Fast weight loss
After January 1, calorie amnesia comes to an end—and you’re officially out of excuses for nibbling on tree-shaped cookies for breakfast and lunching on gift buckets of cheese popcorn. But when the season of splurging is over, you need more than good intentions to start eating right. That’s why we loaded this supersimple, mix-and-match, 1,300-calorie-per-day menu plan with magic ingredients that are satisfying and scientifically proven to boost weight loss. Get ready to lose 15 pounds in six weeks—without hunger.
Honey-Pecan Oatmeal With Raspberries
300 calories
Prepare 1 packet plain instant oatmeal with hot water, according to package directions. Top with 2 teaspoons honey, 2 tablespoons chopped pecans, and 3⁄4 cup fresh raspberries (or 3⁄4 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed).
Skinny secret! Oatmeal helps you blast off belly fat. In a study, people who ate whole grains like oatmeal as part of a diet lost more around their middles than people who ate refined grains.
Prepare 1 packet plain instant oatmeal with hot water, according to package directions. Top with 2 teaspoons honey, 2 tablespoons chopped pecans, and 3⁄4 cup fresh raspberries (or 3⁄4 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed).
Skinny secret! Oatmeal helps you blast off belly fat. In a study, people who ate whole grains like oatmeal as part of a diet lost more around their middles than people who ate refined grains.
Fresh Tomato and Feta Frittata
300 calories
Whisk together 1 large egg, 2 large egg whites, 1⁄2 cup chopped tomato, and 2 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled. Cook the egg mixture over medium heat (without stirring) in a small skillet coated with cooking spray for 4 minutes or until eggs are firm. Flip and cook other side for 2 minutes more. Serve with 1 slice whole-grain toast with 2 teaspoons trans fat–free margarine.
Skinny secret! Crack an egg. Eating protein in the morning will make you feel fuller all day long and help you lose weight.
Whisk together 1 large egg, 2 large egg whites, 1⁄2 cup chopped tomato, and 2 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled. Cook the egg mixture over medium heat (without stirring) in a small skillet coated with cooking spray for 4 minutes or until eggs are firm. Flip and cook other side for 2 minutes more. Serve with 1 slice whole-grain toast with 2 teaspoons trans fat–free margarine.
Skinny secret! Crack an egg. Eating protein in the morning will make you feel fuller all day long and help you lose weight.
Black Bean, Steak, and Avocado Salad
400 calories
Sauté 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper and 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet for 1 minute. Add 3 ounces steak, thinly sliced, and cook for 5 minutes. Add 1⁄4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained; sauté for another 3 minutes. Toss with 4 cups mixed salad greens, 1⁄4 diced avocado, 1⁄4 cup canned no-salt-added corn, and 1 tablespoon Italian dressing.
Skinny secret! Capsaicin, a compound in crushed red pepper, ups the calories you naturally burn after eating.
Sauté 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper and 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet for 1 minute. Add 3 ounces steak, thinly sliced, and cook for 5 minutes. Add 1⁄4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained; sauté for another 3 minutes. Toss with 4 cups mixed salad greens, 1⁄4 diced avocado, 1⁄4 cup canned no-salt-added corn, and 1 tablespoon Italian dressing.
Skinny secret! Capsaicin, a compound in crushed red pepper, ups the calories you naturally burn after eating.
White Bean and Basil Penne
400 Calories
Cook 1⁄2 cup whole-grain penne pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Return pot to heat, and add 1⁄2 cup canned white beans, drained and rinsed, 1 cup chopped zucchini, and 1⁄4 cup spaghetti sauce; cook for 7 minutes. Stir pasta into sauce. Top with 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1 teaspoon toasted pine nuts.
Skinny secret! Beans contain resistant starch, which triggers key appetite hormones that make you feel full.
Cook 1⁄2 cup whole-grain penne pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Return pot to heat, and add 1⁄2 cup canned white beans, drained and rinsed, 1 cup chopped zucchini, and 1⁄4 cup spaghetti sauce; cook for 7 minutes. Stir pasta into sauce. Top with 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1 teaspoon toasted pine nuts.
