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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.

Man Lost 140 Pounds With These 9 Meal Prep Tips

One weight loss warrior shares insight into how he lost weight fast.

Leah Groth
By Leah GrothNov 28, 2024
Leah Groth
Writer, Editor, and Content Creator
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related.
See Full Bio
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✓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.

Mo Nasraddin
Copyrights Mo Nasraddin
Leah Groth
By Leah GrothNov 28, 2024
Leah Groth
Writer, Editor, and Content Creator
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related.
See Full Bio
Follow:
✓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.

Nutrition & Diet

Are you looking for some meal prep tips? Mo Nasraddin is a weight loss warrior, the founder of Weight Loss Paradise, and a social media influencer who shares tips and tricks on how to lose weight and keep it off. In a recent YouTube video, he shares helpful tips on meal prep and how you can use it to lose weight. “I've lost 140 pounds, and so have hundreds of our clients as well, and they've all done it through food, and you can too,” he says. “If you think you're too busy for weight loss, let me show you how to meal prep like a pro and stay on track with your weight loss goals and make it easy and convenient for our stressful American daily lives.”

Make It Easy on Yourself

“The most important thing to understand in any person's weight loss journey is you need to make it easy on yourself. To achieve weight loss, you need to remove the hurdles throughout your day that make it difficult actually to sustain the weight loss that you're going for. And I know you can do it. It just takes some effort and some patience,” he says at the start of the clip.

Remove Access to Processed Foods

Mo Nasraddin.2Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

“The most important thing is what food you're consuming every day,” he points out. “If you can remove those barriers of having access to crappy processed food and you can put those barriers up to make it easier for you not to access that stuff, the best solution is to be consistent for the long run. And if you make it this easy, you will not have issues.”

RELATED: Nutritionists Share 10 Tips for Staying Slim Over Thanksgiving

Remove Bread Products From the House

Mo Nasraddin.3Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

“You can make things low carb by just not having bread products all around your house,” he says. “If I have bread in the house, I want to consume it. That's a natural human function. It is delicious. That is just how it works. I want the dopamine, and you would too. So don't be disappointed in yourself, just understand it's human nature and it's harder to fight, so don't fight it. Remove the processed and the high carbohydrate items from your house.”

Make Lettuce Wraps Instead

Mo Nasraddin.4Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

The next tip? “You can use lettuce wraps,” he says. He notes that you can use them as a replacement for tortillas for tacos and buns for burgers. “Those are such simple, quick meals that you can make at home without having to go back and forth and struggle and cook for hours. That's the best solution for you to be able to lose weight consistently.”

Find Weight Loss Recipes

Unrecognizable woman is looking for recipes in cookbook.Shutterstock

He also recommends having recipes on hand for weight-loss meals. “To be able to have quick and easy meals, there are hundreds of recipes,” he said, sharing the link to his free recipe book that he uses to help his clients lose 30 pounds fast. “We know it's doable, and we know anybody can do it.”

He also recommends cooking up meals that meet a variety of criteria. “I've got a lot of options listed there that are very, very quick to make, easy, simple, and will last a while,” he says.

Use an Air Fryer

Mo Nasraddin.5Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

He also recommends cooking in an air fryer, which enables you to cook fast with little oil. “If you have an air fryer, you can make so many quick snacks and items that are so delicious that can all be made within five to 10 to even 20 minutes,” he says.

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

Make Casseroles

Broccoli,Chicken,Casserole,In,A,Baking,Dish,On,A,ConcreteShutterstock

He also recommends cooking healthy casseroles. “One of my favorite things to do is to cook in a pan,” he says. “We make a big pan of our casserole, we'll put that in the fridge, and then anytime I want it, I turn the oven on, I put it in, it takes 10 to 20 minutes for the oven to preheat and then 20 minutes for it to cook,” he says. “Now I'm consuming a low-carb, healthy, delicious meal full of vegetables and the right macros for my weight loss to continue.”

Don’t Eat Fast Food

Mo Nasraddin.9Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

“What you don't want to do instead is focus on fast food,” he concludes. If you consume it, “then you're going to spike your insulin and create more hunger, which puts you in a bad cycle. So the most important thing is to get rid of the processed items and get items that are quick and easy to make,” he says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

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Nutrition & Diet

Man Lost 140 Pounds With These 9 Meal Prep Tips

Mo Nasraddin
Copyrights Mo Nasraddin
Leah Groth
By Leah GrothNov 28, 2024
Leah Groth
Writer, Editor, and Content Creator
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related.
See Full Bio
Follow:
✓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.

Are you looking for some meal prep tips? Mo Nasraddin is a weight loss warrior, the founder of Weight Loss Paradise, and a social media influencer who shares tips and tricks on how to lose weight and keep it off. In a recent YouTube video, he shares helpful tips on meal prep and how you can use it to lose weight. “I've lost 140 pounds, and so have hundreds of our clients as well, and they've all done it through food, and you can too,” he says. “If you think you're too busy for weight loss, let me show you how to meal prep like a pro and stay on track with your weight loss goals and make it easy and convenient for our stressful American daily lives.”

Make It Easy on Yourself

“The most important thing to understand in any person's weight loss journey is you need to make it easy on yourself. To achieve weight loss, you need to remove the hurdles throughout your day that make it difficult actually to sustain the weight loss that you're going for. And I know you can do it. It just takes some effort and some patience,” he says at the start of the clip.

Remove Access to Processed Foods

Mo Nasraddin.2Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

“The most important thing is what food you're consuming every day,” he points out. “If you can remove those barriers of having access to crappy processed food and you can put those barriers up to make it easier for you not to access that stuff, the best solution is to be consistent for the long run. And if you make it this easy, you will not have issues.”

RELATED: Nutritionists Share 10 Tips for Staying Slim Over Thanksgiving

Remove Bread Products From the House

Mo Nasraddin.3Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

“You can make things low carb by just not having bread products all around your house,” he says. “If I have bread in the house, I want to consume it. That's a natural human function. It is delicious. That is just how it works. I want the dopamine, and you would too. So don't be disappointed in yourself, just understand it's human nature and it's harder to fight, so don't fight it. Remove the processed and the high carbohydrate items from your house.”

