6. EAT FIVE TIMES A DAY
That means three meals and two snacks: one between breakfast and lunch, and one between lunch and dinner. You’ll have a steady stream of energy; plus, less food more often isn’t as taxing on your digestive system as three big meals. Also, those five daily feedings stabilize your blood sugar, so you won’t have crazy mood swings or hunger pangs.
7. UP YOUR PROTEIN
Try a Zone-inspired diet – a balance of protein, complex carbs, and fat in every meal and snack–to protect against insulin overload. The benefit of high-quality protein, like chicken, turkey, and low-fat Greek yogurt: It contains amino acids, which help muscles recover after workouts.
8. LIMIT YOUR LIQUIDS
Ditch juices, vanilla lattes, and sodas–all have unneeded sugar and calories. You drink for three reasons – if you’re thirsty, drink water; if you need stimulation, drink black coffee; if you want to take the edge off, choose a vodka martini or a similar non-mixed, simple drink. In other words, no mojitos.
9. YES, THAT MEANS DIET SODA, TOO
Although the science on the fake sweeteners used in diet sodas is still undecided, you should still not drink them. The sweeteners may elicit an insulin spike or, at the very least, psychologically prepare you for something sweet, but there are no calories to back the signal.