Is Your Diet Hurting You? How To Eat Healthy and Feel Amazing!

Fad diets deprive your body of essential nutrients. They put you on a roller coaster where you lose tons of weight only to gain it back (with interest). Do any of these symptoms apply to you?

• Tiredness or exhaustion

• Irritability

• Hunger

• Digestive problems

• Headaches

• Joint pain

• Coldness

Healthy eating should never leave you feeling exhausted, irritable or in pain. A great diet makes you feel energized and happy while giving you incredible results in the mirror! Here are four tips for eating right without depriving yourself:

Secret #1: Watch Your Foods Instead of Your Calories

Diets that make you count calories are a chore, not something that makes you happy. That’s I why I always tell people to focus on what foods you’re eating more than how much.

Look for foods that are packed with healthy nutrients for your body, such as antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. They can ease inflammation, boost your mood and speed up fat burning! Here are the best foods for losing weight:

• Fruit: Raspberries, blueberries, pears, apples, oranges and strawberries

• Vegetables: Broccoli, peas, cauliflower, sweet corn and carrots

• Grains: Barley, oat bran, quinoa and oatmeal

• Nuts: Almonds, pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts and chia seeds

• Proteins: Shrimp, salmon, chicken breast and eggs

• Dairy: Green yogurt, low-fat milk and low-fat cheese

The best weight-loss diet for keeping the pounds off is one rich in protein and fiber. High-protein foods reduce your hunger naturally, making cravings for junk food go away. Fiber gives your body a feeling of fullness and it improves your gut health to boot.

Secret #2: Eat Happy

Food exists to make you happy. Don’t forget that. Eat the foods you love with the people you love. Relaxing meals are a great recipe for long-term weight loss and they're good for your heart, too.

Who doesn’t love the taste of flavorful fajitas with grilled chicken, cilantro, avocado slices and spicy peppers? Delicious meals can also be packed with vitamins.

Don’t feel guilty if you indulge sometimes with friends. That’s fine. Your body can handle it, trust me. Losing weight is about your normal routine consisting of nutritious foods.

Secret #3: Get Smaller Plates

This little trick surprises all of my friends. Your brain can trick you into feeling hungry when you’re really not. If you normally eat on huge plates, switch them with smaller ones. You won’t believe the difference it makes. Smaller servings help you feel more satisfied, not less.

Secret #4: Maximize Fat Burning Naturally

Snacking on sweets at night is a problem for weight loss; the sugar goes straight to your waistline. If you get the munchies a lot, you're probably not getting enough protein earlier in the day. Still hungry? Choose air-popped popcorn, a piece of fruit, plain yogurt or some nuts.

Jump-starting your metabolism in the morning is one of the most important ways to lose weight, so always eat breakfast. The best part is that you burn off these calories during the day. Whether you follow a low-carb keto diet or just want the best vitamins for supercharging weight loss, your body is begging you for breakfast energy.