5 foods to avoid when trying to lose weight

So, you’ve started your diet, or are about to, and you’re wondering which foods to avoid to meet your weight loss goals.

If you are like me when I was dieting, you probably think it’s an absolute minefield when it comes to knowing which foods to avoid.

It seemed like there was always conflicting information. One minute a certain food was off the menu, the next it was back on again.

Weight loss trends and fashions seem to change like the wind, leaving you in the wilderness

So I wanted to put together a list of foods where I think the science is pretty settled on them being no good at all for anyone looking to trim down.

Let’s take a look.

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White bread contains highly refined flour, added salt and sugar – in other words it’s highly processed!

Eating it is likely to raise your blood sugar levels resulting in the inevitable crash afterwards which then leads to you heading for the sweet cupboard for a pick-me-up.

Moreover, the sugar content from the bread, if not used up as energy through physical activity, will then be stored as fat.

Avoid white bread like the plague for this reason!

Instead, choose healthier breads like rye or sourdough.

Not only are these much less processed than white bread, but they contain much higher levels of fiber which will keep you fuller for much longer

This will provide that much needed boost so you can make it through between meals without those terrible hunger pangs.

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A can of Coca Cola (the full fat version) contains around 10 cubes of sugar!

Mind blowing isn’t it!

Because sodas are liquids, they play terrible tricks on our brain!

The issue is that they do not satisfy the appetite receptors in our brain which means we do not register that we’ve just consumed probably our daily recommended amount of sugar in one sitting.

Simply put, sodas don’t fill us up even though they are extremely calorific!

As a result, sodas are terrible for weight gain and are associated with all manner of health problems including diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

Not only that but they will make us feel bloated and gassy – no good!

The obvious one is water which is calorie free, inexpensive and readily available!

Other good options are green tea, vegetable juices or unsweetened ice tea.

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Often touted as healthy snacks, unfortunately energy bars are often loaded with refined sugars which are not going to help your waistline one bit!

Some energy bars will contain as much as 500 calories which is a quarter of your calorie intake (for a female) for the day!

Moreover, some manufacturers include hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils in their bars which are liable to raise the bad cholesterol in your blood.

Instead, why not try fruit like bananas, apples or raw vegetables like broccoli, carrots or bell peppers.

Nuts are also another healthy snack replacement to energy bars (although be mindful that they can be high in fat)!

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Now I think it would be unfair to say don’t drink any alcohol whatsoever, but it’s important to point out that alcoholic drinks are very high in calories and can be high in sugar also.

For example, one regular sized beer packs in around 150 calories. A regular sized glass of wine around 125 calories.

So, it only takes 2 or 3 drinks and you’re using up to a quarter of your daily recommend amount of calories.

Alcohol is also bad for our sleep.

Just one glass of wine can play havoc on our REM sleep which often means we don’t feel rested the next day.

That’s one of the main reasons you feel so tired when hungover.

When we don’t sleep properly we tend to eat more unhealthy foods which will only pack the pounds on.

Unfortunately there’s not much that can replace alcohol so I will say, if you are going to drink, then stick to limited amounts – one to two drinks max.

Also opt for drinks with lower sugar levels or red wine which is known to have many health benefits.

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Biscuits, pastries, cakes, cookies and many premade desserts are loaded with sugar and are often cooked in trans fats which are known to lead to obesity.

Yes, they taste awesome, but there are definitely other ways to satisfy your sweet tooth when on a diet!

It’s hard to swerve the temptation when the cookie jar appears but believe me your waistband will thank you later.

If you can’t bat off the urges from your sweet tooth then why not swap your cakes for fruits like bananas, berries and citrus fruits as an alternative.

You could also try sweet vegetables like carrot, sweet peppers and sweetcorn.

I also absolutely love this date, banana and rum loaf, which comes with no added sugar.

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In my mind, these foods are definitely big no nos when it comes to dieting!

If you can cut these foods out and replace them with some of the alternatives I have suggested, then you’re going to do your weight loss goals no harm whatsoever!

And do you know what?

You might not even miss them too much, especially when you begin seeing results!

Good luck!

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