Italian Food & Drink contents page
Eat Your Favorite
Italian Pasta and Lose Weight
by (c) Anna, Overweight No
More
Are you tired of eating like a little bird and starving to
lose weight to gain it all back? Welcome to the club! Do you
know how many times I've heard that Italian pasta is
forbidden for any successful weight loss program, especially
from low carb supporters? Well, I will talk based on my own
experience. I love pasta and eat pasta while still keeping
off the 80 pounds I lost from 230 pounds for over 3 years.
Moreover, I make my own home-made pasta. Extreme diets are
not good in the long-term. Certainly, you can lose weight on
those quick "hunger" diets, but is notbetter to enjoy
eating healthier and still losing weight? I will share with
you my secret to enjoy your favorite Italian pasta and still
lose weight: Small portions, eat slowly, and exercise.
Wait... there is more...
Although there is not a "one-size-fits-all diet," you need
to have protein, carbs, fiber, and good fat in your weight
loss program. The secret is "moderation and not consuming
more calories than you can burn."
Now, do not get me wrong. Yes, you can gain weight if you
eat too much starchy carbs, such as pasta and white rice
without exercising and not consuming enough protein. In
addition, if your pasta dish is a "super size me" portion,
most likely you will pile on extra calories.
A normal 1/2 cup of pasta has about 200 calories, if you get
"super size pasta," which most restaurants serve the
equivalent of three to four cups of pasta, are you adding
the numbers? Voila, you will have about 600-800 calories,
without including those warm bread served before the pasta,
plus your deserve, and so on. Obviously, you are going to
add extra calories, and if you do not burn those extra
calories, well, helloo... you know where those calories are
going to go. Exactly, right there, as stored fat.
However, if you consume extra calories, next day you can
adjust by increasing your cardio exercises. This is what I
usually do after eating those extra tempting warm breads.
Furthermore, I also modify my menu and have more vegetables,
fruits, protein and less starch carbs. The point is that you
should not starve, neither deprive yourself of your favorite
food. Carbs work as body fuel; they give you energy. The
issue is that you have to use that energy, if not, then it
becomes stored fat. Simple, just like one plus one is two.
Let me give you an example. When I was living in Italy, I
used to eat pasta almost every day, including lunch and
dinner and I did not gain weight. Why? Simply, my lifestyle
was very active. In Italy, I used to walk daily. Now,
comparing Italian portions versus most American portions
there is a big difference. Here is why, reportedly, there
are more overweight people in the USA. Consuming extra -
humongous portions - and not exercising results in
overweight, obese people.
Another difference, eating habits are almost set to the
clock. This means not eating often or while standing.
Mealtimes are to enjoy. I did gain weight when I came back
to the USA. I continue eating my pasta just as I did in
Italy but I was not walking anymore. Also, I noticed my
taste switched to "super size me" portions and eating all
kinds of junk food... so, no wonder why I gained so much
weight soon. I take full responsibility for my negligence
because I surrendered to the "super size portions" trap.
Good thing is that I survived heavy super size commercials
too and YOU can do it too.
Now, I still eat my pasta, and sometimes even make my own
home-made pasta too. However, I learned how to adjust my
eating habits and lifestyle.
1. I eat every 3 hours to boost my metabolism and burn
stored fat.
2. I eat pasta mostly for lunch (occasionally, I have pasta
for dinner).
3. I drink my 8 glasses of water, Exercise 5 days a week
(combine cardio exercises and weight training).
4. I have my nutritional supplements, and drink my 2 cups of
green tea daily.
5. I make sure to include protein for breakfast and dinner
and within 30 minutes after working out.
Hey... it's been over 3 years and I have not gained the
weight back.... yet, I still enjoy my fresh home-made
Italian pasta and my favorite red wine "Chianti." A good
hint is never force yourself to finish a meal when your
stomach says, "Hey, I am full."
I want to help you lose weight by setting realistic goals
and learning how to eat healthier. Hence, let me make a
toast with you to cheer you up on your quest to lose weight.
Start with these 4 basic principles:
1. Check your meals size portion.
2. Take at least 30 minutes to eat your meals.
3. Start exercising.
4. Drink your 8 glasses of water, and believe in yourself.
"You Can Lose Weight and Stop the Yo-Yo Diet and those bird
or elephant meal
portions. You can discover the NEW you,
just as I did. Your new figure is waiting for you! If I did
it, so can you.
In the meantime, let's enjoy this delicious meal and still
lose weight - my very own home-made Italian pasta with a
bruschetta, an aperitivo "Bellagio style", a green salad,
and my favorite Chianti wine. Buon appetito!
Viva la pasta e la dolce vita!
Cheers for the NEW YOU and YOUR successful weight loss
program!
Your Motivated Weight Loss Friend,
Anna, Overweight No More!
Suggested Weight Loss Articles by Anna, Overweight No More
How I lost 80 Pounds from 230 Pounds...(Anna's story)
http://www.officialoverweightnomore.com/mystory.html
Free Weight Loss Tips to Boost Your Metabolism and Burn Fat
Faster http://www.officialoverweightnomore.com/weight_loss_tips.html
What Can We Eat to Avoid Obesity? http://www.officialoverweightnomore.com/avoidobesity.html
Help! Which Diet to follow, High Protein or Low Carb?
http://www.officialoverweightnomore.com/proteinorcarbdiet.html
About the Author
Anna Overweight No More, a work-at-home mom, shows you the
weight loss tips she used to lose 80 pounds from 230 pounds.
She reveals not only how YOU can lose weight, but also how
YOU can keep it off while eating regular meals not strict
weight loss diets. Start YOUR Weight Loss Program today. I
am Ready to Help You lose weight! http://www.officialoverweightnomore.com
Subscribe to my Free Weekly Weight Loss Tips Newsletter
Photos, from top to bottom courtesy of sxc.hu:
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