Weight Loss Strategies - Don't Go Broke

On January 1st, millions of people traded party clothes for workout wear. Gyms are packed to overflowing and produce is flying out of markets as many seek to fulfill their New Year's resolution to shed pounds.

Following the sting of holiday binging, wallets are lighter and waistbands tighter. If you want to lose weight and save money, pay attention to your CAPS, COPS and PROPS.

• CAPS - CAlories Per Serving
  
  
• COPS - COst Per Serving
  
  
• PROPS - PROtein Per Serving

CAPS

Losing weight requires that you create a calorie deficit. You can create this deficit by eating fewer calories, exercising more or a combination of the two. However, in order to create a calorie deficit you must know how many calories you're eating.

People often look at the total calories but fail to read the calories per serving in foods and snacks. This can cause you to consume far more calories than you realize. For example, you may grab a beverage that you believe has 50 calories. Upon further inspection you realize that the bottle is 2 ½ servings, so rather than 50 calories, it is 125.

COPS

One of the most common complaints of those desiring to eat healthy is that it is expensive. Eating healthier is far less expensive than the cost of poor health.

It is possible to cut your food costs without compromising a healthy lifestyle. To help control your budget and waist, try to keep the costs per serving to $1.50 for meals and $1.00 for snacks.

PROPS

Protein is important to a healthy eating plan. A diet that lacks in protein can cause growth failure, loss of muscle mass, decreased immunity, weakening of the heart and respiratory system.

Protein slows down the movement of food from the stomach to the intestine. Because it takes longer for your stomach to empty you feel full for a longer period of time.

Protein also decreases the glycemic load of a meal. Protein has a steady effect on your blood sugar so you do not get the quick surge that occurs with some carbohydrates such as white potatoes or white bread.

Finally, protein provides a natural boost to your metabolism. Our bodies expend more energy digesting a gram of protein than it does digesting a gram of fat or a gram of carbohydrates.

When you watch your CAPS, COPS, and PROPS, you can watch your bank account and your waist line, and that is truly a reason to pull out those party clothes and celebrate.

About The Author:

Kalvin Chinyere, M.D., fondly known as Dr. Kal, is a weight loss expert and the creator of The Don't Go Broke Diet. Dr. Kal was an overweight child, an obese teen and a morbidly obese adult. He tipped the scale at over 330 pounds. Dr. Kal has since lost and kept off over 140 pounds naturally. Learn more about the Don't Go Broke Diet at his weight loss blog and his weight loss program website.