Skinny secret! Beans contain resistant starch, which triggers key appetite hormones that make you feel full.
Cashew-Coconut Shrimp Stir-Fry
400 Calories
Sauté 2 minced garlic cloves in 1 teaspoon peanut oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Add 2 cups of frozen stir-fry vegetables; cook for 5 minutes. Add 12 medium precooked frozen shrimp, 1⁄2 cup precooked microwavable brown rice, and 1⁄3 cup light coconut milk; sauté 5–8 minutes more. Top with 1 tablespoon chopped cashews and 1⁄4 teaspoon light soy sauce.
Skinny secret! People who bulk up on veggies lose 25 percent more weight than people who just trim the fat in their diets.
Sauté 2 minced garlic cloves in 1 teaspoon peanut oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Add 2 cups of frozen stir-fry vegetables; cook for 5 minutes. Add 12 medium precooked frozen shrimp, 1⁄2 cup precooked microwavable brown rice, and 1⁄3 cup light coconut milk; sauté 5–8 minutes more. Top with 1 tablespoon chopped cashews and 1⁄4 teaspoon light soy sauce.
Skinny secret! People who bulk up on veggies lose 25 percent more weight than people who just trim the fat in their diets.
Southwestern-Style Chicken and Veggies
400 Calories
Heat 1 frozen meal, 300 calories or fewer (such as Kashi Southwest Style Chicken), and 2 cups frozen vegetables in microwave. Top warm vegetables with 1 tablespoon fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
Skinny secret! Women who regularly eat frozen entrées lose 30 to 35 percent more weight than other dieters (probably because the portions are controlled).
Heat 1 frozen meal, 300 calories or fewer (such as Kashi Southwest Style Chicken), and 2 cups frozen vegetables in microwave. Top warm vegetables with 1 tablespoon fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
Skinny secret! Women who regularly eat frozen entrées lose 30 to 35 percent more weight than other dieters (probably because the portions are controlled).
Tuscan Tuna Sandwich
400 Calories
Mix 3 ounces light tuna in water, drained; 5 chopped jumbo black olives; 2 chopped celery ribs; juice from 1⁄2 lemon; and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Place tuna mixture on 1 piece toasted whole-grain bread, and top with 1⁄2 cup mixed lettuce greens. Top with another piece of toasted whole-grain bread, and serve with 1 small orange on the side.
Skinny secret! Go for fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They keep you feeling full for long stretches.
Mix 3 ounces light tuna in water, drained; 5 chopped jumbo black olives; 2 chopped celery ribs; juice from 1⁄2 lemon; and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Place tuna mixture on 1 piece toasted whole-grain bread, and top with 1⁄2 cup mixed lettuce greens. Top with another piece of toasted whole-grain bread, and serve with 1 small orange on the side.
Skinny secret! Go for fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They keep you feeling full for long stretches.
Curried Lentil Soup With Pita
400 Calories
Stir 1⁄4 teaspoon curry powder into 1 1⁄2 cups low-sodium lentil soup (such as Amy’s Organic Lentil Soup-Light in Sodium), and heat in microwave. Top with 2 tablespoons low-fat Greek yogurt; serve with 1 whole-grain pita, cut into triangles. Enjoy 1⁄2 cup grapes on the side.
Skinny secret! Start your meal with soup, and you’ll eat 20 percent fewer total calories than you would if you skipped the soup. Why? Soup fills you up. (It could translate into a 10- to 15-pound loss in a year.)
Stir 1⁄4 teaspoon curry powder into 1 1⁄2 cups low-sodium lentil soup (such as Amy’s Organic Lentil Soup-Light in Sodium), and heat in microwave. Top with 2 tablespoons low-fat Greek yogurt; serve with 1 whole-grain pita, cut into triangles. Enjoy 1⁄2 cup grapes on the side.
Skinny secret! Start your meal with soup, and you’ll eat 20 percent fewer total calories than you would if you skipped the soup. Why? Soup fills you up. (It could translate into a 10- to 15-pound loss in a year.)
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