Make Lettuce Wraps Instead

Mo Nasraddin.4Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

The next tip? “You can use lettuce wraps,” he says. He notes that you can use them as a replacement for tortillas for tacos and buns for burgers. “Those are such simple, quick meals that you can make at home without having to go back and forth and struggle and cook for hours. That's the best solution for you to be able to lose weight consistently.”

Find Weight Loss Recipes

Unrecognizable woman is looking for recipes in cookbook.Shutterstock

He also recommends having recipes on hand for weight-loss meals. “To be able to have quick and easy meals, there are hundreds of recipes,” he said, sharing the link to his free recipe book that he uses to help his clients lose 30 pounds fast. “We know it's doable, and we know anybody can do it.”

He also recommends cooking up meals that meet a variety of criteria. “I've got a lot of options listed there that are very, very quick to make, easy, simple, and will last a while,” he says.

Use an Air Fryer

Mo Nasraddin.5Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

He also recommends cooking in an air fryer, which enables you to cook fast with little oil. “If you have an air fryer, you can make so many quick snacks and items that are so delicious that can all be made within five to 10 to even 20 minutes,” he says.

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

Make Casseroles

Broccoli,Chicken,Casserole,In,A,Baking,Dish,On,A,ConcreteShutterstock

He also recommends cooking healthy casseroles. “One of my favorite things to do is to cook in a pan,” he says. “We make a big pan of our casserole, we'll put that in the fridge, and then anytime I want it, I turn the oven on, I put it in, it takes 10 to 20 minutes for the oven to preheat and then 20 minutes for it to cook,” he says. “Now I'm consuming a low-carb, healthy, delicious meal full of vegetables and the right macros for my weight loss to continue.”

Don’t Eat Fast Food

Mo Nasraddin.9Mo Nasraddin/YouTube

“What you don't want to do instead is focus on fast food,” he concludes. If you consume it, “then you're going to spike your insulin and create more hunger, which puts you in a bad cycle. So the most important thing is to get rid of the processed items and get items that are quick and easy to make,” he says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Nutrition & Diet

She Lost 60 Lbs With 11 High Protein Meals

Kassie Magnusen kassie_beth_
Copyright kassie_beth_/Instagram
Leah Groth
By Leah GrothFeb 22, 2025
Leah Groth
Writer, Editor, and Content Creator
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related.
See Full Bio
Follow:

Are you trying to lose weight? Focusing on eating protein-packed meals will help you achieve your goals. Kassie Magnusen is a weight loss and nutrition coach who helps “busy mamas drop fat & get the sculpted body they’ve always wanted,” she writes in her Instagram bio. In a few recent posts, she unveils the meals she cooks to help hit her macros. “What I eat in a day as a mom of 2 down 60 pounds,” she writes in one of them.

Protein Mug Cake

Ingredients: 2 tbsp almond milk, 1 tbsp liquid egg whites, 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1 tsp PB powder, 1 tsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp regular PB, 1 tsp maple syrup.

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a coffee mug & microwave for 45 seconds.

Breakfast: Blueberry Protein Oatmeal Bake

Woman eating ripe blueberries, healthy berries.Shutterstock

Instructions: mix 2 cups oats, 2 cups almond milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 2 eggs beaten, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 2 scoops vanilla protein powder in a large bowl.

Add to 8x8 sprayed baking dish, drop in 1 cup blueberries evenly throughout; bake at 375 for about 40 mins or until center is set.

Makes 6 servings.

Lunch: Southwest Chicken & Sweet Potato Bowl

Raw Turkey breast fillets minced meat on black plate ready to cook​Lean Turkey Taco Lettuce WrapsShutterstock

Ingredients and Instructions:

  • 4 oz lean ground chicken seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika
  • 85g roasted sweet potato, 1 cup roasted broccoli, 15g avocado
  • Top with 2 tbsp Simply Marzetti southwest ranch dressing.

Snack - Apple & PB Greek Yogurt Dip

Apples with caramel cream cheese dip for Thanksgiving

Shutterstock

150g Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla Geek Yogurt mixed with 1 tbsp PB powder; 1 medium granny smith apple sliced.

RELATED: 30 Best Protein Foods That Melt Fat Almost Instantly

Dinner: Cheesy Beef & Rice Skillet

Raw minced beef uncooked meat over board​Burger BowlShutterstock

Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef seasoned with garlic powder, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika; 1 package (2 cups) microwave brown rice; 1 can diced tomatoes & green chilis; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar; 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese.

Instructions: Brown the beef, season, and add the tomatoes/green chilies (don’t drain); add the cooked rice and cheese, simmer until melted (2-3 minutes), then add in cottage cheese & stir.

Makes 4 servings.

Dessert: Protein Cookie Dough

Raw cookie dough with chocolate chips on wooden board

Shutterstock

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Shredded rotisserie chicken on a green cutting board and carving knife isolated on a white background with room for text or copy space

Shutterstock

In another post she adds three lunch recipes for weight loss.

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole-grain wrap
  • 4 oz shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 2 tbsp Primal Kitchen Buffalo Ranch Dressing (~70 cals)
  • Shredded lettuce, diced tomato, shredded carrot.

Macros: 40g protein | 26g carbs | 11g fat | 410 calories.

Greek Chicken Bowl

Grilled or roasted chicken breast, whole and sliced on a wooden serving plateShutterstock

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz cooked chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1/4 cup diced cucumber & tomato
  • 2 tbsp tzatziki sauce
  • 1 cup steamed broccoli (optional for extra veg).

Macros: 38g protein | 37g carbs | 10g fat | 495 calories.

