Practice savvy portion control.

Humorist Carl Ottavi once said, “The popularity of dieting proves that people will go to great lengths to avoid going to great widths.” But despite the myriad of diets and fitness info out there, worldwide obesity is on the rise. In fact, seven out of ten Americans are overweight or obese. In today’s petrochemical world, the fatter you are, the more toxins you’re retaining, which is why a detox program—like Fat Flush—should always accompany weight loss.

One very simple underlying reason explains why Americans are getting fatter. Over the last three decades portion sizes (think bran muffins and bagels) have slowly but surely doubled (or quadrupled!) in size. Even our dishes have become larger—by several inches in fact—so we can pile on more food. This began in the early 80s when food companies began making larger portions, so people naturally ate more and their waistlines expanded.

Instead of counting calories—which I never believed in anyway—it’s so much easier to smart-size your diet. Eat lots of veggies and about 6-8 ounces of lean protein to trigger the fat-burning hormone glucagon, which mobilizes fat from storage. Use this guide to size up the most commonly over-consumed foods—fats, fruits, and starches. When I review personal diet histories, these food groups are the single biggest diet culprits, either through omission or plain excess.

Slimming Fats
Fat is your BFF when it comes to weight loss. The right kind of fat provides the “satiety factor” and is the most potent blood sugar stabilizer of all. In many cases several of these oils are natural anti-inflammatories that also inhibit weight gain and help to balance hormones. About 2 servings daily is all you need to meet your body’s requirements. Each food source is broken down to the equivalent of one tablespoon of oil.

• Hi-lignan flax oil, fish oil, extra-virgin olive oil, macadamia nut oil, or coconut oil (1 tablespoon); nut or seed butters—peanut, almond, sesame, or tahini (1 tablespoon); avocado (1/2 small); almonds (7); cashews (5); peanuts (10); pecan halves (4); macadamia nuts (3); walnuts (4 or 1 tablespoon chopped)

Fruit
Fruits are loaded with enzymes, minerals (such as potassium), vitamin C, and fiber—which are potent disease fighters and natural cleansers for the system. Each fruit portion size listed is about 10 carbohydrate grams. Enjoy at least 2 servings each day and take advantage of the succulent summer fruits.

• Plums (2); apple, pear, nectarine, peach, or kiwi fruit (1); grapes (10); cherries (12); melon (1 cup); blueberries (3/4 cup); raspberries (1 cup); strawberries (1 1/4 cup); grapefruit, papaya, mango, or banana (1/2); unsweetened applesauce (1/2 cup); raisins (2 tablespoons); unsweetened orange juice or grapefruit juice (1/2 cup); apple juice (1/3 cup)

Starchy Vegetables, Grains, and Beans
Each serving is equal to about 15 carbohydrate grams. This group adds up very quickly, so if weight loss is your goal, keep to about two servings per day. For weight maintenance and heavy workouts, up to four servings will fuel your body. Keep in mind that a total of 60 carb grams per day is what it takes for some individuals with a sluggish metabolism to lose weight.

• Winter squash (1/2 cup); peas (3/4 cup); corn (1/2 cup); butternut or acorn squash (1/2 cup); baked potato with skin (1 small); pumpkin (3/4 cup); sweet potato (1 small); parsnip (1 whole); rutabaga (1 small); chestnuts (4 large or 6 small); cooked brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, or whole grain noodles (1/2 cup); whole grain bread (1 slice); small tortilla (1); air-popped popcorn (5 cups); whole grain pita pocket, whole grain English muffin, or whole grain bagel (1/2); beans—navy, lima, kidney, black, pinto, garbanzo, soy, lentils, or split peas (1/2 cup)

Just remember, size matters. When you are on portion control, you will be setting a strong foundation for staying thin and healthy for life.