The Easiest Way to Lose Weight and See Results

I teach fitness classes at two gyms and I have had a handful of people ask me about nutrition and tips on how to lose weight. These people come religiously to class after class yet some get frustrated when they aren't seeing results. Here's the easiest way to lose weight and see results from your hard work at the gym: change your diet to a whole foods plant based diet. Many people work so hard at the gym, both males and females, but without having a healthy diet to compliment your hard work, little results will be shown.

I personally know people who weren't happy with their weight and all they did was change their diet and they lost impressive amounts of weight, all without even going to the gym! What you put into your body is so important because without a focus on good nutrition and health you won't be able to reach your fitness or health goals. My good friend who is a guy (who is also a vegan and follows a whole foods plant based diet) tells me all of his guy friends who go to the gym are constantly asking him what he does to gain muscle and stay fit because these guys go to the gym with him and basically do the same things he does. They wonder why they aren't getting the same results as him and he explains it is largely due to his clean diet.

Now I strongly believe that it is not about what you look like but rather more how you feel. I've been on a whole foods plant based diet for over a year, I don't have six pack abs but I work out almost five days a week and I feel strong, healthy and full of energy. I also feel like the work I do at the gym pays off because I'm eating a healthy diet. At the same time I can eat as much as I want...that is by far the best part about a whole foods plant based diet. No counting calories and no depriving yourself from eating. If you're interested more on a whole foods plant based diet check out this awesome book: Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman

He also has a website:  http://www.drfuhrman.com/

An Example of a whole foods plant based diet Day of Meals:

• Breakfast: Old Fashioned Oatmeal with chia seeds, walnuts and a banana mixed in (all optional)
• Mid-day snack: I usually work out in the morning so I refuel after with either a vegetable juice or a green smoothie
• Lunch: Quinoa or brown rice with beans (I like black beans and chick peas) and some salsa mixed in (avocado is always great too!). I'll do veggies on the side too like broccoli or cucumbers and tomatoes cut up
• Snack before dinner: Apple and a PB&J sandwich. I use Ezekiel bread (you can get this at Trader Joe's) which is super healthy/ way better than regular bread (here's why: http://authoritynutrition.com/ezekiel-bread/) and peanut butter that only has peanuts as the ingredients
• Dinner: Usually a big green salad and I like to get creative and put anything and everything in it such as: veggies, beans, nuts, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, sometimes fruit, avocado, salsa. Anything that is healthy and helps make the salad taste zestier. Depending on how hungry I am I may also eat a sweet potato
• If I get hungry later or if I'm craving something I'll make a vegan "milkshake" check out my simple recipe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlSZYbayPAk

This is just an example..I'm always trying to get more greens into my diet whenever I can. I also always eat if I'm hungry. Hope this helps :)