Skip to content
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

5 Simple Dinner Rules That Help You Burn Fat Overnight

These easy adjustments to your evening meal can support your weight-loss goals.

Happy,Asian,Mature,Man,Holding,Fork,And,Bowl,With,Fresh
Shutterstock

Dinner plays a significant role in weight loss, as what you eat and when you eat can influence how your body processes calories while you sleep. A few simple changes can help your body burn fat more effectively and leave you feeling lighter and more energized in the morning. These five dinner rules are designed to support digestion, boost metabolism, and promote fat loss—without making your meals feel restrictive.


Eat Protein with Every Dinner

Top,Down,View,On,Delicious,Meat,And,Potatoes,Dinner,InShutterstock

Protein is essential for muscle repair and maintenance, which helps boost metabolism. Include lean sources like grilled chicken, fish, tofu, or lentils in your dinner. Protein also promotes satiety, preventing late-night cravings and overeating.

RELATED: This Is Exactly How to Lose Body Fat This Year

Load Up on Non-Starchy Vegetables

Many,Different,Non-starchy,Vegetables,On,A,Wooden,Background.,Harvest,AndShutterstock

Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, zucchini, and peppers are low in calories but high in fiber and nutrients. Filling half your plate with non-starchy veggies supports digestion, keeps you full, and helps regulate blood sugar levels overnight.

Avoid Heavy Sauces and Dressings

Woman,Squeezing,Fresh,Lemon,Over,Bowl,With,Salad,At,CountertopShutterstock

Rich, creamy sauces and dressings can add unnecessary calories and fat to your meals. Opt for lighter alternatives like olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or lemon juice to enhance flavor without compromising your weight-loss goals.

Don’t Eat Too Late

Golden,Face,Alarm,Clock,At,8,O'clock,Close,Up.Shutterstock

Eating too close to bedtime can disrupt digestion and hinder fat burning. Aim to finish dinner at least two to three hours before you sleep to give your body enough time to process the meal. This helps prevent bloating and supports overnight metabolism.

RELATED: 9 Weight Loss Tricks A Dietitian Uses During The Holidays

Keep Portions in Check

Balanced,Diet,And,Healthy,Foods.,Plate,With,Different,Delicious,ProductsShutterstock

Large dinner portions can lead to overeating, especially if you’re winding down for the evening. Use smaller plates to control portions and focus on mindful eating. Balance your meal with appropriate servings of protein, vegetables, and whole grains to keep it satisfying but calorie-conscious. By following these simple dinner rules, you can optimize your evening meals to burn fat overnight and wake up feeling lighter and more energized. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

More For You

Happy,Asian,Mature,Man,Holding,Fork,And,Bowl,With,Fresh
Shutterstock
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Dinner plays a significant role in weight loss, as what you eat and when you eat can influence how your body processes calories while you sleep. A few simple changes can help your body burn fat more effectively and leave you feeling lighter and more energized in the morning. These five dinner rules are designed to support digestion, boost metabolism, and promote fat loss—without making your meals feel restrictive.


Eat Protein with Every Dinner

Top,Down,View,On,Delicious,Meat,And,Potatoes,Dinner,InShutterstock

Protein is essential for muscle repair and maintenance, which helps boost metabolism. Include lean sources like grilled chicken, fish, tofu, or lentils in your dinner. Protein also promotes satiety, preventing late-night cravings and overeating.

RELATED: This Is Exactly How to Lose Body Fat This Year

Load Up on Non-Starchy Vegetables

Many,Different,Non-starchy,Vegetables,On,A,Wooden,Background.,Harvest,AndShutterstock

Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, zucchini, and peppers are low in calories but high in fiber and nutrients. Filling half your plate with non-starchy veggies supports digestion, keeps you full, and helps regulate blood sugar levels overnight.

Avoid Heavy Sauces and Dressings

Woman,Squeezing,Fresh,Lemon,Over,Bowl,With,Salad,At,CountertopShutterstock

Rich, creamy sauces and dressings can add unnecessary calories and fat to your meals. Opt for lighter alternatives like olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or lemon juice to enhance flavor without compromising your weight-loss goals.

Don’t Eat Too Late

Golden,Face,Alarm,Clock,At,8,O'clock,Close,Up.Shutterstock

Eating too close to bedtime can disrupt digestion and hinder fat burning. Aim to finish dinner at least two to three hours before you sleep to give your body enough time to process the meal. This helps prevent bloating and supports overnight metabolism.

