It’s Not Too Late to Lose the Weight: Three Meal Routines to Slim Your Waistline Before the Holidays
We’ve all made our vision boards, set our goals, and created our to-do lists for 2024. Save money? (Check.) Start journaling? (Check.) Lose weight? (Hmm...) If you're still working on that last one, here are three meal routines that can help slim you down just in time for the office Christmas party!
Dinner is a Great Way to Start the Day
We all know the key to losing weight is managing calorie intake. Experts say the best way to shed pounds is to burn more calories than you consume. For most of us, dinner is our heaviest meal. So, why not flip the script and eat your heaviest meal earlier in the day, giving your body time to burn it off while you’re active? Imagine starting your day with chicken marsala, pasta, and a coffee—sounds interesting, right?
Intermittent Fasting
According to an article by Johns Hopkins Medicine, intermittent fasting doesn’t just focus on what you eat but when you eat. It works by extending the period when your body has burned through the calories from your last meal and starts burning fat. The most popular method is the 16/8 fasting schedule, where you eat for eight hours and fast for the remaining 16 hours.
Shake it Off
Shakes are a go-to option for dropping a few pounds quickly. They’re easy, light, and convenient. Replacing a meal with a leafy green smoothie for breakfast, lunch, or dinner can drastically reduce your calorie intake. The fewer calories you consume, the more your body turns to stored fat for fuel, which leads to weight loss.
Here are a few of my favorite smoothie recipes for any meal of the day:
Tropical Berry Smoothie (1-2 servings)
Fresh (or frozen) blueberries and strawberries
Pineapple chunks
Freshly chopped kale (or spinach)
Flax seeds
Coconut water
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Almond Smoothie
Dark chocolate chunks
Peanut butter protein powder
Chopped spinach
Unsalted almonds
Oat milk
Losing weight and keeping it off can be challenging, but that’s okay. The key to any weight loss journey is to love yourself through the process. Take your time, stay consistent, embrace your natural glow, and let it shine through!
Remember to always consult with your doctor before starting any diet plans or routines.
Chef Sharell Johnson is currently located in Columbia, South Carolina. She is the Owner and Executive Chef of Sharell Cooks, LLC and Food and Drink Editor for Hope Magazine. She holds a BA in Journalism/Mass Communication from the University of South Carolina Upstate. When she’s not cooking or writing, you may spot her in her local thrift store or ice cream shop.