Originally Posted by Hedonistic

Smart-Carb Thirst-Quenchers

You can keep your meals smart-carb balanced by drinking water, unsweetened iced or hot tea, or unsweetened coffee instead of regular soda. Diet soda will work, but waterhahaha8217;s a better bet to stay healthy and keep your muscles hydrated.



The Sharp Fast Food Diet

To lose weight and lean out while still eating fast food, just eat any of the fast food meals above. Youhahaha8217;ll be cutting calories while getting enough protein to build muscle and keep you satisfied. To keep your energy up and stay full, eat a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast every day, either one of the breakfasts listed above or another breakfast that includes protein and keeps carbs in the right proportions. A good smart-carb breakfast is two eggs with cheese, a piece of toast, and an orange (not orange juice).



Staying Healthy While Eating Fast Food

If you eat fast food regularly, you can stay healthy by eating at least one meal a day that provides you with vitamins, minerals and fiber. For at least one of your meals, try eating a big salad or plate of cooked vegetables with some meat or fish. If the salad comes with croutons, go ahead and eat them - you need them for your carbs. Order the dressing on the side and use two or three spoonfuls of it.

You can also make a salad at a supermarket salad bar. Include a good helping of tuna, chicken or other meat. To get even more vitamins, pass on the croutons and get a piece of fruit, like a banana or apple, from the produce section. This way you can eat fast food for some of your meals and still stay healthy.



Sharp Snacks

When you eat smart-carb meals, ithahaha8217;s a good idea to eat smart-carb snacks, so you stay satisfied between meals. A good time to eat a snack is around 5:00 p.m. to hold you over until dinner. Eat another snack within an hour before going to bed to balance your metabolism and help you lean out while you sleep.

A great, high-energy, low-calorie snack is a handful of nuts, any kind, including almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios or macadamia nuts. Whathahaha8217;s a handful? Dig into a bag of shelled nuts and close your fist around them. The nuts in your fist are a handful. Thathahaha8217;s the right amount for a snack.

When you work out, try eating a handful of nuts before exercising and another handful afterwards. The protein and healthy fats in the nuts will fuel your workout and help you build muscle.



Supersized vs. Sharp Eating

To eat meals that keep you looking and feeling sharp, eat some protein with every meal and eat just enough carbs to give you energy without putting you in a "carb-coma." Eating in moderation and keeping a smart balance of protein and carbs lets you eat fast food hahaha8212; or any food hahaha8212; and maintain a sharp, lean build.