RELATED: 9 Weight Loss Tricks A Dietitian Uses During The Holidays

Keep Portions in Check

Balanced,Diet,And,Healthy,Foods.,Plate,With,Different,Delicious,ProductsShutterstock

Large dinner portions can lead to overeating, especially if you’re winding down for the evening. Use smaller plates to control portions and focus on mindful eating. Balance your meal with appropriate servings of protein, vegetables, and whole grains to keep it satisfying but calorie-conscious. By following these simple dinner rules, you can optimize your evening meals to burn fat overnight and wake up feeling lighter and more energized. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

people, diet, culinary and food concept - hungry young woman eating meat on fork over kitchen background
Shutterstock
Fact-Checked

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

Do you want to burn fat without having to make major changes to your life? According to experts, there are a few simple things you can do to majorly amplify fat loss. Mike Diamonds, MD, founder of Sculpt by Science, is social media famous for sharing helpful hacks on how to get into shape and lose weight. In a recent clip, he reveals some little-known tips for burning belly fat. “These are five fat loss cheat codes. I wish I knew when I started,” he says at the start of the YouTube Shorts clip. We also asked our Resident RDN, The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian, and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies, to weigh in.


Walk for Cardio

Heart,Rate,monitor,Smartwatch,,Runner,Time,Shutterstock

“Number one, walking should be your main form of cardio,” says Diamonds, citing research that has shown that it burns the most fat. “I’m not sure it actually burns the most fat, but low to moderate intensity cardio is great, especially for beginners,” says Collingood. “Walking is simple—it doesn't take any equipment other than a good pair of shoes,” she adds. It can also be social. “Meet friends or family or take the dog with you for a nice brisk walk.”

RELATED:5 Best Exercises for “Bra Bulge” After 50

High Protein Diet

Grilled top sirloin or cup rump beef meat steak on marble board. Black background. Top viewShutterstock

Next, “the formula to being able to build muscle and lose fat is a high protein diet,” claims Diamonds. “30 to 50 grams per meal multiplied by a caloric deficit and weightlifting.” Collingwood agrees that you “definitely want protein to maintain and build muscle,” adding that it also keeps you satisfied.

Seven to Eight Hours of Sleep

Sleeping,sleep,snooze,bed,asleep,night,dreamShutterstock

“Three, sleep a minimum of seven to eight hours,” says Diamonds. “Sleeping any less will feel like playing Call of Duty or FIFA in hard mode.” Collingwood agrees that sleep is “absolutely necessary,” recommending 7 to 9 hours “to recover the body and help with hormone regulation.”

Morning Workouts and Exercise in Afternoon

Runners,Fitness,Couple,Running,Training,On,Beach.,Morning,Cardio,Workout,exercise,sand,sea,ocean,sunShutterstock

“Train in the morning and eat in the afternoon. Myself and my clients find the most productive formula is to train in the morning and then break your fast after midday,” claims Diamonds. “Morning is great for training but if you wait several hours to eat you are leaving yourself open to poor recovery,” notes Collingwood. “It is better to eat something within an hour after training, especially if training is intense or long.”

RELATED:3 Best Practices for Walking, by a Podiatrist

Eat the Same Food Every Day for a Week

Beautiful young sports people are talking and smiling while cooking healthy food in kitchen at homeShutterstock

And his last tip, “track your diet for one day and then eat the same food every day for a week. This will make your journey so much easier,” he says. “Tracking what you eat can be very eye opening, but it’s not necessary to eat the same thing every day,” says Collingwood. “Variety is better for the gut microbiome and to keep you from getting bored or feeling deprived.”

💪🔥Body Booster: In order to maximize belly fat, start by taking a look at your diet and making sure you are meeting the protein recommendations for your height, weight, and gender.

Peaceful serene beautiful young lady wear pajamas lying asleep relaxing sleeping in cozy white bed on soft pillow resting covered with blanket enjoying good healthy sleep concept, above top view
Shutterstock
Fact-Checked

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

It seems too good to be true, but you can actually burn belly fat while you sleep. Max Posternak, a fitness trainer and influencer who founded Gravity Transformation, regularly shares tips and tricks on how to blast fat and get into shape efficiently and effectively. In a recent viral video, he discusses a few things you can do to accelerate weight loss, even when you are resting. “Here are three extremely effective tips to burn more fat while sleeping,” he says at the start of the clip. Body Network’s Resident RDN, The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian, co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies, also weighs in on his tips.


