease and type 2 diabetes to certain cancers and even an increased risk of dementia. Sadly, more individuals today are overweight than not, so something needs to change. You can adopt simple, effective strategies and lifestyle changes, such as eating the right foods that burn belly fat and avoiding the foods that cause belly bloat to shrink belly fat and improve how you look. Start on your way to a leaner silhouette by watching Losing Belly Fat and Bloat.

Step by Step / Updated 12-09-2019

Almost any person who’s above an ideal weight carries at least some excess weight in the belly. It’s important to understand what body type you are in order to start losing your belly fat once and for all. How this excess weight makes its way to the belly varies depending on the person, his genetics, and his situation.

Article / Updated 11-04-2018

Some foods can cause belly bloat. This bloat can come on overnight or even after eating just one meal full of belly-bloating foods. Bloat isn’t true belly fat, but it can distend your stomach, making your waistline appear larger. Some foods have an instant belly-bloating effect due to their ability to introduce added gasses to the body, causing stomach distension. Other foods bloat the belly by causing your body to hold on to fluid, giving you that puffy look and feel. You especially want to avoid belly bloat when you’re trying to look your best, such as for an upcoming event like a wedding or party. Some instant belly-bloating foods to avoid in your diet include the following: Carbonated beverages: These gassy drinks fill your belly with air, causing your stomach to look distended and bloated. Instead, drink water or calorie-free beverages that are rich in antioxidants, such as unsweetened green tea with a squeeze of fresh lemon. Gassy vegetables: Vegetables that increase gas production, such as cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, can cause your stomach to look and feel distended due to a buildup of gas in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. But you don’t have to give up these vegetables entirely. If you slowly increase your portions of these vegetables over the course of a few weeks, versus all at once, it allows your body to adjust to them, helping to produce less gas during digestion. When eating these gassier options, also be sure to cook them thoroughly (raw vegetables can produce even more gas). Gum: Chewing gum may trigger you to swallow air, which can bloat your belly and cause it to look distended. And even though sugar-free gum may sound like a better choice, it actually contains a high amount of sugar alcohols. These alcohols are only partially digested in your body, so they can lead to gas, bloating, and GI upset — all things that cause your belly to look and feel bloated. If you do want to chew gum, try to limit yourself to only one or two pieces per day. High-sugar drinks: Drinking a large amount of simple sugars through drinks can lead to spikes in insulin levels. Because an increase in insulin promotes increased fat storage in the abdominal area, you want to avoid these high-sugar drinks. Instead, choose calorie-free beverages, such as water or unsweetened green tea. Or try this lightly flavored, belly-slimming beverage: Freeze 100 percent fruit juice in an ice cube tray. After the juice cubes are frozen, you can pop one into 12 ounces of water. The juice will slowly melt, infusing the water with all-natural flavor with none of the bloat and only a small number of calories. Trans fats: Studies have shown that the intake of trans fats can promote an increase in belly fat. So carefully screen your foods by looking for the words “partially-hydrogenated oil” in the ingredient list. If you see this term, the food you’re selecting contains a source of trans fats. It’s best to avoid foods with trans fats or partially-hydrogenated oils. Foods most likely to contain these belly-busting ingredients include baked goods and pastries, commercially fried foods, snack foods like chips and microwave popcorn, and some instant coffee drinks. Be sure to look at the ingredient list, not just the number of grams of trans fats listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel. Foods can list 0 grams of trans fats if they contain less than half a gram per serving. Less than half a gram sounds fairly harmless, but if you eat multiple servings, you’re still taking in a significant source of trans fats. In fact, research has shown that as little as 2 grams of trans fats can be detrimental to your health, so read those ingredient lists carefully! White flour: Foods that list white flour or enriched flour as the first ingredient are mainly made up of refined carbohydrates. These carbs are digested very quickly, causing spikes in both insulin and blood sugar levels, promoting increased fat storage in the abdominal area. Choose whole-grain options instead. Make sure the first ingredient listed is a whole grain, such as oats or whole wheat. Be cautious when reading labels. Even if a label says “enriched wheat flour” or “wheat flour,” it’s still a refined flour. You want to see the word “whole” in front of the ingredient, such as “whole-wheat flour,” to ensure you’re getting a true whole grain.

Article / Updated 11-04-2018

As you transition into a belly-flattening lifestyle, one that burns belly fat and prevents belly bloat, you need to make a few key dietary changes that will help you lose belly fat. You can make these diet changes gradually over time. The more regularly you stick with these changes, the better your results. The following are some general guidelines to follow: Consume an adequate amount of fiber per day. Aim for a minimum of 30 grams of fiber daily. Fiber provides you with a sense of satiety without any calories. Increasing your fiber intake helps stabilize blood sugar, control cravings, and prevent overeating — all things that help promote weight loss and flatten your belly. Consume an adequate amount of healthy fat each day. Don’t worry. Dietary fat doesn’t equal belly fat. In fact, it’s actually the opposite! Healthy fats in the diet, mainly monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, have been shown to help promote a decrease in belly fat. But portion control is still key here. Even though these fats are healthy, they’re still rich in calories. Consume an adequate amount of lean protein. Lean proteins — which include animal proteins like chicken breast and fish as well as plant-based proteins like tofu and beans — are what make up the majority of your muscle. Without enough dietary protein each day, you may begin to lose muscle mass as you lose weight, which can slow your metabolism. Protein, like fats and fiber, is a nutrient that is slowly digested, helping to regulate appetite and control hunger. Include a source of lean protein at each meal to help you feel satisfied and avoid cravings. Increase your intake of whole fruits and vegetables. Vegetables and fruits are not only rich in filling fiber, but they’re also loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals. Certain antioxidants, such as vitamin C, have been linked with reducing belly fat by helping to regulate stress hormones in the body. They’re also rich in minerals like potassium, which helps to expel excess water from the body, slimming the belly. Drink water. Drinking at least 8 cups of water per day helps keep you hydrated, gives you increased energy, and helps prevent water retention that can bloat your belly. Drinking adequate amounts of fluid also helps with appetite regulation, promoting weight loss.