Taco Bowl

Cooking ground turkey meat in frying pan for a meal prep

Shutterstock

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz lean ground turkey or beef browned, then add taco seasoning
  • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1/4 cup black beans
  • 1/4 cup corn
  • 1/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheese
  • 2 tbsp salsa
  • 1 tbsp light sour cream (optional).

Garlic Butter Steak & Sweet Potato Skillet

Creatively lit, a fresh raw cube of diced red beef meat prepared for cooking, shot against a dark rustic background with placement to copy the space.

Shutterstock

And in a third post, she shares three more dinner options.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs lean sirloin steak, cubed

• 2 large sweet potatoes, diced

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsp butter

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ tsp salt & pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sweet potatoes, season with paprika, salt, and pepper; cook for 8-10 min until tender.

2. Push potatoes to the side, add butter and garlic, then cook steak bites for 3-4 min per side.

3. Mix everything together and serve!

(40g protein, 420 cals per serving).

Teriyaki Salmon & Rice

Chief hands cut salmon fillet with knife on wooden table at kitchen. Man cooking red omega fish with lemons for healthy nutrition dietShutterstock

Ingredients:

• 4 (4 oz) salmon fillets

• 2 cups cooked brown rice

• 2 cups steamed broccoli

• ¼ cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce

• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400. Place salmon on baking sheet, brush with teriyaki sauce, bake for 12-15 min

2. While salmon cooks, steam broccoli and prepare rice

3. Drizzle salmon with extra sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve with rice & broccoli

(35g protein, 400 cals per serving).

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

mexican chili chicken stew

Shutterstock

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 1 jar (16 oz) salsa

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained

• 1 cup frozen corn

• 1 tsp cumin

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 cup cooked jasmine rice (per serving)

Instructions:

1. Place chicken, salsa, beans, corn, and spices in slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours

2. Shred chicken with forks and mix everything together

3. Serve over jasmine rice or in tortillas for a family taco night

(38g protein, 410 cals per serving).


And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Nutrition & Diet

He Lost 220 Pounds and Kept It Off by Eating These 4 Meals on Repeat

Stanley Bronstein stanleyfbronstein
Copyright stanleyfbronstein/Instagram
Leah Suzanne
By Leah SuzanneMay 01, 2025
Leah Suzanne
Freelance Writer/Editor
See Full Bio
✓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.

Are you trying to lose weight? According to many experts, consistency with your diet is key. Stanley Bronstein is an author and weight loss expert who lost 220 pounds. The self-proclaimed “Been There, Done That, Weight-Loss Expert, who is launching the Million Pound Weight Loss Challenge on June 1, 2025, recently sat down with Body Network and revealed the four meals he eats on repeat to maintain his weight loss.

Breakfast Yogurt Bowl

Spoon,With,Tasty,Yogurt,Above,Bowl,On,Table,,Closeup.,Space​Regular YogurtShutterstock

Bronstein starts his day with a healthy yogurt bowl, made with non-dairy plain yogurt, hemp seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, and hemp hearts “mixed in to thicken it up even more,” he says. “Then I top it with a mix of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and bananas. I use frozen fruit, as it’s usually less expensive and it lasts longer than fresh fruit.” He also opts to make homemade soy yogurt, “but you can use other plant-based yogurts you can find at the grocery store,” he says. “The main thing is to make sure there are no added sugars in the yogurt. Read the label carefully. If you don’t want to use non-dairy yogurt, that’s fine too, but I believe that non-dairy is better in the long run.”

Salad

Background from fresh green spinach leaves with water drops. Texture of raw organic baby spinach close up. Food background16. Spinach: 23 caloriesShutterstock

Next up, a salad. “I make a salad that has a base of spinach and arugula. You can use other ingredients, such as kale and even just iceberg lettuce or a salad mix. I prefer spinach and arugula as they have more nutrients than plain old iceberg or romaine lettuce,” he explains. “You can top it with fresh tomatoes, sugar snap peas, various fruits (apples and such), and sprinkle a few unsalted raw nuts on top (but not too many).” For dressing, he makes his own. “I take a can of no-sugar-added diced tomatoes and throw them in my blender. I sprinkled in all kinds of spices like basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, etc. Then I put in just a touch of apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar to make it a little tart. Mix it up, and you have a healthy, low-calorie, no-salt, no-oil, no-sugar-added salad dressing that tastes great.”

Smoothies

Fresh,Berry,Smoothies,On,Mason,Jars,,protein, shakeShutterstock

Smoothies are also part of his daily menu. “I throw in 2 handfuls of some type of fruit (usually blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, or simply bananas). Then I throw in 2 scoops of hemp protein powder. Out of all the plant-based protein powders, I prefer hemp, and it has no added sodium (soy powder usually does). Then I fill up the smoothie container with unsweetened soy milk (it has no added sugar). Blend it up for 45 seconds, and it tastes fantastic,” he explains.

Bean Soup

Mix,Organic,Beans,With,Soybean,,Red,Beans,,Green,Mung,BeanShutterstock

The last item he eats on repeat? Bean soup. “I go to the store and buy a bag of 15-bean soup mix. I then throw the beans (WITHOUT THE FLAVOR PACKET IT COMES WITH) into my pressure cooker, along with a can of no-salt-added diced tomatoes and another can of water. You can add in any other seasonings you want, but try to leave out the salt. Cook it for about 30 minutes and you have bean soup. You can vary the thickness of the soup by adding more or less water,” he says. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss I’m a Nutritionist and Here Are 25 Weight Loss Truths You Need to Hear.

Nutrition & Diet

He Dropped 135 Pounds 10 Easy Hacks

Alex Solomin
I Lost 135 Pounds by Eating More and Walking
Copyright Alex Solomin/YouTube
Christopher Roback
By Christopher RobackMar 27, 2025
Christopher Roback
Health & Wellness Writer | Author | Exclusive Contributor at Body Network
Christopher Roback is a health and wellness writer and exclusive contributor to Body Network.
See Full Bio
✓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.