Make Sure You Are Getting Enough Iodine, Zinc, Selenium, and Vitamin D

Young Woman is holding Vitamin D Capsule. Sun and blue Sky.Shutterstock

First, you want to “optimize your thyroid function mostly by making sure that you're getting enough iodine, zinc, selenium, and vitamin D,” says Posternak. “Make sure you're having iodine, salt for iodine, oysters for zinc, seafood for selenium and sunlight exposure, or a supplement for vitamin D.” How does this help? “Optimizing your thyroid function can increase your metabolism by up to a thousand calories a day.”

Build More Muscle

Bodyweight workout. Athletic pulling up showing back muscle at gym. Muscular man exercise pull up on bar in fitness gym.Shutterstock

Next tip? Build more muscle. “Not only does muscle mass require a lot of calories to maintain even while you sleep, but it also increases insulin sensitivity and depletes glycogen stores, which will help recycle carbohydrates rather than storing them as fat,” he says.

RELATED: 13 Strategies to Burn Body Fat Faster Than Ever Before, From a Champion Bodybuilder

Eat More Protein

,High,Protein.,Healthy,Eating,,Diet,meat,chicken,steak,beef,fish,salmonShutterstock

“And the third thing is to eat more protein, at least 0.7 grams of protein per pound of body weight,” says Posternak. “This is because protein has a high thermic effect. This means that the amount of energy it takes for your body to digest, process, and store protein is much higher when compared to other nutrients. Some studies estimate that between 15 to 30 percent of the calories taken in from protein are used right back up during the digestion process.”

Body Network’s Resident RDN Weighs In

Tara_Collingwood2Diet Diva/Facebook

Collingwood agrees that thyroid function is important when it comes to burning fat. However, “eating more of these nutrients isn’t going to necessarily make your thyroid work ‘better’ or burn more calories,” she says. A deficiency in the nutrients he mentions could affect thyroid function, but there are plenty of foods you can eat for these nutrients if you don’t enjoy oysters and seafood,” she adds.

Or, if you don’t like any foods with these nutrients, you can always take a multivitamin just as a catch-all to ensure daily intake. She completely agrees with his muscle-building suggestion. “The more muscle you have on your body, the more calories you burn 24 hours a day, even while you sleep! You also burn more working, exercising, and relaxing,” she notes. And, yes,” protein burns calories while digesting, keeps you full longer, and helps you preserve muscle while trying to lose weight,” she says.

RELATED: 5 Best Cardiovascular Exercises to Lose Body Fat

One More Tip: Move All Day

tara_collingwood6dietdivatara/Instagram

Collingwood offers another tip. “Increase your metabolism for the entire day by staying moving as much as possible,” she encourages. “Sitting all day long, which most of us do, significantly reduces metabolism. Try to go for a 3 to 5-minute walk every 60 to 90 minutes throughout your work day to keep that metabolism up!”

💪🔥Body Booster: If you want to burn more fat while sleeping amp up protein and build muscle while you are awake.

FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Expert-Recommended

We've consulted with our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians to bring you informed recommendations for food products, health aids and nutritional goods to safely and successfully guide you toward making better diet and nutrition choices. We strive to only recommend products that adhere to our philosophy of eating better while still enjoying what you eat.

You’ve heard that “you are what you eat,” but when it comes to weight loss, you are also how you sleep. Science has found a link between sleep and obesity, which means that cleaning up your sleep hygiene can help you achieve your weight loss goals. Celebrity fitness trainer and health and wellness expertJenna Willis maintains that there are a few bedtime rituals that can help prime your body for weight loss overnight.


Drink a Cup of Herbal Tea

Her first recommendation is to drink a cup of herbal tea. “Enjoying caffeine-free herbal tea, such as chamomile or peppermint, helps relax your body and aids in digestion, creating the perfect conditions for overnight fat burning,” the Los Angeles-based fitness expert, whose clients include Camila Cabello and Lala Kent, tells Body Network.

Studies Find That Tea Offers Lots of Other Health Benefits

Organic Green Tea with Jasmine Flower and Jasmine Tea with Dried Leaves on tea cupShutterstock

Science agrees with Willis and then some. Numerous studies have shown that a variety of teas may boost your immune system, fight off inflammation, and even ward off cancer and heart disease.

