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Food & Recipes

Coconut Oil Should Be Your Go-To Fat Burner

By Melanie Aman

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We all regard coconut oil as a miracle beauty product, but did you know that adding it to your diet can help you lose weight fast? Whether you’re wondering how to lose belly fat or struggling with how to lose arm fat, coconut oil just might do the trick.

So what is it about this miracle—and all-natural product—that make it a medicine cabinet must-have? It might sound illogical, but the fat in coconut oil is a saturated fat that’s formed differently than the saturated fats you might find in things like canola oil or avocados. Coconut oil is chock-full of these saturated fats called medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which can actually help you lose weight.

MUST-SEE: Coconut Oil Is a Cure for Hair Loss

How do MCTs work? When your body takes in these MCTs, they travel all the way down to the digestive system where they are competing with glucose, or sugar, for absorption as an energy source. If your body chooses those MCTs rather than glucose molecules, your body’s metabolism gets a 24-hour boost! So sit back and enjoy your TV show because even while you’re resting, your body is still burning calories.

If you’re still not convinced of the benefits of coconut oil for weight loss, try adding it to your diet in small, simple ways to see if you notice any results (watch the video below to see how to easily incorporate coconut oil in your diet).

NEXT: Looking for inspiration? Check out these jaw-dropping weight loss transformations.

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  1. Mallory Buettner Before

    Instagram
    Once her weight reached almost 400 pounds in 2014, 29-year-old Mallory Buettner decided it was time for a change. See the teacher now on the next slide.

  3. Mallory Buettner After

    Instagram
    So Buettner turned to a diet of healthy whole foods and began to shed about 80 pounds. Then, her doctor recommended a gastric bypass so her metabolism could better handle her new food intake. She shed 210 pounds as a result of the surgery and then had 10 pounds of excess skin removed.

  5. Mallory Buettner Weight Loss Transformation

    Instagram
    Much healthier now at 187 pounds, she maintains that weight by eating a clean diet and doing cardio and kettle bell weights at the gym. "As a teacher, it was important to be able to have the energy to keep up with the kids," Buettner told DailyMail.co.uk. "Now, they struggle to keep up with me."

  6. Lost Weight

    Instagram
    Abby Lutz tipped the scales at 425 pounds by the time she became pregnant with her daughter. Deciding it was time for a major change, she lost 240 pounds by adding a healthy diet and exercise to her lifestyle!

  7. Weight Loss Collage

    via Facebook
    Lorraine O'Loughlin would drink 15 cups of coffee and regularly binge on snacks. Determined to slim down, the mom-of-three adopted a much healthier diet and lost 98 pounds!

  9. Weight loss before and after keto

    via Imgur
    Reddit user Hamooh's photo demonstrates the difference just 50 pounds can make! So how did she go from 250 to 200 in only six months? She credits a combination of fasting and a keto diet for her drastic weight loss. But if fasting isn't for you, a ketogenic diet, which is a high-fat, low-carb diet, might be more doable.

  10. Weight Loss before and after personal trainer

    via Reddit
    Reddit user Moonlites dropped an amazing 137 pounds after making the effort to join a gym. With the help of a personal trainer, she worked on a workout routine and diet that was easy to follow. Today, she's never looked better!

  11. Screen Shot 2017 06 27 At 1.47.15 Pm

    After giving birth to her daughter, Andrea Barlow reached her heaviest weight of 375 pounds. But once she started Beachbody’s 21 Day Fix meal plan and began adding exercise to her lifestyle, she was able to shed a whopping 200 pounds. And today, she's hardly recognizable!

  13. Weight Loss Collage

    Instagram
    Chloe Longstaff regularly binged on pizza and alcohol until she weighed 238 pounds. When she wasn't able to fit into her bridesmaid dress for her brother's wedding, she decided it was time for a major change. With the proper diet and exercise, the 23-year-old was able to lose nearly 100 pounds!

