Has it ever crossed you mind that there could be a secret to losing body fat? If your answer is no, you just made my day. That’s right, the only secret to losing body fat is that there is no secret.

Having said that, if you want to know how to lose body fat and preserve or even increase your muscle mass, consider using the following tricks.

Look to the legs: For the best ratio of protein to fat in meat, count the legs: The fewer there are, the leaner the meat. Fish (leg count: zero) is a great source of lean protein.

The grass is always leaner: Have an emotional attachment to the four-legged? Get hooked on grass-fed beef, available at many supermarkets. It’s packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fats (60 percent) while lean on artery-clogging saturated fat (less than 10 percent).

How to lose body fat by eating protein-rich snacks: Danish researchers have found that people who eat high-protein diets have the smallest increases in their waistline.

Sprinkle your diet with protein-packed snacks: Sunflower seeds, nuts, peanut butter, and yogurt. Keep in mind that seeds and nuts are not only rich in protein, but also in calories. [via]