Eat Your Last Meal Five Hours Before Bed

Next, make sure to go to bed on an empty stomach, says Willis. “Eating late can cause your digestive system to stay active while you sleep, leading to discomfort, indigestion, or acid reflux,” she explains.

It Will Give Your Body Time to Digest

Cheerful,Young,Woman,Eating,Healthy,Breakfast,While,Sitting,On,AShutterstock

There are other benefits to eating your last meal earlier. “Stopping food intake earlier allows your body to fully digest, promoting better rest, as your body is focused on rest rather than digestion!” she says.

RELATED:This Diet Is More Effective Than Ozempic, Says Weight Loss Coach

Avoid Late-Night Snacking

She also recommends avoiding the urge to snack at night. “Giving your body a break from food a few hours before bed allows your metabolism to focus on burning stored fat instead of digesting late-night snacks,” she says.

There Are Benefits of Time Restricted Eating

Intermittent fasting, health care asian young woman dietary, having stomach ache, temptation hungry of breakfast food in morning on table at home, looking at watch on her wrist but not yet time to eatShutterstock

Avoiding late night snacking and eating your last meal earlier in the day are part of intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting works by “prolonging the period when your body has burned through the calories consumed during your last meal and begins burning fat,” explains Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Set a Consistent Sleep Schedule

Next, be consistent with your sleep schedule. “Sticking to the same bedtime and wake-up time each day helps regulate your body’s internal clock, enhancing metabolism and promoting fat burning,” says Willis.

RELATED:I Lost 50 Pounds in 75 Days with the 75 Hard Challenge

Sleep Boasts So Many Benefits

Top view of young woman sleeping on side in her bed at night. Beautiful girl sleeping profoundly and dreaming at home with blue blanket. High angle view of woman asleep with closed eyes.Shutterstock

There are so many benefits of sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, getting enough z’s is a mood booster, promotes heart health, regulates blood sugar, improves mental function, restores your immune system, helps relieve stress, and aids in weight loss.

Turn Off Screens

Another great nighttime health habit? Turn off your screens. “Minimizing blue light exposure from devices before bed supports melatonin production, improving sleep quality and boosting overnight weight loss,” says Willis.

RELATED:3 Proven Tips to Lose Even More Pounds on GLP-1 Drugs

Follow Jenna Willis on Social Media

Jenna Willis is one social media. You can follow her on Instagram or Facebook or head over to her website for more information. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Abram Anderson
Abram Anderson/Instagram
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Do you want to burn fat without counting calories or spending hours at the gym? Abram Anderson is a weight loss coach who regularly shares tips on how to burn fat fast. In a few new video post, he reveals simple hacks for burning fat that take very little effort. “Do you want to lose weight faster than what you're currently doing? But you do not want to count calories, you do not want to take supplements, and you don't want to have to use willpower?” he says, going on to reveal them.


Focus on Speeding Up Your Metabolism

To burn fat fast, you need to rev up your fat-burning system. “One of the tips that I give,” he says in the post, “is to try to speed up your metabolism. There's a few different ways to speed up your metabolism extremely easily.”

RELATED: 5 High-Protein Breakfasts Hollywood Trainer Magnus Lygdback Swears By

Do 30 Seconds of an Activity Right Before You Eat

The first suggestion he has? “You can do 30 seconds of an activity right before you eat. You'll be able to increase your insulin sensitivity right before you eat. You'll be able to eat the same number of calories and store less as fat that way, plus you have a higher metabolism,” he says.

Or, Add Spices to Your Food

“Or you can try to eat spicier food,” he says. “If you were just to add spices to your food, you can literally eat the same number of calories once again and actually burn more of them without having them stored as body fat,” he claims.

Two Tablespoons of Fermented Food Per Meal Helps Melt Body Fat

In another video, he reveals something you should add to every meal to melt body fat. “According to scientific research, two tablespoons of a fermented food with meals” is all you need “if you want to improve your microbiome and melt body fat drastically,” he says.