  14. Weight Loss Sarah Nicole

    Instagram
    Struggling with a food addiction, mom of three Sarah Reynolds just wanted to weigh under 200 pounds. But when she made changes to her lifestyle that focused on health rather than her weight, she began to see a huge difference in how she felt when she chose foods that fueled her body. And the pounds came off as a side effect—100 pounds, that is!

  15. Before And After

    Instagram
    At her biggest, Sarah Sapora weighed 360 pounds. Fed up with how her size prevented her from doing the things she loved, Sarah cut out her poor snacking habits and lost 78 pounds in just 14 months! She claims this is just the beginning of her weight loss journey. You go girl!

  17. Amber Weight Loss Before

    Courtesy of Amber Anderson
    Amber was always called the "fat friend" or "fat sister," but when the 265-pound mom of three saw herself on video and realized she would only be able to shop at plus-size stores, she got inspired to lose 140 pounds in just one year. See her now on the next slide.

  18. Amber Weight Loss After

    Courtesy of Amber Anderson
    Not only did Amber change her eating behaviors start exercising more, she also started tracking her food in the weight loss app Lose It! Incredibly, she was able to go from a size 24 to size 4. Find out how she maintains her figure on the next slide.

  19. Amber Before After Weight Loss

    Courtesy of Amber Anderson
    "I joined a local gym where I was a part of a spin class," Amber said. "The first month of the spin class, I lost 19 inches. That was when I knew it was possible and that I was seriously committed to changing my life...I look for foods that I know will fuel my body and mind rather than ones that will only satisfy and immediate cravings." Now, her whole life has changed. Not only can she now fit into airplane seats and her favorite bathing suits, she also got her dream job as a behavior therapist. How amazing!

  21. Weight Loss Megan Mcgee

    Facebook
    Megan McGee started gaining weight when she got involved in an unhealthy relationship. But when she broke free and became a nurse, she didn't want to be a "walking contradiction" to her patients. So she joined the weight loss program Slimming World and lost 70 pounds. Amazing!

  22. Imgur Weight Loss

    via Imgur
    Reddit user omgitscynthia lost an amazing 75 pounds, going from 270 to 195. Today, she's at her lowest weight ever as an adult, and her favorite pair of pants no longer fit. You go, girl!

  23. Janice Jobity weight loss

    via Instagram
    After a bad relationship and battling depression, Janice Jobity packed on the weight, eventually reaching her peak at 260 pounds. After a stomach ulcer made her realize the damage she was doing to her body, she really pushed herself to make healthy lifestyle changes. After working out consistently and eating healthier, JJ, as she calls herself, dropped 112 pounds and now weighs 148 pounds.

  25. Heather Before And After

    Instagram
    Heather Crockett Oram gained 80 pounds after suffering a broken ankle in 2013. Now 33, she says she realizes much of her weight gain came from "emotional eating." But in 2015 she decided to make a choice to be healthy every day—and lost 82 pounds in a year. In an interview with Today.com, she said, “You consciously make that decision every day: ‘I am going to eat better today.’ ‘I am going to drink that water today.’ ‘I am not going to eat that donut.’ It comes down to consistency."

  26. Peggy Pullen Weight Loss

    Twitter
    Fed up with being called a "hippopotamus," Peggy Pullen took it upon herself to make a change. Weighing in at more than 200 pounds, Pullen joined a 12-week program through BodyBuilding.com that helped her choose an eating and exercise plan. And considering she lost 90 pounds in her 40s, we'd say it worked!

  27. Monica Thomas Before

    Facebook
    Monica Thomas's weight crept up to 410 pounds when she was in her 30s. Though she had always struggled with her weight, the tipping point came when she couldn't fit into an airplane seat on a flight to Las Vegas for a cousin's wedding. It was a wakeup call to start making some big changes. See her today on the next slide.

