What is the best way to lose body fat?

The answer to this questions is actually a lot more simple than you think!
The best way to lose body fat is:

1. Finding a type of exercise you enjoy.
2. Find a realistic diet that you can do consistently and eat in a calorie deficit.
3. Get accountability.
4. Be PATIENT!

Sounds simple right? It's because it is! If you're trying to lose body fat, these are the 3 most necessary steps you need to take. Don't use your hard earned money buying detox tea's, juice cleanses, or over priced organic foods, if you haven't done these 4 things first! There are benefits to these products I have mentioned (when used correctly), but nothing compared to the 4 steps I have listed above.

The best diet is the one you can most adhere to.

Let's be real. Juice cleanses (and similar products) are an extreme, very temporary, shortcut to try and help people lose weight. They have health benefits of course, because of their micronutrient content, but you can get that from simply eating better foods. The benefits of juice cleansing (getting in micronutrients) are not worth the negatives of juice cleansing (EXTREME calorie deficit) which leads to feeling tired, exhausted, can slow your body's metabolism, and mess with your hormone production. NOT WORTH IT.

You do not have to go to these extremes to be healthy, or lose weight. 😊

Eat foods that you enjoy, just control how much of them you eat. Add in a few fruits, vegetables, protein, and you'll be good to go! 👍

What you can do RIGHT NOW to help you lose body fat.

Go to TDEECalculator.net, enter the required fields, find out how many calories you need to maintain your current weight, subtract 300-400 calories, and eat that amount! (You can download an app like MyFitnessPal to help you count your calories. Everything can be scanned or searched, it's quite easy)

Then, add some fruits, vegetables, and protein into your diet. You don't need to cut carbs (that's your body's main energy source). You just need to include healthier foods more often. Notice I said INCLUDE, not EXCLUDE. Excluding foods can lead to a negative perception and relationship with certain foods. Let's avoid that step. Eat some carbs, sweets, or a pizza when you want to. Just INCLUDE healthier foods throughout your week. This is called balance. This is a realistic, long-term approach to dieting to lose body fat and be healthier.

Save your money! Don't fall for the magazines promoting detox tea's, superfoods, or a list of foods you should avoid.
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As far as workouts go...

Choose something that you enjoy! Something that makes you happy. This will keep you coming back for more and help you push through the hard times because you are enjoying yourself. This doesn't mean that you will enjoy EVERY second of training, especially when you re pushing yourself. An exercise program or activity that you enjoy will most likely give you the endorphins you crave and keep you consistent in your training.

TRAINERS TIP: You cannot spot reduce. Meaning, I can't do crunches and lose belly fat, or use a shake weight to lose the fat underneath my arms. (Yup, I brought up the shake weight) We all hold fat differently, in different places. Burning calories in general, and staying in a calorie deficit, will get rid of fat in ALL of these places. So pick an exercise activity that you ENJOY, so that you feel motivated to do it everyday, and watch the fat burn off! Consistency is key! 🔑

Accountabilty

Perhaps one of the most important things you can have if you are looking for a body transformation is accountability. This can come in the form of:

• An accountability buddy/workout buddy
• A set workout or nutrition plan.
• An online personal trainer.

Let's be honest. When things get tough, it helps to have someone to go to the gym with you, help with your meal prep, encourage you to get up and go, or give you a plan of action that you are confident in. Set yourself up for success! Give yourself the accountability you deserve. Get the results you want!

I hope this information was helpful! This was simply an introduction to why you should calorie count, and find a realistic approach to both dieting and working out to lose body fat. If you would like more information, motivation, coaching, or a few tips to help you find what you're looking for, send me a message, find me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, ask me your fitness or fat loss questions. Or just say what's up! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article!

Jake