RELATED: Weight Loss Coach Lost 40 Pounds and Kept It Off for 14 Years With These 5 Changes

Kimchi Is the Best One to Eat

Korean,Traditional,Kimchi,On,A,Dark,Background.Shutterstock

“It's not just any fermented food. According to our data, it seems that kimchi seems to far outweigh the benefits for weight loss and microbiome health compared to anything else,” he continues. “So the yogurt just doesn't cut it. But if you could have kimchi in your diet, it can do absolute wonders.”

Disruption of Blood Sugar Leads to Overeating

“If you want to learn how to stop overeating so you can melt body fat easier, this is the advice that we give to our clients inside of our health and life coaching program. And it's helped them melt 20, 50, a hundred plus pounds of body fat without counting calories,” he continues. “This advice might work for you, too. By far, the biggest thing that is leading to overeating is a disruption in your blood sugar levels.”

Here Is the Secret to Prevent Binge Eating

Healthy,Food.,Selection,Of,Good,Carbohydrate,Sources,,High,Fiber,RichShutterstock

“What happens is you eat something that's high in carbohydrates and easy to digest, and you get a blood sugar spike. When you have a blood sugar spike, even if you're staying in normal ranges, your body will release insulin, which will cause a blood sugar spike down. That spike down causes you to feel uncontrollably hungry, where you feel like you can eat everything in sight,” he says. “The solution to this is to add in complex carbohydrates, water, and a food from nature inside of that meal, and that's how you prevent binge eating.”

And, Walking Is the Most Effective Workout for Losing Body Fat

“Walking has proven to be the most effective exercise for losing body fat, at least for my clients,” adding that “it doesn't actually require a whole lot of effort in order to see phenomenal results with it.” However, when you walk matters. “If you choose when you do your walk, you can actually maximize your results. So if you were to actually walk first thing in the morning or walk immediately after a workout for whatever reason, that seems to increase the amount of body fat you lose. And my theory is twofold,” he says.

Walking in the Morning Can Help Curb Cortisol Levels When They Are the Highest

“One, when you walk in the morning, you get sunshine, and your cortisol levels are the highest. You can actually curb that and better metabolize stress hormones because cortisol has been shown to be both anabolic to fat and catabolic muscle. So you can curb that if you walk in the morning,” he says.

RELATED:8 Tips to Make Losing Weight Feel Effortless, From Proven Experts

Walking Post Workout Can Utilize the Afterburn Effect

Young,Woman,Wearing,Sportswear,Is,Walking,On,A,Treadmill,AtShutterstock

The other best time to walk? “Two, if you were to walk after a workout, you actually utilize something called the afterburn effect,” he says. This is “where you burn additional calories even after your workout, and it's like extending it.” And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Chris Freytag ChrisFreytag
Copyright chrisfreytag/Instagram
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Not every workout you see on social media is all it’s hyped up to be. However, there are some you should try. Chris Freytag is a fitness and lifestyle coach and the founder of Get Healthy U, a comprehensive fitness hub. In a new social media post, she reveals a fitness trend that lives up to its hype. “The Viral Workout Trend That Actually WORKS,” she writes in the caption. Here is everything you need to know about it.

The 4-2-1 Method

She goes on to reveal the concept of the 4-2-1 method:

  • 4 days of strength training workouts
  • 2 days of cardio
  • 1 day of mobility/ activity recovery.

It Is Effective for Weight Loss and Building Muscle

“This 4-2-1 training method that took off on Tik-Tok has 4 strength training days, 2 days of cardio, and 1 day of mobility or active recovery each week,” she writes. “This 4-2-1 workout plan can be an effective way to lose weight, maintain muscle mass, and improve your overall fitness.”

She Also Endorses This Walking Hack

In another post, she reveals a walking hack to improve your health. “Here’s a game-changer: Walking for 10 minutes after each meal can be more effective than walking for a full hour at another time of day,” she says. “I am a follower of the @gluecosegoddess (Jessie Inchauspé), who says walking after a meal is a crucial practice to help manage blood sugar levels by preventing large spikes and promoting better glucose absorption into your muscle!”

Walk After Every Meal

“If you can just get up and take some steps: 10 minutes after breakfast, lunch and, dinner,” she continues. “That’s only 30 minutes total—but research shows you’ll see more health benefits than from one continuous 60-minute walk!”

There Are Lots of Benefits of Walking After Meals

She explains that fat loss isn’t the only benefit of walking after you eat. “Besides getting in some steps, post-meal walks help stabilize blood sugar levels, boost digestion, and increase energy and metabolism.