  29. Monica Thomas After

    Facebook
    Through simple steps of eating veggies, joining Zumba class, learning to hike, creating a Pinterest inspiration board, and seeking support from weight loss groups, Thomas, now 44, has dropped 200 pounds in total.

  30. Kassidy Before

    Instagram
    Kassidy Linde ( or dilla7 on Instagram) saw her weight climb to 260 pounds before she decided that her 18-month-old daughter deserved a better role model. “I was always drinking, smoking and eating out, and ate nothing more than junk,” says Linde, who suffers from chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis. "There was even a time that I went to a fast food restaurant and ate in the parking lot because I was ashamed.”

  31. Kassidy After

    Instagram
    But after eliminating unhealthy foods from her diet--WITHOUT counting calories-- and adding cardio and weight-lifting to her routine, Linde is down 130 pounds. "I figured that feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to get me where I needed to go. I realized there comes a point where we have to get up and save ourselves," she told People.

  33. Tinker Before

    Reddit
    Before undergoing gastric bypass surgery, Reddit user tinker0025's life was at risk due to her weight. See her now after surgery on the next slide.

  34. Tinker After

    Reddit
    Now 250 pounds lighter, she credits the surgery with saving her life. Not to mention, many folks think she looks years younger too!

  35. Amy Le Roy Before

    Instagram
    Amy LeRoy, a 29-year-old mom of two from Kentucky, once weighed over 350 pounds. Even after a gastric bypass surgery, she still wasn't able to lose the weight. But then she decided to give up a certain food, and it made a huge difference!

  37. Amy Le Roy After

    Instagram
    After downloading a calorie-counting app to her phone, she realized she was eating more than 4,000 calories a day. But giving up certain foods--like peanut butter, which she used to eat by the spoonful--she's now down 200 pounds from her heaviest and posts weight loss inspiration and tips on her Instagram account.

  38. Staci Baldwin Before

    Via Instagram
    Since she was 8, Staci Baldwin struggled with her eating habits. At 25 she was working at a weight-loss clinic for pets, and watching the animals she cared for shed their excess pounds inspired her to lose almost half of her body weight.

  39. Staci Baldwin After

    Via Instagram
    She slimmed down from 212 pounds to 121 pounds using the same techniques she told pet owners: swapping decadent treats for healthier options and exercising more. Staci now trains at the gym regularly and has even taken up powerlifting.

  40. Jill Before

    Instagram
    At 298 pounds, Jill knew she needed to make a huge lifestyle change to get to a healthier weight. So she did just that, taking on a low-carb diet of meals like ground turkey and vegetables and lifting challenges at the gym. See her now on the next slide.

  41. Jill After

    Instagram
    Now 193 pounds (a full 105 pounds lighter than she was before), Jill maintains her weight by regularly making trips to the gym and continuing her healthy eating plan--and spreading positive vibes all the way!

  42. Weight Loss Transformations Misty Mitchell Before

    via Instagram
    At 296 pounds, Misty Mitchell wanted to lose weight, but a huge diet overhaul wasn't possible with a tiny tot at home.

  43. Weight Loss Transformations Misty Mitchell After

    via Instagram
    So she cut out all alcohol, and 18 months later she's a slim and toned 159 pounds. That's a 135 pound drop!

  44. Liv Before

    Instagram
    At 272 pounds, Liv used to cry when she'd see photos of herself after they were taken. But after adopting a healthy diet of lean meats, veggies, and fruits and exercise routines, she LOVES taking pictures. See her now on the next slide.

  45. Liv After

    Instagram
    Now a much healthier 157 pounds, Liv maintains her weight by staying committed to healthy choices she first began more than a year ago and by Instagramming her nutritious meals.

  46. Weight Loss Transformations Before Hgielrehtaeh

    via Imgur
    After years of trying what felt like absolutely everything, Reddit user hgielrehtaeh underwent RNY gastric bypass with astonishing results. See what she looks like now on the next slide.

