While there's no such thing as spot-training to lose weight in a specific part of the body, there is such a thing as spot-eating. And whether you suffer from muffin tops or thuttocks, there's a food (and recipe) specific for you! Our favourite nutritionist Peggy K tells you why you gain weight in those areas and what to eat to banish the bulge.
[weightlossrecipes]
For the Muffin Top
That muffin top bulging out of your trousers has two causes: stress and insulin resistance.
Try: Peggy's Anti-Muffin Top Smoothie
While the apple is a low glycemic fruit that helps balance the blood sugar levels, almonds contain some of the most important mood-enhancing nutrients, including vitamin B2 (riboflavin), magnesium, vitamin E and zinc and are fantastic stress relievers. The chia seeds are a good source of omega 3 fatty acids (which also aid in weight loss) plus a plethora of antioxidants and other nutrients such as calcium and iron. Its high concentration of insoluble fibre soaks up fluids like a sponge. This increases levels of satiety, keeping you fuller longer. The holy basil tea is an adaptogen, meaning it doesn't directly affect your mood, but it helps your body respond to stress, anxiety, trauma and depression by normalizing neurotransmitter levels in the brain.
Ingredients
2 gala apples, cored and peeled
1 tsp cinnamon
1tbs almond butter
1 cup almond milk
1 cup holly basil tea, steeped and chilled
2 tsp yacon syrup
1 tasp chia seeds
Directions
- Add all ingredients into a blender and blend!
For the Thuttocks
If you tend to gain weight in your butt, hips, thighs or back of the arms, it could be that you're estrogen dominant. Excess estrogen can promote increased fat tissue in estrogen-sensitive fat tissues. For men, this is typically in the belly and chest (man boobs); for women, in the belly, lower butt and upper thighs (thuttocks). These fats tend to be called stubborn fat due to their high resistance to fat burning. The more fat tissue a person has, the more estrogen is produced within his or her cells, which promotes more fat gain, which produces more estrogen, which promotes even more fat gain. Dang! It's no wonder we have a hard time losing weight!
Try: Thuttock Thinning Veggie Soup
Cruciferous vegetables like the cauliflower and the broccoli contain a compound called Indole-3-Carbinol (I-3-C), which is a chemical compound created through the cooking and chewing of the veggies. This compound is then broken down into diindolylmethane (DIM) in the intestinal tract and alters the metabolism of estrogen into a weaker, more beneficial version, making us less estrogenic.
Ingredients
1 onion, diced
4 - 5 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
3/4 cup green peppers, chopped
4 tomatoes, crushed
1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets
1 cup zucchini, chopped
1 can red kidney beans
1 tsp paprika
1 tbsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 litre water
Directions
- Fill a large pot with about 2L (1/2 gallon) of water, add tomatoes and all vegetables (excluding broccoli, zucchini and cauliflower) and bring to boil.
- Once it reaches a boil, add spices and continue to boil until veggies begin to get tender. Then add cauliflower and broccoli, zucchini, kidney beans, oregano and black pepper and continue to boil for another 5 - 10min.
- Reduce to simmer and add a pinch of salt to taste.
- Serve and enjoy.
For Metabolism
Your thyroid is directly responsible for your metabolism. Poor nutrition and stress can get your metabolism to come to a grinding halt so there are some must have nutrients.
Try: Iced Green Yerba Matte Tea
Yerba mate is a South American herb and a member of the holly family. It's rich in nutrients, including B vitamins; vitamins A, C, and E and helps increase the proportion of fat burned as energy. A pinch of kelp in the tea helps satisfy your salt cravings while being low in sodium and boosting metabolism. The Yerba mate tea is pretty high in caffeine content so it makes for a great coffee substitute.
Ingredients
3/4 cup green tea, steeped and chilled
3/4 cup yerba matte steeped and chilled
1 cucumber, juiced
½ lemon, juiced
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Directions
- Mix all ingredients in a pitcher, stir will and pour into high ball glasses filled with ice.
For Belly Bloating
Whether it's that time of the month for most women, or just something we ate, we all can get really bloated! Here is a natural solution to help eliminate temporary water retention and bloating!
Try: Watermelon and Cuke Salad
This gorgeous rceipe makes for a beautiful summer salad. While the watermelon acts as a natural diuretic helping eliminate water retention, the avocado is rich in potassium, which helps flush out excess sodium from the body preventing bloating and water retention.
For the Salad
2 cups watermelon, cubed
1 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup avocado, diced
3 tbs fresh mint leaves, chopped
3 tbs fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
For the Dressing
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 lime, juiced
sea salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in bowl and serve!