Break Walking Into Smaller Chunks to Make It More “Doable”

“So break it down into smaller chunks and walk around the block; hop on your walking pad; march around your house; just move after every meal,” she concludes. She adds that many people will find that this method makes it more “doable.”

Ruth Soukup
​Eat More Protein
Copyright ruthsoukup/Instagram

Do you want to lose weight but aren’t sure what foods to eat and which to avoid? Ruth Soukup is a midlife health and mindset coach who lost almost 50 pounds. She regularly shares her tips and tricks with hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers. “I lost 49 pounds at age 43 without dieting or Ozempic,” she writes. In two posts, she reveals 7 foods she eats “pretty much every day” and 7 she avoids. “I struggled with my weight for YEARS before I finally stopped dieting once and for all, and just focused on balancing my hormones instead. In the process, I lost 49 pounds and have kept it off, without ever counting calories,” she says.

What She Eats: Animal Protein

chicken nest with eggs. A woman's hand takes the eggs from the nest. The hen laid the eggs. farmer collects eggs​EggsShutterstock

Animal protein is the first item on her list. “This usually includes bone broth and farm fresh eggs in the morning, chicken at lunch, and either beef, chicken, pork, or fish at dinnertime,” she says.

Healthy Fat

Delicious fresh cottage cheese in bowl on table, closeup​5. Greek Yogurt/Cottage CheeseShutterstock

She also makes sure to eat healthy fat. “This mostly comes from avocado oil, EVOO, and butter, but also full fat dairy—heavy cream, cream cheese, cheese, sour cream, greek yogurt, and cottage cheese,” she says.

Vegetables

Asparagus. Fresh Asparagus. Pickled Green Asparagus. Bunches of green asparagus in basket, top view- Image13. Asparagus: 20 caloriesShutterstock

She eats lots of veggies, too. “Lots of broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, asparagus, bell peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, carrots, and Brussels Sprouts. I don’t eat a ton of salad, unless it’s a good Caesar with homemade dressing, which I make every few weeks,” she says.

Fresh Berries

Freshly picked blueberries in wooden bowl. Juicy and fresh blueberries with green leaves on rustic table. Bilberry on wooden Background. Blueberry antioxidant. Concept for healthy eating and nutritionShutterstock

Fruits are also on her shopping list, especially fresh berries. “Mostly strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries,” she writes.

Fermented Foods

Milk,Kefir,Grains,Spoon, probiotics, health, gut, food, diet​Probiotic Foods: Kefir Greek YogurtShutterstock

“I try to eat at least a little bit of fermented food every day for the probiotics,” she says. “My favorite is kimchi, but I’ll also do fresh sauerkraut or kefir, and I make my own fermented ketchup (scroll down in my feed for the recipe.)”

Starches

Multi,Grain,Sourdough,Bread,With,Flax,Seeds,Cut,On,AShutterstock

Starches are also part of her diet. “I don’t tend to eat a ton of starchy food, but I do love real sourdough bread, and I also sometimes make potatoes or jasmine rice to go with dinner, depending on what we’re having,” she says.

Seasonings

Garlic Cloves and Bulb in vintage wooden bowl.​Prebiotic Foods: GarlicShutterstock

She also invests money in seasoning. “Generally lots of salt, pepper, garlic & onion powder, fresh herbs and hot sauce,” she writes. One of her favorites? The Green Dragon sauce from Trader Joes.

She Doesn’t Eat: Vegetable Oil

Woman,Buying,Cooking,Oil,In,Supermarket,canola,olive,Shutterstock

In another post, she reveals what she eliminated from her diet. “Vegetable oil or any other highly processed seed oils, as well as Crisco and margarine,” she writes. “These are all so toxic and highly inflammatory! I also tend to avoid any processed foods that contain these oils. Instead, I cook with butter, avocado oil, and olive oil.”

Sugar

White granulated sugar and refined sugar cubes close-up in the kitchenSutterstock

She also stays away from sugar. “If I do need to use a sweetener for a recipe, I typically stick to monkfruit or allulose or a blend of those two,” she says.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

High,fructose,Corn,Syrup,Or,Hfcs,Food,Shutterstock

High fructose corn syrup is another no-no. “Another highly toxic and inflammatory ingredient I try to avoid that is sadly way too common in so many processed foods,” she writes

Packaged Side Dishes

American creamy macaroni and cheese pasta mac & Cheese

Shutterstock

Ruth also recommends avoiding packaged side dishes, “such as mac and cheese, stuffing, rice pilaf blends, scalloped potatoes, hamburger helper, etc.” These are highly processed foods.