Have you ever felt frustrated watching the scale refuse to budge despite your best efforts? You're not alone. Alex Solomin, a Weight Loss & Fitness Coach with 173K YouTube subscribers, struggled for years before finally discovering what actually works. After making countless mistakes that stretched his weight loss journey to over four years, he finally cracked the code that helped him shed 135 pounds and keep it off. These are the exact strategies Alex still uses daily to manage his appetite and maintain his results. Had he known these simple hacks earlier, he could have reached his goals in half the time. Here are the game-changing tips that transformed his body and can do the same for you.

1. Prioritize Protein for Lasting Fullness

Protein is your secret weapon for weight loss. "Protein is the most satiating macronutrient, which means that if you eat more protein, you're going to be much more fuller for a much longer period of time," Alex explains in his video. When hunger management is your biggest challenge, protein makes the entire process significantly easier.

But not all protein is created equal. "When you're looking at salmon, for example, salmon is absolutely healthy. It's great. However, it's very high in calories because it's high in fat," Alex warns. Be mindful of fat content when selecting protein sources - choose 96-4% ground beef instead of 80-20% to save significant calories while eating the same amount of food.

2. Always Chew Your Protein Instead of Drinking It

While protein shakes are convenient, solid protein keeps you fuller much longer. "If you're trying to pick a protein shake and you have an option between a protein shake and a chicken breast, the chicken breast is a lot better choice because you have to chew it," Alex recommends. "It will digest over a longer period of time. And in that same regard, it's going to keep you fuller for a much longer period of time."

Processed protein digests faster because it's already partially broken down. Whole protein sources require more digestion time, keeping hunger at bay much longer.

RELATED: 8 High-Protein Foods with Nearly Zero Calories That Melt Fat

3. Replace Empty Carbs With Volume-Packed Fruits and Vegetables

" Carbs to me are the easiest food to overconsume calories on," Alex admits. Potato chips, sweets, cookies, and ice cream seem designed to make us overeat without realizing it.

The solution? "I would highly recommend to get most or all of your carbs from fruits and vegetables," Alex suggests. "The biggest reason why you want to choose fruits and vegetables is because of volume eating." The fiber in fruits and vegetables not only keeps you fuller longer but makes it nearly impossible to overconsume calories.

"I can blink and have 500 calories in a little bit of ice cream or cookies. Whereas if I told myself, or I still tell myself to this day that most of my carbs will be coming from fruits and vegetables... I end up getting filled up much quicker and not going over my calories quite as easily," Alex shares.

4. Push Dinner Closer to Bedtime to Eliminate Night Cravings

One of Alex's most unconventional yet effective tips tackles the notorious late-night eating window. "Maybe my dinner ends at 6 PM and I go to sleep at 11 PM. That's five hours of time. That's a five-hour window of opportunity to get hungry and start snacking," he explains.

The hack? "Have your dinner a bit closer to bedtime and don't be scared of having dinner after 7 PM after 8 PM," Alex advises. This simple timing adjustment can cut your snacking window in half, dramatically reducing opportunities for mindless eating.

5. Make Your Final Meal a Protein-Packed Salad

For maximum effectiveness against late-night cravings, combine the dinner timing hack with strategic meal composition. "Make your dinner a giant salad, make it a giant salad with protein," Alex recommends. "This giant salad is going to be very, very voluminous. It's going to be filled with tons of volume of food, is going to be filled with a lot of fiber as well as slow digesting protein."

This powerful combination "will help you almost eliminate late night cravings," according to Alex. Just watch out for high-calorie dressings that can double your meal's calories.

RELATED: 20 Foods You Didn’t Know Were Ultra-Processed

6. Switch to Zero-Calorie Sauces and Seasonings

Condiments can silently sabotage your progress. "When you're not mindful of your sauces, your dips, your seasonings, your oils, and you apply them into your current nutrition, you will effectively make weight loss more difficult because you will be filling up your nutrition with calories that do not fill you up," Alex warns.

Look for sugar-free, fat-free, or low-calorie alternatives. "There's G-Hugues. There's also Heinz sugar-free ketchup. There's balsamic vinegar. There is also zero calorie dressings and sauces," Alex suggests. These can save hundreds of calories while making healthy food taste better.

7. Stock Up on Dry Seasonings for Flavor Variety

Eating the same foods repeatedly can lead to diet fatigue and eventual abandonment. Alex's solution? "Stock up on as many different kinds of dry seasonings as possible," he advises. Brands like McCormick and Mrs. Dash offer zero-calorie options that can completely transform basic foods.

"You can make your eggs taste different. You can make your chicken taste different. And it will just make your regular food, again, taste a lot better," Alex explains. This simple hack keeps your taste buds entertained without adding calories.

8. Bring Your Own Food to Work Every Day

This overlooked habit might be the most powerful of all. "I can't even describe to you how important this is and how often overlooked this simple habit is," Alex emphasizes. "If you make it a goal to leave your house and just bring food with you and make it a goal to only eat the food that you bring with you at work, you will lose weight a lot easier."

Without prepared food, you'll likely resort to cafeteria meals, vending machines, drive-throughs, or restaurant meals - all giving you less control over ingredients and calories. Bringing your food creates "an immense powerful feeling of control that you want to maintain as often and as much as possible throughout your weight loss journey."

RELATED: I'm a Nutritionist and These are the Best Banana Recipes For Weight Loss

9. Choose Smart, Long-Lasting Snacks

Mindless snacking while watching TV can easily add 800-1000 unplanned calories to your day. Alex's solution? "Choose sugar-free snacks such as sugar-free jello, sugar-free pudding, sugar-free hard candy."

Hard candy is particularly effective because it lasts much longer than chewable options. "Hard candy tastes pretty good, but also you eat it for a long time," Alex explains. "Some hard candy, you will probably eat that piece of hard candy for a few minutes at minimum," compared to chewable candy that's gone in seconds.

