Belly Fat

This one hormone has a lot to do with your bellyfat.

"Ugh, I think my hormones are all messed up!" That's the statement I heard from my sister not too long ago.

After I asked her a few questions about what was going on, I proceeded to explain to her that there are no "bad" hormones. They are all there for a good reason.

Problems arise when your hormones get unbalanced, and bad things happen in your body.

There's one particular hormone that's directly responsible for adding unwanted fat around your middle. It's called cortisol and this was my sister's biggest problem.

Your body releases cortisol when you're under stress. It's part of the whole "fight or flight" response. It worked great for our caveman ancestors when they were being chased by a lion. But it isn't so great for us now...

You see, many of us are walking around with high cortisol levels all the time.

It happens thanks to everyday stressors, like a fight with your spouse or a rough day at work.

Even strenuous exercise like jogging can raise your cortisol to sky-high levels.

And these increased cortisol levels could be making you fat.

The kind of fat you're most likely to store from elevated cortisol is called visceral fat - the dangerous bellyfat that's linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.

What about carbs?? Whats Good??

 I had carbs for dinner last night, too.  I even had a late night snack (that had some carbs) and I'm planning on eating some more carbs in just a little bit :).  Fact is, while there are plenty of BAD carbs out there, you don't have to completely eliminate carbs from your diet in order to burn fat fast, especially when you choose the RIGHT sources.

Having said that, below are my top 4 choices for belly-blasting carbs that'll leave you full and satisfied, while helping you toward your fat loss goals to boot!

#4 - Berries & Cherries

Berries like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and cherries (although not technically a berry) are some of the BEST carbs you can eat. They are high in fiber, packed with antioxidants, and score extremely low on the glycemic index, especially cherries which come with a GI of just 22.

I enjoy fresh berries for dessert several times a week and it's an awesome, nutritious way to finish off any meal. Great as a snack, too! Try them on top of Greek yogurt... Mmm :)

#3 - Sprouted Grain Bread

Sprouted grain breads, like Ezekiel 4:9 bread (one of the most popular brands of sprouted grain bread) is a great way to include bread in your diet on occassion without all the issues associated with white breads and even 100% whole wheat breads.

Instead, Ezekiel bread is organic, sprouted, 100% whole grain flour less bread. A 2-slice serving even contains 8 grams of complete protein and 6 grams of fiber, so don't give up the bread, just choose the right kind!

#2 - Quinoa

While brown rice is thought to be the healthy grain, there’s one even better, and that’s quinoa.

Quinoa is a gluten free grain that contains double the protein of brown rice along with greater fiber content and a lower glycemic load.

Not only that, but quinoa is the ONLY grain to contain complete protein and the full spectrum of amino acids. It comes in several varieties, including “oatmeal-like” flakes and it’s wholegrain rice-like form.

Enjoy it as an oatmeal substitute for breakfast, in salads or casseroles, or as a wholesome whole-grain, high protein side item to any lunch or dinner meal.

#1 - Beans, Lentils, and other Legumes

Beans and Lentils, part of the "legume" family, just may be my #1 choice for a healthy carb. Packed with loads of fiber and protein, these guys come in so many different varieties that you'll never get bored: lentils, chickpeas, black eyed peas, black beans, red beans, kidney beans, navy beans, butter beans, lima beans, pinto beans...and the list goes on.

Because of their fiber & protein content, along with their versatility, I eat something from the legume family in at least one of my meals daily. I'd highly recommend you'd do the same!