Top 5 Food: Eat Less but Still Feel Full

I have always had this issue. It always happened something like this...

Me : *Focusing intently in meeting*
Tummy: Let me play you the music of my people. :D

I know I am a big eater but then sometimes it gets very annoying especially when I am busy and I can't often stop to take a bite (especially one that doesn't last long). Other times, lower glucose level also strip me off concentration making me easily irritated and tired. After a few trial and misses, I would love to share with you top 5 food that left me feeling fuller for longer period of time. Please note that I have arrange it in no particular order.

(1) Oatmeal
One of the first thing that I tried was oatmeal and though oatmeal is bland, the combination of oatmeal with fruits, nuts, peanut butter, and/or savory makes it such a versatile meal. If you are lazy like me and couldn't be bothered to think straight out of bed, you will love the Uncle Toby's quick sachet range. My personal favorite is the apple honey cinnamon!

2 main selling points of oatmeal: (1) Oatmeal is high in fiber which means it stays in your tummy longer, keeping that feeling of hunger at bay. Apart from that, (2) it is well known to be able to lower your bad cholesterol level. Protect your heart and your waist line. <3 p="">

(2) Banana
One of the nasty side effect of growing up with dirty minded peers is that I don't ever dare to confess liking banana or even dare to eat banana in public. I know it sounds ridiculous but it is true. It is only up till recently when I started working and realize that I am no longer surrounded by dirty minded peers that I started eating banana! I know it sounds ridiculous but it is true! Now I regret not taking banana earlier.

Because if I were to start counting benefits in taking banana, I won't know where to start and when to stop. So, I will highlight what appeals to me. (1) Banana is a low Glycemic Index (GI) food giving longer and more sustained energy supply; (2) It is also high in fiber which means reduced hunger pangs and good for the digestive system; (3) Banana is also rich in potassium, an essential nutrient that helps the body's circulatory system deliver oxygen to the brain (and make you smarter~! A-hah~!)

(3) Eggs
Another favorite and simple breakfast that I absolutely love is egg!! Omg, just two 700g boiled egg can sustain my hunger for hours! Plus, I read somewhere that eating protein in the morning can curb food binges throughout the day.

Apparently, egg doesn't raise bad cholesterol in the body (according to recent health findings) but just in case they get it wrong again, eat some oatmeal too. Two birds with one stone~! :)

(4) Sweet Potato
Another awesome food I discovered is sweet potato!! Omg... I do not even know how to describe it. I think I ate like one fifth of a normal size sweet potato and I felt full enough to last me till lunch hour (which is like 4-5 hours?!?) Unlike its cousin the potato, sweet potato is a good source of vitamin, potassium, and fiber making you feel fuller and satiated.

But I heard consuming sweet potato can result in excessive gas, but I am not sure I felt that at all thus far.

(5) Nuts
If you just had to snack, then the best snack would have to be nuts. Not only is it rich in essential fats (something you should take when you are trying to lose weight) but also essential B vitamins.

My current favorites are walnut and pine nuts! I cannot stop wondering how something small can actually be more useful in satiating me than chocolate, power bars or cookies but it is true. 

So, if you are trying to eat more healthily or like me eat less but stay full or maybe you just want to lose weight, give these food a try for 21 days because that is how long it takes to adjust to a new taste. Or if you know of other food that also give that satisfying feeling without adding to your waistline, please let me know in the comments below. :)

Have a happy mid-week, everyone~! 

June on Fire!!

I am so motivated by blogilates' Cassey Ho's June on Fire. (If you want to know more about her, just click here.) So motivated that I managed to convince my hubby to enter into our own diet bet for the month of June, and he agreed! *insert laugh out loud*

Our goal will be to lose 4% of our body weight within the month of June. I know 4% may not sound a lot to a lot of hardcore dieters who are able to swiftly lose weight by controlling their food intake (I know I can't) and survived on cabbage soup (I know I really can't) or something but 4% during winter is very hard. Don't  just trust me, just look at the polar bears.

But this diet bet is different, I promise you. No crazy-malnutrition dieting, no crazy formula; just plain, old, trialed and tested method of healthy food and plenty of exercises.

It will be hard. *shakes head* Last winter, I was sooo.... hungry I swear I thought I had intestinal worms and had to embarrass myself by going to the pharmacy to get deworming tablets and the pharmacist laughed at my diagnosis. Apparently according to the pharmacist, you can take a torchlight and shine at said A**H**** at dark and if you have intestinal worms, your AH will kinda glow at night. Sounds pretty impressive like some kind of fireflies. Turns out I didn't have intestinal worms, not because someone shine some torchlight at my AH but because autumn came and my appetite slowly wane. :P

So this is me taken earlier this month with my fat thighs and bum, I hope at the end of the month I would see some improvement. This has always been my trouble zone and it is now or never in getting it fix!

Please don't try to stop me because I know myself how lazy I am. It is so hard to get fired up to do anything at all during winter but this time it is different. Late last month, I lost a friend from heart attack. He was barely 35 and that made it so hard for us to accept. I know he was obese most of his life but this was something we thought would never happen to someone we know and love at such a young age. We'd always meant well by telling him he needed to lose weight and he'd always push it off; but how easy is it to say and not do anything? How easy is it to say we will start a healthier lifestyle tomorrow? Next week? Next month? When winter is over? There will never be a better timing than the time you have now. 

I wanted so badly to post this up earlier but I got so emotional when I think of him. So, this month is a month I am committing to healthier living. Let's trade in those high heels, put on some running shoes and let's get sweating!