[HawnsHealth] What Should I Eat To Make Me NOT Fat?!

Being a personal trainer, you get a lot of clients asking about what to eat, how to eat and when to eat etc. I never have all the answers, but here are some tips I give.

1. When you make your traditional Nigerian meals, don’t use too much oil. Frying should be as a last resort when making meals. I repeat, don’t use too much oil in any instance and olive oil should be your first choice.
2. Bananas are your best bet for an energy fix, you can take them pre or post workout.
3. Avocados are very good, as they contain ‘healthy fats’. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should binge on them, because too much of anything is not good. You can eat them with bread, rice, chicken etc
4. You can never go wrong adding vegetables to any meal. Fill your plate up with greens. Better to fill yourself up with veggies and protein, with a little bit of complex carbs to help with the slow release of energy.
5. DRINK A LOT OF WATER, AT LEAST 2 LITRES A DAY, EXCLUDING WATER USED FOR REHYDRATION DURING/AFTER EXERCISE.
6. Skinless Chicken breast is the best part of the chicken, when it comes to protein. Can dice them or eat them whole, roasted or boiled.
7. Cottage cheese is a great snack, mix with honey!
8. For eggs, you can eat the yolk, but not too much. If you want to have more eggs, eat 2 whole eggs and any extra, take the yolk out.
9. Red meat- make sure you buy lean!
10. Fish is very very good, tuna, sardines, salmon and the lot. Just make sure you drain it, if you buy the tin/canned ones.
11. When it comes to rice, bread, pasta etc try your best to buy brown/wholegrain.
12. Oats, granola, muesli are the best for cereal. Try as much as possible not too eat sugary cereals.
13. Use honey as a sweetener!
14. Green tea and cranberry are good anti oxidants and they assist in weightloss as well.
15. Fresh fruits are better than what you buy off the shelf in bottles and cans. Make smoothies with fresh fruits and be creative, add some greens/soy milk.
16. Eat a lot of spicy stuff, it can boost your metabolism by up to 8%
17. Cut out snacks especially those you buy on the road, plantain chips, gala etc
18. Potatoes are good, especially sweet potatoes, yams are very good. Just try not too eat too much. Remember, size of your fist when it comes to carbs.
19. When you over eat, it expands your belly. Also the body doesn’t get to use up all the nutrients/energy consumed, and that’s when it stores as fat.
20. Always try and prepare your meals the day/night before and pack them along to work. That way your food is readily available. It’s when you’ve been starved you tend to pick the nearest and easiest meal and over eat.

FOR WEIGHTLOSS, MAKE SURE YOURE NOT HUNGRY DURING THE DAY.. THE ONLY TIME YOURE ALLOWED TO BE HUNGRY IS RIGHT BEFORE YOU SLEEP AND IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP.
For more help with nutrition, it is always advisable to get in touch with a nutritionist.
Happy eating!
Abayomi ‘ABS’ Oladinni – (CERTIFIED FITNESS PROFESSIONAL)
Head coach- ABS PT CENTRE – http://www.absgymandfitness.com – 08051277490