  47. Weight Loss Transformations After Hgielrehtaeh

    via Imgur
    She dropped a seriously impressive 153 pounds in 14 months, and looks like she could be the daughter of herself from her "before" picture!

  48. Lobke Before

    Instagram
    Tipping the scale at 233 pounds, Lobke was suffering from back pain and was borderline diabetic in 2015. But then, she joined Weight Watchers and slowly began a healthier lifestyle. See her now on the next slide.

  49. Lobke After

    Instagram
    Now weighing in at a much healthier 164 pounds, Lobke maintains her figure by sticking to meals like chicken and steamed veggies and doing exercise classes like Zumba.

  50. Natalie Burtina Before

    Via Instagram
    Natalie Burtina packed on a few pounds during her pregnancy, but after she gave birth to her son, Layton, her weight gain started to spiral out of control. At her heaviest, she weighed almost 300 pounds. Burtina struggled to keep up with her energetic boy, and continued to neglect her health when he was diagnosed with autism.

  51. Natalie Burtina After

    Via Facebook
    Layton inspired her weight loss, and the determined mother shed 132 pounds. Burtina lost almost half of her body weight by swapping soda for water, eating healthier and exercising regularly. After just 18 months, Burtina dropped seven clothes sizes and now weighs 165 pounds.

  52. Mel Before

    Instagram
    At nearly 300 pounds, Melanie said this was her least favorite picture. See her favorite photo--as she stands 90 pounds slimmer--on the next slide.

  53. Mel After

    Instagram
    After getting a gastric sleeve surgery and eating healthier, Melanie is finally able to enjoy being active with her young daughter--and even ran a marathon!

  54. Frances Before

    Instagram
    At 278 pounds, Frances struggled to even tie her shoes without getting out of breath. But then, she embarked on a healthy lifestyle journey that totally transformed her look. See her now on the next slide.

  55. Frances After

    Instagram
    Now 88 pounds lighter, Frances continues to improve her fitness by sticking to lean meats, veggies, and fruits for low-carb meals and hitting the gym for exercise.

  56. Jenny Before

    Courtesy of HMR
    Jenny Naumann, 42, of Toledo, OH used to watch up to 6 hours of TV and eat fast food daily until she decided to sign up for the HMR weight management program. See her now on the next slide.

  57. Jenny After

    Courtesy of HMR
    By switching to healthy, fresh foods in pre-portioned meals, Jenny shed over 100 pounds in 10 months and went from a size 24 to a size 10. Low-calorie seasonings kept her meals tasty and exciting.

  58. Abigail Monica Before

    Abigail Monica suddenly realized that she deserved to be healthy and happy, and her lifestyle wasn't supporting either of those goals. Wait until you see what she looks like one year later. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/63nNegkJ74/?taken-by=abbymonica" target="blank">Instagram

  59. Abigail Monica After

    Discovering a love of fruit (mangos sprinkled with chili are one of her favorite snacks) and drinking plenty of water has helped Abigail drop over 91 pounds and 5 dress sizes. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/63nNegkJ74/?taken-by=abbymonica" target="blank">Instagram

  60. Abigail Monica Weight Loss Transformation

    ""I am not on a grueling diet nor do I live in the gym," Abigail writes of her own transformation. That's the dramatic difference a couple healthy changes can make if you stick to them consistently. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBaUgcNkJ82/?taken-by=abbymonica" target="blank">Instagram

  61. Donna Grant Paige Before

    Courtesy of Donna Grant-Paige
    45-year-old Donna Grant-Paige had always struggled with weight, but when she tipped the scale at 295 pounds, she was borderline diabetic. On top of that, she taught wellness classes and began to feel like a fraud. So she tried the Atkins diet and a low-carb lifestyle. See her now on the next slide.

  62. Donna Grant Paige After

    Courtesy of Donna Grant-Paige
    Grant-Paige lost 125 pounds as a result, weighing in at a healthy 170 pounds for her 5'7" frame. Her students didn't even recognize her!