10. Never Skip Meals

Counterintuitively, skipping meals often leads to weight gain, not loss. "One of the biggest reasons why people tend to have cravings is because they don't eat that much throughout the day," Alex observes. "They skip meals, especially at work, and they essentially starve themselves up until the time that they get home. And once they get home, anything goes."

While skipping meals seems logical for weight loss, the reality is different. "What's actually going to happen is you will starve yourself for the first three quarters of the day. In the last quarter of the day, you'll come home, you'll binge eat," Alex warns. Aim for at least 2-3 meals daily to keep your system consistently processing food.

11. Stay Constantly Hydrated

Liquids are a simple yet effective tool for managing hunger. "What you should also be doing throughout the day is having a decent amount of liquids. This could be water. This could be seasoned flavored water. This could be coffee. This could be tea. If you want diet soda," Alex recommends, noting his personal preference for Coke Zero.

Keeping liquid in your system throughout the day provides hydration while helping you feel fuller, making weight loss slightly easier over time.

RELATED: Tone Sagging Arms in 2 Weeks With These 5 Exercises

12. Increase Your Daily Movement (NEAT)

Exercise isn't the only way to burn calories. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) includes all physical movement outside formal workouts. "NEAT plays a very, very vital role in your entire daily or weekly caloric expenditure, much more than people really realize," Alex explains.

Simple activities like cleaning your house, doing laundry, walking to the supermarket, or taking a quick 10-minute walk burn significant calories without requiring extra gym time. "Focus on NEAT, clean the house, do your laundry, clean out your garage, clean out your closet, go for a short 10-minute walk. And that will be extremely beneficial," Alex advises.

13. Make Outdoor Walking a Daily Non-Negotiable

Building on the NEAT principle, Alex recommends making it "a goal to at minimum every single day to make it a habit to walk outside the house." The psychology behind this is powerful - once you step outside, you're unlikely to immediately turn back.

"You will likely spend at least 10, 15, 30 minutes going for a walk, which will burn calories. And if you do this habit every single day, it will burn calories continuously, which will increase your caloric expenditure throughout the week," Alex explains.

RELATED: What Happens When You Quit Soda, According to a Nutritionist

14. Pause Before Snacking to Break Mindless Eating

Our final hack targets the psychology of cravings. "If you're about to reach for a snack that you feel you want to eat, I would just say pause for like 10, 15, 20 seconds and ask yourself, do I really want to eat this food?" Alex suggests.

This brief pause reveals that most cravings aren't genuine hunger but rather boredom or stress. "Chances are, you're probably just trying to grab this because it's same pattern you've done over however many years. And if you just pause for a little bit, you will find that you're not really hungry," Alex explains. This simple mental reset can prevent hundreds of unnecessary calories.

These 14 strategies helped me drop 135 pounds and still help me maintain my weight today. I'm convinced that applying even a few of these tips will make your weight loss journey dramatically easier and more successful than mine was. Which one will you try first? And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Nutrition & Diet

Woman Lost 42 Pounds With 5 High-Protein Meals Anyone Can Make

Liezl Jayne Strydom
Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram
Christopher Roback
By Christopher RobackNov 29, 2024
Christopher Roback
Health & Wellness Writer | Author | Exclusive Contributor at Body Network
Christopher Roback is a health and wellness writer and exclusive contributor to Body Network.
See Full Bio
✓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.

Ever stared at your kitchen wondering what to cook that won't sabotage your weight loss goals? Or felt frustrated when "healthy" meals left you hungry an hour later? You're not alone. Liezl Jayne Strydom, a nutrition enthusiast with 1.2 million followers on YouTube, faced these same struggles before discovering a solution through her own weight loss journey. After documenting her meals in food journals and losing 42 pounds, she's sharing the exact meals that helped her succeed. Keep reading to discover her simple, protein-packed recipes that anyone can make – no fancy ingredients or complicated cooking required.

Your Complete 1,200-1,800 Calorie Meal Plan

"I used to try so many different things, and this is where I wrote all the recipes that I really loved," says Liezl, explaining how she created a customizable meal plan ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 calories. The plan includes dairy-free and gluten-free options, with most recipes easily adaptable for vegans. "If you ate all of this, you'd be getting more than a hundred grams of protein for the day," she notes in her post, emphasizing the plan's focus on satiety.

Smart Morning Start: Five-Minute Protein Breakfast

Liezl Jayne Strydom.6Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"It's very simple to put together, and it's surprisingly good for how simple it is," Liezl shares about her breakfast routine. Her go-to morning meal features spinach-fried eggs on toast, delivering protein and nutrients in just five minutes. For vegans, she suggests: "You can also use a vegan egg replacer. I like this one because it's exactly the same amount of calories and protein as real eggs."

Power Up Your Morning Coffee

Liezl Jayne Strydom.3Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"It's probably the easiest iced coffee that I know how to make. It's got seven grams of protein in it," Liezl explains about her morning drink. She recommends using soy milk for its superior protein content: "I really like soy milk at the moment because it's got so much protein in it compared to other plant milk, and it's so much more creamy."

10-Minute Mexican-Inspired Lunch

Liezl Jayne Strydom.4Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"When I think back to the time when I was trying to lose weight, this is the kind of thing that I would've eaten for lunch a lot," Liezl shares about her Mexican-inspired black bean salad. "It is so quick, and it just hits the spot. It's a very good lunch. You can make it in 10 minutes." The 400-calorie lunch combines black beans, avocado, fresh vegetables, and a measured portion of tortilla chips for a satisfying crunch.

Beat the Afternoon Sweet Tooth

Liezl Jayne Strydom.5Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"I pretty much always have a sweet tooth after lunch. I just want something sweet," Liezl admits. Her solution? A three-ingredient mango protein smoothie. "This tastes like a milkshake," she says while packing 25 grams of protein. "Having a smoothie is such an easy way to get a lot of protein into a meal, especially if you want it from plant-based sources."

