Diet Advice and Detox

Question
I'm 5'4" and weight about 155 lbs.  I'd like to lose about 15-20 pounds, but it's difficult because I already have a really good diet.  I never drink soda or really any other drink but water, I only cook with olive oil, I rarely eat fried foods, no butter, I eat lots of fruits and veggies, I try to eat lots of whole grains and I have high cholesterol (runs in the family)- so I try to eat low fat and low cholesterol foods. Lately I've been extra careful with what I'm eating (only plain almonds or fruit for snacks), I take walks daily.  And I'm not losing much weight at all. I think  my issue is over eating, I just never feel full.

So my question is two-fold. Do you have any diet modifications or suggestions to help me feel full and satisfied so I will eat less?  I'm a huge believer in homeopathic medicine, but so far I haven't found anything to help with hunger or weight loss.  Any suggestions?

And also, I'm looking for a healthy detox diet that I could do for a week or so to shed a few pounds and get me on track.  I was thinking of something like just certain juices, teas or fruits.  Do you know of any good detoxes that will help me lose some initial weight and feel great?

Thank you,

Worried about being chunky forever

Answer
Exercise is going to be the key because it will both get rid of body fat and lower your cholesterol level.  I suggest that you start to do some weight lifting to build your lean muscle mass.  Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat even while you're sitting still or sleeping.

Obviously, the amount of food that you eat will affect how much you weigh.  So you might want to look at your portion sizes as you suggested.  It sounds like you're on the right track in trying to eat lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  100% whole-grain breads and pastas are full of fiber.  Fiber will also help reduce your cholesterol level and help you feel full.

Drinking plenty of water also helps you lose weight.  Your body needs water to burn fat and if it doesn't get enough water, it will store the fat.  At your present weight, you should be drinking at least 70 to 80 fluid ounces of water per day.  In addition, drinking water will give you a full feeling, particularly if you drink a glass before a meal.

One of the best detox diets that I have found is a juice fast.  You start out slowly by removing meat from your diet for a day, then eating just raw foods for a day, then just eating raw fruit for a day, then just drinking fruit and vegetable juices for a day or two or three.  Then you reverse the process to come back to your normal diet.  You will lose some weight and should not feel the typical effects of detox as much.

Thank you for your question, Worried one.  My answer is a small portion of an eight week online class that I teach called "The Answer Is Right under Your Nose."  You can find out more about it in the Personal Coaching section of my web site at www.JerryRyanPhD.com.  I hope that my answer was helpful.  

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