It seems like the low carb revolution is on its way out and the move toward allowing healthy carbs is in.
Ready to reintroduce carbs back into your lifestyle? Here are three healthy ways to let bread and potatoes back in without gaining back all the weight you worked so hard to lose.
1. Eat whole grain foods. Just because you’re finally eating carbs doesn’t mean you need to go all out and hit the Wonder bread isle. Whole grain breads, crackers, and cereals are loaded with fiber, which means that you can eat less of it and it’ll fill you up more. Plus, fiber is great for aiding digestion and making your metabolism work more efficiently.
2. Portion control. The best and healthiest way to lose weight is to allow all food groups into your diet, but in healthy-sized portions. Listen to your hunger signals, eat only when you’re hungry, and stop before you’re so full that you’re ready to puke. Carbs are not bad; just too much carbs are bad.
3. Combine “anti-inflammatory” foods along with your carbs. These foods affect hunger hormones (like leptin and ghrelin) which, when stimulated, do a good job of letting your body know that now is a good time to stop eating. Think of these anti-inflams as all natural diet pills—in essence they trigger the same hormones that diet pills trigger and end up curbing your appetite in a similar way. Good anti-inflammatory foods include fiber-rich whole grains, leafy and brightly colored veggies, fresh fruit (especially berries), oatmeal, walnuts, seeds, fish, and herbal and green teas. P.S. You’ll also want to avoid pro-inflammatory foods which do the opposite and will make you gain weight. These foods include foods that contain nitrates (like hot dogs and deli meat), foods high in saturated fat (like fatty meats), and foods loaded with sugar (soda, candy, cake—you don’t need help with this list).