Maybe that vacation or special event has snuck up on you, and you need to lose some weight, or maybe you just want to challenge yourself, but simply wanting to do something isn’t the same as knowing how to do it. But never fear!
This article will tell you everything that you need to know about what to eat to lose 20 lbs in a month.
How Many Meals Per Day Should You Have?
Whilst cutting down to 1 or 2 meals a day might seem like a good way to lose as much weight as possible, it can actually be detrimental to your weight loss.
When you cut down on food so much, your body will go into starvation mode. When it does this, it reduces the number of calories burned and also makes you lazier, more fatigued, and increases food cravings.
In order to avoid this, you should still eat three meals a day whilst still counting calories to ensure that you don’t overeat.
What Has to Be Your Main Source of Protein?
You should switch to a protein-rich diet to lose 20 lbs in a month. This type of diet is proven to decrease belly fat, preserve muscle mass, and speed up metabolism.
Your main source of protein should also be low in calories, such as:
- White Fleshed Fish
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Beans, Peas, and Lentils
- Lean Beef
- Tofu
Great Low-Calorie Foods
Of course, when you’re looking to lose 20 lbs in a month, you should be making sure that you’re not eating high-calorie foods, such as:
- Oats
- Greek Yogurt
- Soup
- Berries
- Eggs
- Popcorn
- Chia Seeds
- Fish
Should You Have Any Cheat Days?
Whether or not you have a cheat day is up to you. Some people find that a break from a rigorous diet is helpful and allows almost for a reset. For others, it does the opposite – it breaks a habit and makes it harder to get back onto the bandwagon.
Scientifically though, research shows that after a cheat meal, your metabolism speeds up, which causes you to burn calories faster. This is caused by an increase in your levels of leptin, a hormone responsible for maintaining energy balance in the body.
However, just because you can have cheat days doesn’t mean that you should have them frequently.
If you do, then you’re just going to fall off the bandwagon and end up back where you started. And if you’re trying to lose 20 lbs in a month, having more than one cheat day will be detrimental to your weight loss.
Types of Food You Have to Avoid
When trying to lose weight, it is important that you avoid some foods that would only do more harm than good, such as:
- French Fries
- Potato Chips
- Sugary Drinks
- White Bread
- Candy Bars
- Alcohol (especially beer)
In summary, the worst foods for weight loss are highly processed junk foods that don’t actually fill you up and will only make you want to eat more.
Final Thoughts on What To Eat To Lose 20 Lbs In A Month
In short, in order to lose 20 lbs in a month, it is by eating the correct foods. If you keep hydrated and eat three high-protein, low-calorie meals a day, you should be well on your way to losing 20 lbs!
Of course, everyone’s body is different, and many factors are at play, such as age, original weight, and gender, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try!