Are you ready to throw out the calculator and just savor the flavor of your food instead? Life’s too short to have to do math at every meal. In this post, So What IF? with Jen will teach you 3 SUPER EASY ways to Lose Weight WITHOUT COUNTING CALORIES! Doesn’t that sound, absolutely GLORIOUS?
3 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Without Counting Calories
These 3 simple, sustainable strategies for fat burning, metabolism boosting, and healthy eating, will have you quickly waving GOODBYE TO THE CALCULATOR and SHOUTING HELLO to TOTAL FOOD FREEDOM!
STRATEGY #1: Start Intermittent Fasting
This is listed as STRATEGY #1 for very good reason. And that is, in my opinion, because it is the ABSOLUTE BEST STRATEGY for how to lose weight without counting calories.
In 2021, at 45 years old, I was introduced to intermittent fasting by a friend at my teaching job. I quickly did my research, and then, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? After years of struggling to lose weight and keep it off, I lost 46 pounds in 4 months. So, you can imagine why I quickly fell in love with this incredible lifestyle.
Seriously, I had failed at so many calorie-counting fad diets prior to finding intermittent fasting. And then… Intermittent fasting COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE. So much so, that I have maintained my weight loss for over three years now, WITHOUT COUNTING A SINGLE CALORIE. Talk about improving my mental health and truly FINDING FOOD FREEDOM.
With intermittent fasting, there’s no need to worry about WHAT you’re going to eat all day long. Instead, you simply focus on WHEN you eat. By limiting your eating to specific time windows, your body naturally creates a calorie deficit and consumes fewer calories without you having to do any complicated math. Plus, intermittent fasting is such an effective method that during fasting periods, your body switches into fat-burning mode, helping you slim down even faster.
It’s super flexible too – you can choose a fasting schedule that fits your lifestyle, whether it’s skipping breakfast or having an early dinner. Many people find it easier to stick to than traditional diets because you’re not constantly saying “NO” to foods you love. You just enjoy them during your eating window!
So, if you want to lose weight without the stress of calorie counting, intermittent fasting is an absolute MUST TRY. It worked for me – and it can totally work for YOU TOO!
I’d love to be the one to help you LEARN ALL ABOUT IT.
STRATEGY #2: Choose Your Food & Drinks Wisely
When it comes to sustainable weight loss and overall health, food quality is KEY! This simple strategy is all about choosing nutrient-dense foods that give you the most bang for your buck when it comes to your weight loss efforts. It’s important to focus on and fill your plate with unprocessed, nutrient-dense whole foods at every meal.
Let’s first talk about the BEST FOODS FOR WEIGHT LOSS. Ditch the nasty ultra-processed foods, and instead, fill your plate with the 3 best categories of food choices for weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.
FIBER-FILLED FRUITS and VEGETABLES
If you want to lose weight without counting calories, FRUITS and VEGETABLES are an Absolute HEALTHY DIET MUST. These rainbow colored nutritious foods are packed with FIBER, which is extremely helpful when it comes to keeping you feeling full and satisfied for longer. Soluble fiber, which absorbs water, slows the absorption of sugars into your bloodstream. This is helpful because lower blood sugar levels mean lower insulin levels -and that means your body is less likely to store fat.
Plus, fresh fruit and veggies are mostly water, so you can munch on more of them without worrying about breaking the calorie bank and packing on the pounds. Finally, fruits and vegetables are bursting with vitamins and minerals that give your body the energy it needs to stay active and on track with your weight loss goals.
BONUS TIP: Although most fruits and vegetables are, indeed, very healthy, it is very important to recognize that they are not all weight-loss friendly. Here’s a list of the 9 Best Weight Loss Friendly Fruits, as well as a list of the 10 Best Weight Loss Friendly Vegetables.
LEAN PROTEINS
Next Up, on the best foods for weight loss list is most definitely…PROTEIN.
A diet packed with high protein boosts your metabolic rate, controls hunger levels, regulates appetite and reduces cravings throughout your weight loss journey. Protein intake also helps keep your energy levels steady throughout the day. This helps knock out those annoying energy crashes that make you want to reach for sugary calorie-packed snacks.
Your body also has to work harder to digest protein, which means you burn more calories just by eating it. Additionally, foods filled with high quality protein are magic for your muscles. This is because protein is great at protecting your muscles while you’re losing body fat.
BONUS TIP: Make sure to invite protein to EVERY SINGLE MEAL. It is also essential that you choose protein sources that are very high quality, like eggs, chicken, and Greek Yogurt. Complete Protein foods (a food source that contains all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own) are excellent choices, as well.
HEALTHY FATS
Healthy fats play a crucial role in supporting weight loss. Unlike saturated and trans fats, healthy fats such as those found in avocados, nuts, olive and coconut oil provide sustained energy and contribute to a feeling of fullness. Including these fats in your diet helps regulate hunger, preventing overeating during eating times.
STRATEGY #3: Practice Mindful Eating
Mindful eating is a very effective way to lose weight without having to keep track of or worry about calorie intake. However, this fat loss strategy often takes some practice. Good news though… If you’re intermittent fasting, mindful eating will start to become second nature to you very quickly.
Here are several tips to help you become a better MINDFUL EATER:
- PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY’S HUNGER and FULLNESS CUES – Before eating, ask yourself if you’re truly physically hungry or if you feel like eating for other reasons, like boredom. Emotional eating is very common, especially when stress levels are high.
- ACKNOWLEDGE and APPRECIATE where the food came from, as well as, who prepared it before eating.
- ENGAGE ALL OF YOUR SENSES – Notice and enjoy the colors, smells, textures and flavors of your food as you eat.
- SLOW WAAAAY DOWN – Take small bites and chew each mouthful 20-40 times to fully experience the flavors. Putting your utensils down between bites is a very effective trick too.
- TURN OFF THE TV – Removing distractions like turning off the TV and putting away your phone, will help you to focus solely on your meal.
- MAKE A MEAL PLAN – Plan out your meals a week or two ahead of time. This will help you avoid impulsive eating, control portion sizes, and stick to healthier choices. It’s also a great idea to cook most of your meals at home. This gives you so much more control when it comes to portion control and healthy ingredients.
BONUS TIP: Put your fork down when you get that very first “feeling of satisfaction” – since it typically takes about 20 minutes for your brain to get the message that your stomach is full after you start eating. This is why eating slowly and mindfully can help prevent overeating, as it gives your body time to recognize that it’s satisfied before you’ve consumed too much food.
The Final Bite
CALORIES, SCHMALLORIES – who cares about the number of calories – let’s just eat and enjoy it!
With these three super-simple strategies, you’ll be able to ditch the calculator and still lose weight without counting calories in no time at all.
Whether you’re ready to rock intermittent fasting, load up on nutrient-packed superfoods, or savor each delicious morsel through mindful eating, you’re in for a no-guilt, stress-free, weight loss journey that will bring you both ENJOYMENT and long term SUCCESS!
Thanks so much for choosing to spend part of your day reading my content. I appreciate YOU very much. Have a truly BLESSED and BEAUTIFUL Day!
If you’d like to learn more about losing weight and getting healthy with intermittent fasting, you can check out my Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss Masterclass RIGHT HERE!
Jen
