Nature is balanced so perfectly that when I first heard about these fat burning foods, it really didn't surprise me. There have been so many things in my life that I see in nature that were done to balance out and make things run in harmony. Now before you think I've eaten one too many bowls of Grape Nuts, there really are a few rules of thumb before you can expect positive results with fat burning foods. These foods do work and can become part of your daily diet.

To understand how they work we need a definition of burning - and that is just about anything that gives off energy in heat and uses a fuel. The fuel that we're talking about are the fat burning foods and the energy is given off when they are digested. I'm not sure if they are more complex and thus require more time and energy to digest, but I do know that the whole idea is that they use more calories to digest than they leave on your hips.

One rule for weight loss is that you have to burn more calories than you take in. And for more and more of us, sitting behind a computer screen all day is becoming a way of life - at least a way of making a living. We don't move much and maybe have a water bottle or coffee or tea close by. When we do get up, it isn't to exercise. It's either a call of nature or time to leave the cubicle for the day. So it is no wonder we are putting on more pounds than we work off. We don't live that sort of lifestyle.

Fat burning foods are - lemons, turnips, mushrooms, grapefruit, broccoli, limes, beans, cherries, walnuts, dried fruits, fava beans, carrots, pineapple, oranges, pumpkins, spinach, blackberries, and eggplants - and a few more. In fact, dairy has been known now to assist in fat loss when compared to diets without dairy. It's the calcium makeup of dairy that breaks down the fat cells. But it's not simply the calcium or you could ingest capsules and get thin.

Much research will show you that when you begin a diet, to be successful, you need to start in moderation. Slowly work these foods I've listed into your regular diet. And a strategy of moderate exercise works wonders as it sets the body metabolism going - a catalyst needed to start the foods to do their thing. The more foods you introduce, the more exercise you introduce, the better your results. Your waistline will soon start to get smaller and you will be eating these gems all the time.

The food list is great, but I must mention proteins. You need to get a healthy amount of lean protein such as salmon, lean beef, and chicken breast. I've found that fatty foods such as pork, although they have a good amount of protein, don't help the fat burning foods as they saturate the diet with animal fats. And with the salmon, you're able to make so many different creations, plus it's loaded with great omega oils we so vitally need for healthy cell structure.

Of course you knew I'd throw in a word of caution. Make sure that you don't add a bunch of carbs or a bunch of fats to this diet. These fat burning foods work well with each other and with little else. One thing that won't work is dumping your normal level of fattening butters and oils, high starch side dishes with your fat burners. They will counteract each other and you will see no progress and think the program doesn't work.

I use a daily food journal. Write down everything that passes between your lips for the day - coffee, tea, water, foods, snacks, gum, everything. You will soon see the portions and frequency in which you are packing away food. Next, take some good breaks when you feel your body needs it. Work for two hour stretches and break for 10 minutes. Don't drink coffee then, but let your body unwind and relax as this is a normal cycle that it needs.