Meal-Prep Magic: Dinner Done Right

Liezl Jayne Strydom.8Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"I almost always make something very simple for dinner because usually I'm busy working on something in the late afternoon," Liezl reveals. Her solution is smart meal prepping: "What I usually do when I'm making dinner is just make enough for a few servings and then I only have to cook dinner once or twice a week."

Quick and Flavorful Honey Chicken

Liezl Jayne Strydom.7Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"This is not just going to be any old boring rice and chicken," Liezl promises. She creates a simple honey-sriracha sauce that transforms basic chicken into a crave-worthy dinner. "Meal prepping doesn't always have to be this big whole thing. You can just do it while you're making dinner anyway, it just makes sense."

Smart Evening Snacking Strategies

Liezl Jayne Strydom.9Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"If you are still hungry after dinner or you stay up late and then you're hungry because you've been up for a long time after dinner, this is a great little snack," Liezl suggests. She recommends hummus with fresh vegetables, explaining, "It's a high protein, high fiber snack before bed and it's very simple. I don't like eating lots of sugary foods before bed."

RELATED: The 8 Best Foods to Curb Cravings and Losing Weight

Flexible Calorie Customization

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"That is how easy it is to customize this meal plan," Liezl explains, breaking down portion adjustments. For 1,200 calories, she suggests sticking to main meals: "You can have the breakfast, the lunch, and the dinner, which are all roughly 400 calories." For 1,800 calories, she recommends including all snacks and drinks while maintaining satisfaction throughout the day.

Make It Work for Your Lifestyle

Liezl Jayne Strydom.13Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"We're all different. We all need a different amount of calories to lose weight in a healthy way," Liezl emphasizes. She encourages readers to adapt the plan to their needs: "You can mix and match the meals and the snacks from this video and also those ones to get a meal plan with meals that you really like."

Track Your Success

Liezl Jayne Strydom.11Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"I found a whole lot of my old food journals from when I was trying to lose weight," Liezl shares, highlighting the importance of documentation. She suggests keeping track of successful meals and recipes: "This is where I wrote all the recipes that I really loved." This practice helped her identify what worked best for her weight loss journey and can help you do the same.

Sustainable Habits for Long-Term Success

Liezl Jayne Strydom.12Liezl Jayne Strydom/Instagram

"The thing that I really struggled with was finding lower calorie meals that were still balanced with all the food groups and that didn't leave me feeling hungry," Liezl reflects. Her solution was to create satisfying meals that could be easily maintained in the long term. By focusing on protein-rich, filling foods and flexible meal planning, she developed sustainable habits that led to lasting weight loss success.

The Science Behind Protein and Weight Loss

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"Protein decreases the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases hormones like peptide YY, GLP-1, and cholecystokinin, which promote feelings of fullness and satisfaction," reports Mayo Clinic. This explains why Liezl's protein-rich meals were so effective for weight loss. The Cleveland Clinic recommends "1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of goal weight" for those who exercise regularly, making Liezl's 100+ grams of daily protein align perfectly with expert recommendations.

RELATED: 5 Easy-to-Follow Rules for Cutting Sugar Without Feeling Deprived

Strategic Meal Timing for Better Results

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"Consuming at least 30 grams of protein at breakfast may enhance feelings of fullness and aid in weight management," states Mayo Clinic. This validates Liezl's emphasis on protein-rich breakfasts. The National Institutes of Health adds, "Eating during inactive periods, such as late at night, can disrupt the body's internal clock," supporting Liezl's approach to lighter, protein-based evening snacks.

The Power of Meal Prep in Weight Loss

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"Regular meal preparation is linked to healthier eating habits, increased fruit and vegetable intake, and reduced consumption of processed foods," reports Mayo Clinic. Harvard Health adds, "Preparing meals in advance allows for better portion control, reducing the likelihood of overeating." This scientific backing reinforces Liezl's emphasis on meal prepping her dinner portions.

Setting Realistic Weight Loss Goals

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"A safe and sustainable rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week," advises Mayo Clinic. The National Weight Control Registry notes that "about 20% of people who lose at least 10% of their body weight maintain it for at least a year." These statistics highlight why Liezl's balanced, sustainable approach to meal planning works for long-term success.

Balanced Nutrition for Lasting Results

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According to Mayo Clinic, "A balanced diet for weight loss typically includes 40-50% carbohydrates, 25-35% fat, and 20-30% protein." Harvard Health highlights that "dietary fiber plays a critical role in weight management by promoting satiety and reducing overall calorie intake." This explains why Liezl's meals combine protein with fiber-rich vegetables and complex carbohydrates.

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

Stay Hydrated for Better Results

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"Staying hydrated is important for weight loss. Drinking 8-10 cups of water daily not only supports metabolism but can also help reduce hunger by promoting a feeling of fullness," advises WebMD. This is especially relevant when following Liezl's protein-rich meal plan, as "hydration helps with protein metabolism."

Maintaining Your Weight Loss Success

Young,Sporty,Attractive,Woman,Doing,Toning,Pilates,Exercise,For,AbsShutterstock

The National Weight Control Registry reports that successful weight maintainers share common habits: "engaging in regular physical activity, self-monitoring their weight and diet, and having consistent eating patterns, including breakfast." These findings align with Liezl's structured approach to meal planning and regular eating schedule.

The Importance of Nutrient Timing

Dietician,Holding,A,Clock,With,Vitamins,,Healthy,Diet,And,NutritionShutterstock

"Distributing protein intake evenly across meals is crucial for weight loss," states research cited by the New York Post. This validates Liezl's approach of incorporating protein into every meal and snack throughout the day, from her morning eggs to her evening hummus snack. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Nutrition & Diet

15 Daily Habits to Lose 5-10 Pounds in 30 Days

Beautiful woman checking her body shape in a mirror.
15 Daily Habits to Lose 5-10 Pounds in 30 Days
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Leah Suzanne
By Leah SuzanneMay 12, 2025
Leah Suzanne
Freelance Writer/Editor
See Full Bio
✓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.