  63. Chima Ybarra Before

    Courtesy of Chima Ybarra
    Chima Ybarra, 44, gained a lot of weight after being pregnant with her daughter. At only 5’2”, she tipped the scale at 151 pounds. She developed a bad right hip, making it difficult to walk—or play with her child. When her surgeon said she’d need a hip replacement, she knew something had to change.

  64. Chima Ybarra After

    Courtesy of Chima Ybarra
    By committing herself to the Atkins diet and pursuing a low-carb lifestyle, Chima was able to lose 45 pounds in 8 months. Even better, she was able to cancel that hip replacement and no longer has hip problems.

  65. Before After Weight Loss Patty

    Courtesy of Patty Parsons
    Patty Parsons, 59, of New Jersey had tried every diet she could think of without success. Every time she lost weight, it would just creep back onto her frame.

  66. Before After Weight Loss Patty After

    Courtesy of Patty Parsons
    But Patty is now a whopping 100 pounds slimmer--in 100 days!--thanks to a program that worked for her called the 40 Day Reset that includes fat burning foods like specific fruits and veggies.

  67. Lacy Before

    Courtesy of Callie Gisler
    Lacy Marais, 31, of Cedar Rapids, IA, was busy as a mom of two, and she struggled to maintain a healthy weight, until she turned to low impact cardio, like walking. See her now on the next slide.

  68. Lacy After

    Courtesy of Callie Gisler
    By committing herself to the fitness routine, Lacy shed 78 pounds, going from 226 to 148. Her young daughters do not even recognize her in her old photos now.

  69. Katrina Before

    Courtesy of Callie Gisler
    Katrina Baker, 45, of Conyngham, PA, piled on the pounds after the birth of her daughter, until she found a workout that she could do alongside her child. See her now on the next slide.

  70. Katrina After

    Courtesy of Callie Gisler
    By committing herself to walking with her daughter, Katrina shed 80 pounds, going from 225 to 145. "I am continually motivated by my daughter--she is my coach," she said.

  71. Alisha Before

    Starting at 338 pounds, Alisha was already well on her way to a healthier lifestyle when she snapped this picture, elated at finally being able to fit into the largest size (XXL) at Old Navy again. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBBTLeGRylO/?taken-by=redefined.me" target="blank">Instagram_

  72. Alisha After

    Prepping a week's worth of meals on Sundays helped her stay on track even when her schedule was crazy. How on track? She's lost almost half of her body weight and now weighs in at 189. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBBTLeGRylO/?taken-by=redefined.me" target="blank">Instagram_

  73. Alisha Weight Loss Transformation

    Alisha, thrilled that she now fits into a size medium, is only 17 pounds from her goal weight after only 10 months. via <A href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-YQb2mMwJT/?taken-by=lovedreamsucceed101" target="blank">Instagram_

  74. Jo White Before

    Jo White, mom of two boys, is now 50 pounds lighter thanks to small, sustainable changes and a great sense of determination. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-YQb2mMwJT/?taken-by=lovedreamsucceed101" target="blank">Instagram_

  75. Jo White After

    She still flaunts her favorite color, but now she shares healthy meals--like salmon on a bed of whole grains and vegetables--with her family. We hope her healthy habits rub off on them! via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-YQb2mMwJT/?taken-by=lovedreamsucceed101" target="blank">Instagram_

  76. Kayla Gill Before

    At 430 pounds, Kayla Gill was a size 28/30 dress when she decided to make some changes and get healthy. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAcLXNEvgJX/?taken-by=kaylagetshealthy" target="blank">Instagram_

  77. Kayla Gill After

    Although diet and exercise helped Kayla drop 220 pounds (more than half her body weight!), she says the biggest change was mental. Believing in herself and finding support was crucial. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAcLXNEvgJX/?taken-by=kaylagetshealthy" target="blank">Instagram_

