Like most people, you think losing weight is easy if you eat things like smoothies, fruit, low carbohydrate, and fat-free items. However, manufacturing companies have found that marketing to the dieting group is easy when you use the right words. These “healthy foods” could be why you’re not losing weight.
Don’t fall prey to these marketing gimmicks, especially when your health is at stake. It’s essential to fill up on green veggies, fiber, and fruits, which will not only increase your metabolism but help your body burn fat. Maybe you’re not losing weight because you’ve been dieting all wrong.
25 Foods to Avoid for Weight Loss
Not all calories are created equal. It would help if you learned what’s best to eat for your weight loss journey. There’s nothing you can’t occasionally have in moderation (think carbohydrate foods), but it’s best not to make it a habit. Here are 25 foods that can inhibit you from losing weight.
1. Sugar-Free Anything
By now, you should know that anything labeled sugar-free doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy. Sure, they remove the sugar, but they mainly substitute it and add more fat to give it flavor. Sugar-free doesn’t mean calorie-free or healthy, and many people fall into this trap.
If you’re doing the keto diet, sugar-free might seem like a good fit, but even sugar alcohols can throw your body out of ketosis, as they’re not all the same.
2. Energy Bars Can Slow Down When You Are Losing Weight
The market is overloaded with energy bars. They promise to give you strength and increase your energy by fueling your body with protein. You must turn the bar over and see what’s in there.
It often has more calories and fat than a candy bar, so it’s not doing you much good. These bars are overpriced and touted as the weight loss aid you must have, but this is all smoke and mirrors. Finally, the carbohydrates they claim would give you energy often come in sugar.
3. Chips and Other Snacks
Processed snack foods are full of sugar, fat, and calories. If you have the munchies, reaching for carrots and hummus or apples and peanut butter would be better. These empty calories don’t nourish the body but fill your gut and load it down with stuff you don’t need.
4. Eating the Wrong Kind of Salads Can Hinder Losing Weight
You may be shocked to find this one here, but some salads are worse for you than a double cheeseburger with all the works. You must monitor what you put in the salad, as the more toppings you pour on top, the unhealthier it becomes. Stick with vegetable toppings and less dressing, and you’ll be fine.
5. Pizza
There are not many people who don’t like pizza. You can get these Italian pies in so many varieties now, but most won’t help you lose weight.
Pizza is another food that can be done right if you try. Opt for a thin crust, less cheese, and more veggies. These deep dish, double cheese, loaded with meat pies, will clog an artery if you overindulge.
6. Smoothies
One would think fruit, ice, and some protein powder with almond milk would be good for you. However, you’ve got to watch the calories. Sure, you can make healthy smoothies, but when you start throwing a bunch of ingredients in them, they lose their nutritional status.
7. Losing Weight Slows Down When Eating High-Sugar Cereal
Please don’t fall for the marketing gimmick that states it’s made with whole grain. Very few cereals on the market win the title of healthy. Most contain sugar, artificial colors, and preservatives to entice children.
8. Granola
Granola can be a bit of a hit or miss. Some of them are low in sugar and high in healthy fats, but others are laden with things that will do nothing more than pack on the pounds.
9. Packaged Low Carbohydrate Desserts
These low-carb options seem like a dieter’s dream, but don’t be fooled by the labels. Look at the calories and fat in these items, as it will usually shock you. You would be better off having the real thing in moderation rather than these expensive, unhealthy selections.
10. Losing Weight Can Slow Down if You Eat Some Sushi
Sushi seems healthy since it’s fish, which is full of protein. Consequently, be careful of the dishes that say ‘spicy’ or ‘crunchy.’ They need to add sugar or agave to get the crunch in there. While it’s an excellent protein-based meal, you must be wary of those mayo-based sauces.
11. Potatoes
Potatoes are a vegetable, but they’re not one of the better ones for you. Whether you like them boiled, baked, fried, or mashed, the carbohydrates turn to sugar once in your bloodstream. Try a sweet potato instead.
12. White Rice
Rice is a typical side dish that goes with just about anything. However, it’s a refined grain lacking fiber and critical nutrients your body needs to thrive. Just one-fourth a cup is almost 150 calories, and is it any wonder they use this to help people gain weight in third-world countries?
13. Red Meats
The problem with red meat is that it’s full of saturated fat, which will pack on the pounds. It can also raise your “bad” cholesterol levels, which isn’t good if you’re losing weight and trying to get healthy.
14. Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate tastes so good because it contains pure sugar. Why not try dark chocolate instead? According to The Cleveland Clinic, it’s lower in sugar, full of beneficial antioxidants called flavonoids, and is anywhere from 50-90 percent pure cocoa. It’s a better option for losing weight.
15. Wraps
It would seem that a wrap would be a healthy alternative as you’re ditching the bread. However, you need to read the labels, as most wraps have just as much if not more calories and fat than bread. Additionally, it matters what you put inside the wrap that counts.
16. Pasta (too many carbohydrates for losing weight)
Pasta is high in carbs, calories, and starches. It turns to pure sugar inside your body, so you should avoid it. Try veggie pasta instead.
17. Microwave Popcorn
Popcorn can be a healthy snack if it’s air-popped and doesn’t have a bunch of additives. Sadly, microwave popcorn is typically loaded with tons of butter, inhibiting losing weight. You can find a healthier version but read the label.
18. Dried Fruit
Did you know that when you dry fruit, it enhances the sugar content? You’re better off eating a piece of fresh fruit. If you like dried in your trail mix, limit your portions.
19. Yogurt
Some excellent yogurts are on the market, but most are full of sugar, carbs, and fat. Try plain Greek-style yogurt and add things like cinnamon to enhance the flavor.
20. Fast Food
Fast food is often an easy fix when you’re exhausted at mealtime. However, the problem is that these foods are not made with your health in mind. They contain fat, salt, and empty carbohydrates. Thankfully, there are a few healthy options to consider, but you must choose sparingly.
21. Coconut Oil
While coconut oil isn’t a food, it’s certainly used in plenty of them. It’s hyped way too much as a healthy alternative, but the calorie content is the same as vegetable or canola oil. One tablespoon is around 120 calories, so using it sparingly is advisable.
22. Processed Meats
In theory, lunch meat, hot dogs, and other processed meats would be good for you. Most are low in calories and fat, but it’s the other ingredients you must watch.
According to The Harvard School of Public Health, the things they use to preserve these meats are not only unhealthy, but they’re dangerous to your heart. Nitrates are the biggest concern, so don’t be fooled by that low-calorie per slice offerings.
23. Acai Bowls
These bowls seem to be the latest rage in the health trend industry. Sadly, one bowl can be around 800 calories, which is nearly what you should eat in a day.
24. Sweets or Desserts
Your sweet tooth can get you in trouble. An occasional treat isn’t hurt anyone, but if you’ve got to have something sweet every day, it’s probably interfering with losing weight.
25. Dressing
Salad dressing is allowed on the Keto diet but frowned upon in others. Be careful of the fat-free ones as they often have higher sugar contents. The dressing should be used sparingly and not poured all over the top. Try dipping your fork in the sauce before you take a bite of salad as an option to consume less.
Final Thoughts on Fat, Carbohydrate Dense, Salty Foods to Avoid for Losing Weight
Losing weight is a long and arduous process. You didn’t pack on those pounds overnight, nor will they fall off quickly. The most important thing you can do is read the labels and not fall for the marketing gimmicks. Eat healthy carbohydrates that deliver nutrients, and avoid sugar and salty foods–you will get there. Losing weight won’t be as complicated when you learn what you can and can’t eat.
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