Depending on your starting weight, losing five to 10 pounds in a month is possible to do in a healthy way. Making a few specific lifestyle and dietary changes and sticking to them will positively impact overall health as well as encourage weight loss. “The foundation of successful weight loss remains a healthy, calorie-controlled diet combined with increased physical activity,” says the Mayo Clinic. “For successful, long-term weight loss, you must make permanent changes in your lifestyle and health habits.” Here are 15 daily habits shown to help lose up to ten pounds in 30 days.

Eliminate Empty Calories

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Alcohol is full of empty calories, so it’s best to cut down or simply stop drinking it altogether. Every calorie counts when you’re trying to lose weight, so make sure you use those calories to fill your body with healthy, nutrient-dense choices. Drinking too much also disrupts sleep.

Are You Actually Hungry?

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Eat when you’re hungry, and only when you’re hungry. “Listening to your hunger works much better than relying on willpower,” Kayla Kopp, RD, LD, tells the Cleveland Clinic. “When you’re tempted to overeat, have a conversation with yourself: Are you feeling hungry, are you bored or are you feeling emotional? Will eating right now get you closer to your goal?”

Work Out First Thing

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Working out first thing in the morning means you don’t have to make time for it later. It also starts the day off on a good note. No excuses!

Don’t Skip Breakfast

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Studies show people who eat breakfast (provided it’s a healthy one) make better food choices for the rest of the day. "Studies have found that although people who skip breakfast eat slightly fewer calories during the day, they tend to have higher body mass index, or BMI," Christy C. Tangney, PhD, tells Rush University Medical Center.

Take the Stairs

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Walk as much as possible—park away from the grocery store entrance and take the stairs when possible. Walking will encourage fat burning and mental wellness, and you can do it throughout the day, no equipment needed.

Count Your Calories

Calories Nutrition Food Exercise ConceptShutterstock

This one is boring but crucial—to lose weight, you need to take in less calories than you’re burning off. “For example, to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week — a rate that experts consider safe — your food consumption should provide 500 to 1,000 calories less than your total weight-maintenance calories,” says Harvard Health.

Try Intermittent Fasting

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Intermittent fasting can be a powerful weight loss tool for some. “The weight loss effects of time-restricted eating derive primarily from achieving a negative energy balance,” Richard Joseph, MD, tells Harvard Health. “If you maintain your regular diet and then limit the time window during which you eat, it is likely that you will eat a few hundred fewer calories per day.”

No Nighttime Snacking

woman eats sweets at night to sneak in a refrigerator. Fridge​Breaking Free from Food ObsessionShutterstock

Snacking can undermine your healthy eating weight loss plan. “Try to eat most of your daily calories before sitting down to relax for the night,” Kopp tells the Cleveland Clinic. “Many of us have a tendency to overeat without thinking about it while we watch TV after dinner, and we tend to forget just how much we’ve had before calling it a night.”

Be Picky About Carbs

Healthy Food: Best Sources of Carbs on a wooden table. Top viewTop 5 Clean Carbs for Your BodyShutterstock

You don’t have to eliminate carbs—but be choosy about them. “Not all carbohydrates are created equal,” says Corewell Health. “Eating a slice of white bread won’t give your body the same nutrition as eating a slice of whole grain bread. When you’re looking for options for carbohydrates, look at the ingredients. If the first ingredient is a whole grain (like whole wheat), you’re going in the right direction.”

Eliminate Temptation

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Keep junk food out of sight and out of mind. “Don’t keep problem foods around the house and/or at work,” says UC Davis Health. A problem food is a food that you are likely to eat too much of or too often if readily available.”

Get Enough Sleep

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Sleep is important for weight loss. “No one can make mindful food choices when they’re tired. Even missing an hour of sleep can increase your appetite because your body is craving that energy and food is fuel for your body,” psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD, tells the Cleveland Clinic. “You need a clear, focused head to make healthier food choices.”

Lift Weights

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“Resistance training can also be a really effective way of losing weight," Tessa Strain, physical activity epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, tells The Telegraph. “All weight loss comes down to a calories in/calories out equation. resistance training is a really effective way of losing weight because you’re expending energy, which involves burning calories.”

Manage Stress

woman sitting down, his face unsettled. At the computer desk she has headaches and stress. Cause of hard work and insufficient rest.​Stress Leads to Belly FatShutterstock

Stress can undermine your weight loss efforts. “More commonly, people turn to — or away from — food as a way to help deal with stress,” says Penn Medicine. “Your metabolism can change if you regularly eat large amounts of food or don’t eat enough or at all.”

No Junk Food

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Ultra-processed foods are terrible for weight loss. Not only will they not fill you up, they could make you hungrier. “Processed and fast foods contain enhanced ingredients that hit the dopamine center in your brain and make you want more,” Dr. Albers tells the Cleveland Clinic. “They are designed to be addictive to the brain.”

Drink More Water

Fitness woman drinking water from bottle. Muscular young female taking a break from workout outside.​HydrateShutterstock

Choose water over high-calorie drinks. “Sometimes we respond to thirst signals by eating — when actually what our bodies want is water,” Dr. Albers explains. “It’s easy to confuse our thirst and hunger signals, or to override thirst signals.”

💪🔥Body Booster: Focusing on long-term health and wellness will make weight loss easier.

Fitness & Workouts

The Simple Walking Routine That Helped Me Lose 40 Pounds

Alexandra_alexx.fitt
This Woman Lost 40 Pounds After Quitting These 5 Common Habits Forever
alexxandra.fitt/Instagram
Leah Suzanne
By Leah SuzanneMay 12, 2025
Leah Suzanne
Freelance Writer/Editor
See Full Bio
✓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.

Can you lose a significant amount of weight just by walking every day? Yes, absolutely! Not only does walking burn fat, help lower blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels, but it also does wonders for your mental state as well. “You need to make it part of your routine,” exercise physiologist Katie Lawton, MEd. tells Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. “This is about adjusting your lifestyle for your health.” TikTok influencer Alex ( @alex.fitt) lost 40 pounds just by walking—here’s how she did it.

