Losing weight is difficult; there is no magic pill or workout that is going to make you instantly shed pounds. The combination of a healthy balanced diet, and working out consistently over time will help you lose that unwanted body fat. If we do not know much about what is in the food we are eating and/or drinking while we are trying to lose weight we typically go for foods labeled “low fat” or “fat free” as we think it is the healthiest option. A lot of diet food are actually filled with unhealthy ingredients such as trans fats and artificial sugars, making it harder for you to lose that weight. Here are some of these presumed diet foods you should look out for:
1. Processed Low-Fat Foods
Some low-fat food options contain high levels of sugar. The added sugar is to cover up the lack of taste, when the food manufacturers remove the fat the taste is not as prominent. When going on a diet steer more towards a low carb diet rather than a low fat diet. Typically people lose more body mass and fat when on a low carb diet as they sometimes eat up to 30% more when they know they’re eating a food that is low in fat.
2. Low-Calorie Bars
Also known as ‘meal replacement bars’ typically always leave us feeling hungry. These bars also usually contain a lot of sugar and refined carbohydrates, which are both very fattening. It is important to always check the label to see how much sugar the bars contain. Sugar is often labeled as rice syrup, raw cane sugar, fructose, etc. so always be on the look out!
3. Gluten-Free Processed Foods
Breads, bars, cookies, chips, waffles, etc. are not any better than these foods that contain gluten. The gluten free processed foods have barely any nutrition and are very high on the glycemic index. This can cause diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and can contribute to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Make sure to look for foods that are lower-glycemic options as they can be a lot more filling than foods that are high on the glycemic index, reducing your likelihood of overeating. If you are allergic to gluten or just want to reduce your gluten intake go for the foods that are naturally gluten-free such as fruits, vegetables, and meats.
4. Salad
When ordering or making a salad to be healthy we typically focus on not using a lot of dressing or opting for the low fat dressing to remove the fat. What we do not think about is the added sugar or artificial sweetener in the dressings to make it taste good. This can make your appetite increase due to the sugar spikes which will ultimately make you over eat, and defeat the purpose of getting a salad in the first place. You need fat in your diet and when it comes to a salad getting that fat from the salad dressing is a fine option.
Always look at the labels on foods before you buy items, know what you are eating and educate yourself on what you are actually getting out of the food you buy. Processed foods are stripped of their nutrients that your body needs making you feel malnourished even if you are eating a large quantity of food. Although our first instinct is to reach for the low fat or fat free options in the grocery store when trying to lose weight these are not always the best options.
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