Breakfast Cereal

multicolored cereals in a white bowl on blue backgroundShutterstock

Ruth strongly suggests staying away from breakfast cereal. Most of it is highly processed and contains lots of additives and sugar. If you want to eat cereal, opt for a higher-fiber, lower-sugar option.

Brownie and Cake Mix

Protein Brownie Batter

Brownies and cake mixes are also on her list of things to avoid. If you do enjoy baking, try cooking from scratch using healthier flours and sweeteners, which will result in a less processed and more nutritious product.

Fruit Juice

Close up of teenage woman drinking juice while looking through a window.​5. Fruit JuiceShutterstock

According to Ruth, fruit juice may sound nutritious, but you should stay away. ”Except for Clamato, which we use for Bloody Marys on the weekend! The rest of it is just pure sugar,” she says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Gillian Ferguson the_macro_method
Coach Lost 50 Pounds with the Help of These 5 Sunday Habits
Copyright the_macro_method/Instagram
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Do you want to lose weight while staying full? You may need to amp up your fiber intake. Gillian Ferguson is a social media influencer who lost 55+ lbs on Semaglutide and is now “microdosing Tirzepatide,” she writes in her Instagram bio. In a new post, she reveals some creative ways she increases fiber in her diet. “10 easy ways to sneak fiber into your diet,” she writes in the post.

Why Fiber Is Important

“Want to lose weight + improve your health? Let’s talk about FIBER,” Sine writes, going onto list the benefits of a high-fiber diet:

  • Lowers total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (aka “bad” cholesterol).
  • Improves blood sugar control.
  • Keeps you regular.
  • Supports gut health.
  • Supports weight loss + management.
  • Protects against colorectal cancer.

Add Avocado

The first way she adds fiber into her diet is by eating avocado. “One medium-sized avocado has about 10 grams of fiber,” she says. “I know you know how to add avo 👌 so I’ll stop there.”

Sprinkle on Some Seeds

Next, sprinkle on some seeds. “Try incorporating a tablespoon or two of small seeds, like chia, flax, or hemp, into your day. An ounce of chia seeds, for example, provides 10g of fiber,” she writes. “You can blend into your smoothie or sprinkle on a salad.”

Level Up Your Smoothie

You can also “level up” your smoothie. “It’s so easy to fit a big dose of fiber into a smoothie without even trying! After picking your protein, add fruit and veggies (like spinach, kale, or frozen cauliflower rice) and some fiber rich fats like flax seeds, hemp seeds, nut butters, or avocado,” she writes.

Learn to Love Veggies

Learn to love veggies. “Non-starchy vegetables, like leafy greens, broccoli, and cauliflower, provide both fiber and volume for little calories. My favorite way to eat veggies right now is in the air fryer,” she says.

Swap Out Your Pastas

Next, switch up your pastas. “It’s in your best interest to choose whole grain and legume-based (chickpea or lentil) pastas most of the time!” she writes. “One serving of Barilla Whole Grain Penne has 7 grams fiber per serving.”

Amy Up Your Oats

“Oats are a nutritional powerhouse rich in beta-glucan—a soluble fiber that functions as a prebiotic fiber that is effective at lowering total and LDL cholesterol,” says Sine, recommending oatmeal and overnight oats.

Berries

She also says to eat berries. “Just one cup of raspberries contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber! I eat every day in my yogurt!”

Switch Up Your Snacks

Switch up your snacks. “Snack time is a good time to up your fiber intake since fiber can help you feel full,” she says. “Popcorn, fruit w nut butter, sliced veggies w hummus or guac, edamame.”

Choose Plant Proteins

Plant proteins are also high in fiber. “Think: beans, chickpeas, lentils, quinoa (and other ‘ancient’/whole grains),” she says.

Pick a Better Brea

You don’t have to omit bread. Just a “pick a better bread,” says Sine. “If you eat bread or a wrap choose one with fiber!!! The wrap I eat my lunch on has 17g fiber!” And if you enjoyed this article, don't missthese 8 High-Protein Foods with Nearly Zero Calories That Melt Fat.