“I’ve started eating much less and have smoothies for snacks throughout the day. I use milk, strawberries, blueberries, walnuts, whey, yogurt, pomegranate juice, and cocoa powder. Even though I’m eating less I can’t seem to lose any weight. Is my metabolism too slow?”
There is nothing wrong with your metabolism. You’re simply consuming too many calories!
Smoothies can be great for dieters but they can also be their downfall. Just because it is in a liquid form doesn’t mean it is low in calories.
Milk: Are you using fat free, skim milk, 1%, 2% or whole milk? Milk still has plenty of calories.
Berries: Berries are sweet for a reason. They contain sugar. Not added sugar, of course, but natural sugars they’re born with. Watch your serving sizes of berries. You may find it much more satisfying to eat your berries rather than blend them smooth.
Walnuts: While these are great for fiber, good fats and protein, they still can be high in calories. Watch your serving sizes with nuts. Just like the berries, you may find you’re more satisfied crunching on those nuts rather than blending them.
Whey: Sugar free whey protein powder is an excellent choice however, if you are using a complete protein drink mix, it may very well have a good deal of added sugar and carbohydrates which makes for a whole lot of calories. I like EAS 100% Whey Protein. It is low in sugar, carbs and calories and still tastes great.
Yogurt: What kind of yogurt are you using? Flavored, plain, low-fat, fate free or full fat? Not all yogurts are created equal. Check the calorie content for the yogurt you’re using. Remember too that using both yogurt and milk is a bit redundant.
Pomegranate Juice: Is this sweetened? What serving size are you using? Check the calories in the amount of juice you’re using. You may find you’re better off just eating the fruit instead of adding the juice to an already fruity drink.
Cocoa Powder: While there really is nothing wrong with a little cocoa powder, you problem lies in what you use to sweeten it. Sweeteners are sweet for a reason. They are, in one way or another, a form of sugar. Watch the added calories.
Smoothies can be great if you’re smart about their preparation but a silly smoothie maker can really ruin a diet.