  78. Kayla Gill Weight Loss Transformation

    Learning to let go of using food as an emotion crutch in times of stress and sadness also helped her get back on track and fuel her body with fresh foods. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAKBXpMPgNx/?taken-by=kaylagetshealthy" target="blank">Instagram_

  79. Christine Dole Before

    When the scale crept up past 350 pounds and she didn't feel the woman in pictures matched who she was on the inside, Christine Dole started her weight loss journey. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAf8fTMFPdA/?taken-by=takemetheweighiam" target="blank">Instagram_

  80. Christine Dole After

    In a little over a year, she dropped a staggering 170 pounds and over 90 inches. That's a transformation from a size 28 to a size 10. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAf8fTMFPdA/?taken-by=takemetheweighiam" target="blank">Instagram_

  81. Christine Dole Weight Loss Transformation

    Try some of her tricks for yourself, like adding protein to every meal--it helps keep you full and boosts and your metabolism--and opting for low-carb alternatives like cauliflower "rice." via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAx9tlFPXr/?taken-by=takemetheweighiam" target="blank">Instagram

  82. Carli Jay Before

    Carli Jay would eat up to 4000 calories a day, and felt hooked on fat and sugar because it had been such a huge part of her diet her whole life. Just wait until you see her now. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBZPoZqK78/?taken-by=misscarlijayhealthyliving" target="blank">Instagram_

  83. Carli Jay After

    Finding healthy alternatives to some of her favorite indulgences, like swapping in protein pancakes for the regular carb- and sugar-laden kind, helped her drop over 130 pounds in 23 months. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBZPoZqK78/?taken-by=misscarlijayhealthyliving" target="blank">Instagram_

  84. Carli Jay Weight Loss Transformation

    Even better: Eating healthier foods and taking care of her body made it easier for Carli to stop smoking and drinking. via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/--u-kKqK3c/?taken-by=misscarlijayhealthyliving" target="blank">Instagram

  85. Amanda Leon Before

    Steven P Widoff
    For years, Amanda Leon's 190 pounds exhausted her while teaching elementary school students. Once she hit 200 pounds Amanda knew it was time to get healthier. via First For Women Magazine

  86. Amanda Leon After

    Steven P Widoff
    After nine months of enjoying grilled chicken and vegetables seasoned with a turmeric spice blend every day, she shed 66 pounds--and gained energy, sleep, and confidence. via First For Women Magazine

  87. Amy O Before

    Daniel H. Bailey
    At 231 pounds in her 40s, Amy Ouzts was put on high blood pressure and high cholesterol meds, and began to feel pain in her joints. via First For Women Magazine

  88. Amy O After

    Daniel H. Bailey
    By only allowing herself sugar two days each week, she slimmed down to 151 pounds--and was able to go off her medications. via First For Women Magazine

  89. Brenda Before

    Shane Folkertsma
    At 37, single mom Brenda Melville became a full-time student on top of her job. She weighed 245 lbs. and gained 20 more every year she was in school! via First For Women Magazine

  90. Brenda After

    Shane Folkertsma
    Now 41, Brenda has lost 100 pounds by replacing two meals a day with Isagenix IsaLean shakes with L-arginine. But she doesn't even exercise! via First For Women Magazine

  91. Jill Vento Before Weight Loss

    Jill Vento weighed 380 pounds and was in failing health when her doctor urged her to get gastric bypass. “I was too scared,” she admits. Yet she was also too scared to do nothing.

  92. Jill Vento After Weight Loss

    Vento started walking around her “office”—the Des Moines airport—at lunchtime. She went from 1,000 steps a day to 10,000 over 12 weeks, losing 60 pounds. Today, she’s 200 pounds lighter!

  93. weight loss before and after keto diet

    via Reddit
    At 45, Reddit user toccobrator proves it's never to late to lose weight. Through a combination of a keto diet and intermittent fasting, she dropped an amazing 105 pounds. She had surgery to remove her sagging skin, and with her slimmer figure and flattering hair transformation, she's never looked better.
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