Quick and easy to prepare, smoothies are now being touted as the perfect weight loss beverage that's packed with fat burning ingredients. However, not all weight loss smoothies were created equal and some may even sabotage your efforts. So let me introduce you to the art of making a healthy, nutritious, fiber-loaded and heart healthy weight loss smoothie.

The skinny on weight loss smoothies

1. Don't skimp on calories

Yep, you read me right: a smoothie that does not provide sufficient calories per serving won't fill you up and may lead to irresistible cravings which will, in turn, lead to binges. If your weight loss smoothie is substituting a main meal, it should contain around 300 to 400 kcal per serving or up to 200kcal if taken as a snack.

2. Don't add too much liquid

One cup of liquid such as coconut water, light coconut milk, almond milk or plain ol' water is just enough for a smoothie that's neither too thick nor too runny. If your smoothie is very liquid, you'll need to down a large volume to get sufficient calories €" this might be hard to achieve.

Plus a smoothie that's thick enough will ward off hunger (and cravings) for a longer period of time.

3. Be ingredient savvy

It may sound pretty obvious but I think it's worth mentioning that if you add ice-cream, fruit juices or concentrates, sugar, syrups or sweetened fruits to your smoothie, it's more likely that the scale reading will go up.

4. Don't ban all fats

Once again, no typo here: healthy fats such as coconut oil and flakes, avocados, seeds, nuts and nut butters will help your body absorb the nutrients from your smoothie. They will also maximize weight loss. Be sure not to go overboard though.

5. Incorporate an exercise routine in your smoothie diet

Yes, strength training and cardio exercises will facilitate weight loss but they'll also help you build up your muscle mass, hence increasing your metabolic rate. A higher metabolic rate will make it easier for your body to burn stubborn fat and will help you feel more energetic.

Lose weight easily with my healthy smoothie diet program

Instead of spending your precious time deciphering the ingredients and calorie content of the thousands of smoothies you can find online, try my smoothie diet program specifically designed to assist weight loss. Not only have I meticulously analyzed the nutrition content of all the recipes but I also provide easy and efficient workouts. Start changing your body and your life today!