Don’t Start Big

@alexx.fitt Step by step walk it off #walking #weightloss ♬ original sound - alexx.fitt

Alex makes the important point that it’s better to start off slow to build sustainable habits. You don’t have to kickstart your fitness regimen with two-hour walks. Even just half an hour will make a difference to your mood and your health, and encourage you to do it again the next day.

Walking After Meals

Alex says she started off her walking program by simply taking a 15 minute walk after a big meal. Research shows walking after meals can benefit blood sugar. “Exercise impacts your blood sugar quickly, often within a few minutes,” Shannon Knapp, MEd, BSN, RN, CDCES, tells the Cleveland Clinic. “And over time, physical activity helps your body use insulin more effectively, decreasing the insulin resistance we often see in diabetes.”

Walking In the Morning

Alex would start her day with a walk. “Getting outside gives you a chance to enjoy fresh air and nature,” says Henry Ford Health. “Walking, like any form of exercise, reduces stress and anxiety. You’ll start the day with a positive attitude, better able to manage challenges during the day.”

Long Walk After Dinner

Alex would save her long walk for after dinner, which studies show is very beneficial. “The closer we get to the evening, the less efficient our bodies are at using insulin to deal with blood glucose, making it harder to keep blood glucose levels healthy,” Dr Evelyn Parr from the Australian Catholic University’s Exercise and Nutrition Research Program tells the Sydney Morning Herald. “Yet this is when we have our biggest meal of the day.”

Smaller Waist

Alex says the biggest difference she noticed from walking was in her waist. “The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits,” says the Mayo Clinic. “For example, you may start out as an average walker, and then work your way up to walking faster and walking a mile in a shorter amount of time than an average walker, similar to power walkers.”

Using Technology

Alex was thrilled the first time her watch buzzed when she hit 10k steps. Research shows people who track their fitness tend to be successful. “We’ve seen this rise of digital health tools in the last decade, and they provide a great way for people to access interventions to better their health,” Michele Patel, PhD, tells Stanford Medicine.

10,000 Steps a Day

No matter how long or short her walks, Alex always aims for 10,000 steps every day. “Evidence suggests that accumulating up to 10,000 steps per day is helpful for reducing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer,” John M. Jakicic, Ph.D, tells University of Kansas Medical Center. “And more recent evidence supports the benefits of reducing the risk of dementia.”

💪🔥Body Booster: Start slow and steady to build lasting habits. Even 10 minutes will make a difference.

Nutrition & Diet

She Lost 30 Pounds While Eating These Popular Foods

Denise Hamdan denisehamdan
I Lost 30 Pounds While Eating These High-Protein Foods
Copyright denisehamdan/TikTok
Leah Suzanne
By Leah SuzanneMay 12, 2025
Leah Suzanne
Freelance Writer/Editor
See Full Bio
✓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.

Denise Hamdan (@denisehamdan) is a food and fitness influencer on TikTok who regularly shares her tricks and tips on weight loss with her 71,000 followers. Hamdan lost a whopping 30 pounds by following a healthy diet and exercising. In a recent clip, she reveals her diet. “Hey y'all, here's everything I ate in one day to stay lean as someone who lost 30 pounds,” she says, revealing that she eats 1829 calories and 147 g of protein per day. 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.

Breakfast

“I started my morning with my breakfast cocktail of oxygen and creatine. I just added the products to my showcase. So go check them out. I have my cocktail with Greek yogurt with strawberries and blueberries and a drizzle of granola,” she says. The total calories equal 157 and 14 g protein.

Lunch

“I'm in this phase where I eat nearly the same thing every day, and that's been scrambled eggs with cheese and spinach and some turkey bacon on the side,” she says about her lunch. “And honestly, I'm not complaining because it hits every time. Her total calories are 562 and 52 g protein.

Green Smoothie

Sometimes she will have a smoothie instead. “I made a cute little green smoothie and it was a little messy, but it was good regardless,” she says.

Pre-Workout Snack

“Later, for a pre-workout snack, I made some cute little tuna crackers with the green onion and bell pepper,” she says about the snack totaling 430 calories and 28 g protein.

OxyShred and Pre-Workout

“Then I got to the gym and made my OxyShred and pre-workout combo before hitting cardio and abs,” she continued. “It had me sweating.”

Protein Bar

“Right after my workout I had my favorite dark chocolate pretzel protein bar,” she continued.

Dinner

“And finally for dinner I made this super easy teriyaki chicken bowl over brown rice,” she said, adding that the 560 calorie and 52 gram protein meal is “so delicious and the macros forward are amazing.”

Dessert

“Lastly, for dessert, I had some chocolate 'cause I cannot end the day without a little sweet treat,” she said about the 120 calorie sweet treat.

RDN Weighs in

tara collingwoodI'm a Nutritionist and These 9 High-Protein Snacks Keep My Clients Full While Losing 50 Pounds

Copyright Tara Collingwood

“1800-1900 calories seems like a good amount for her, but I don’t know her exact age, height, weight, or exercise level,” says Collingwood. “147 grams of protein is probably more than she needs, but it is not dangerously high.”

Try Eating More Vegetables, Expert Says

“I see a little bit of fruit on the yogurt and a tiny bit of spinach in eggs and peppers in tuna but overall not much veggie intake (green smoothie was green powder and not real whole veggies) which is proven with only 16 grams of fiber for her overall day,” Collingwood continues. “I would recommend increasing veggies to aim for 25 grams of fiber each day.” She also likes how often she is eating with the meals and snacks in between. “I do worry about the OxyShred. I couldn’t find on their website anywhere exactly how much caffeine is in it and having it later in the day could definitely impact sleep since caffeine has a 5 hour half-life,” she points out.

💪🔥Body Booster: How much protein should you consume per day? Aim for 0.8 to one gram per pound of bodyweight. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week

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