With each New Year, many people make resolutions to eat healthier and to lose weight. One study found that approximately 45% of Americans who made New Year’s resolutions in 2018 vowed to lose weight, which is a statistic that probably repeats every year.
Oftentimes the dieting resolution is tossed aside because of difficulty and lack of structure, plus a lack of belief that it’ll really work. The dieter doesn’t know which foods to avoid.
What Foods Get in the Way of Weight Loss?
Let’s take a look at the types of foods to avoid in order to lose weight successfully – and healthfully – this year, and why it’s so important to read all food labels to ensure you’re indeed avoiding the ingredients that can hamper your goal. Some foods are marketed as “diet” products but are really just delicious ways to maintain your current weight.
Bottled Smoothies
How is it possible that a pre-made vegetable or fruit smoothie could get in the way of dieting? Foods that are purchased in a grocery store and are not homemade from fresh fruit or vegetables may contain an unhealthy amount of sugar and additives.
In some cases, bottled smoothies are also infused with fat to make them tastier. The extra sugar and fat will most likely sabotage your weight-loss routine.
The best way to enjoy smoothies while losing weight is to follow a healthy recipe with fresh fruit or vegetables – and make the smoothie yourself. (You will likely not be adding things like high-fructose corn syrup!)
Yogurt
Not all yogurts are created equal. Some are full of sugar and calories, so choose a flavor you enjoy that has low amounts of sugar.
That said, be wary of artificial sweeteners that may be included in fat-free yogurts. The sweeteners will increase flavor, but they may inhibit your body’s metabolism. You want an efficient metabolism in order to lose weight.
Fat-Free Food
We need fat in our diet, but the right kind. The best kinds of fat to consume during a diet are from fish and nuts, such as almonds. Foods that are labeled “fat-free” can have an enormous amount of sugar and salt added to enhance taste in order to compensate for the lack of fat.
Read food labels, and look at the first two or three ingredients listed in the paragraph that has all of the ingredients. The first one or two ingredients may actually say “sugar” or “corn syrup,” and these types of foods should be limited or avoided while you diet.
Food manufacturers are legally required to list the most-used ingredient in the food first, the second-most second, and so on. In other words, if sugar is the first ingredient in the paragraph, then there is more sugar in that food than there is any other ingredient.
Granola and Trail Mix
Pure granola is a good choice while dieting. However, if the granola is mixed with salty nuts and other added ingredients to make it more tasty, like dried fruit and chocolate chips, then the granola could actually make you gain weight.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that a handful of sugar-filled trail mix is nutritious. The best bet is to make your own trail mix from pure ingredients that aren’t loaded with extras.
Diet Doctors in Texoma
Our healthcare professionals here at Carrus Health have many decades of combined medical experience, and we can help you lose weight safely and successfully. Our team will assist you in reaching your goals for a healthier, trimmer body.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, contact us today by calling us at (903) 870-2600. You can also fill out our online contact form if you’d like to find out what we can do for you. We look forward to being your healthcare partner for a lifetime of wellness!
