FIVE FOODS TO AVOID WHEN TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT FAST

when trying to lose fat. The only exception to this rule is if you are allergic or intolerant to The key to achieving and maintaining weight loss is to never eat more than you can expend. As soon as you start eating more calories than you burn, your body will start storing the excess into body fat. Remember you are 80% your diet and 20% exercises, so paying close attention to what you put in your mouth, will directly affect your fat loss.  The key word here is “food to avoid” rather than foods never to eat. The last thing you want is to become obsessive of what you should or should not eat any food.

     Nevertheless, you must avoid some unhealthy foods if you want to attain and maintain a flat belly and your dream figure. Moderation is the key here. Remember, you can still eat these foods and enjoy them (during an occasional cheat meal) and maintain a lean body.

                                        TOP FIVE FOODS TO AVOID TO LOSE WEIGHT FAST:

1. Sugar:

Every time you eat sugar, your blood glucose levels rise quickly. This causes your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin is a hormone, which signals your body to store fat. So the more sugar you eat, the higher your blood glucose levels; the more insulin release, the longer you stay in fat storage mode.  Refined, concentrated sugar consumed in large amounts rapidly increases blood glucose and insulin levels, increases triglycerides, inflammatory mediators and oxygen radical, and with them, the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illness.  Sugar contains very little nutritional value: these calories can easily get stored as body fat if you do not watch your consumption closely. Moreover, sugar is addictive. Foods that contain sugar in their natural form, whole fruit for example, tend to be highly nutritious, nutrient-dense, high in fiber, and low in glycemic load. It is therefore advisable to “Avoid” all processed refined sugar, be it in form of sugar (sucrose), high fructose corn syrup etc. and “Replace” them with natural sweeteners like raw honey, or go sugar free!

2. Sugary Beverages- Fruit juice/Soda:

While fruit is indeed good for you (full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals), when the sugar in fruit is concentrated in juice, the sugar levels can become high and potentially unhealthy. Vegetable juices are definitely better choice than fruit juice. In addition, always load up on water to avoid getting any calories from your drinks. Do not drink your calories. Limiting your sugary beverage intake may be even more important than solid foods in a weight-loss plan. “Avoid” all fruit juices and sodas such as coke, Pepsi, mountain dew etc. “Replace” with vegetable juice, unsweetened herbal teas and pure filtered water.

3. Artificial Sweeteners: Since their discovery, the safety of artificial sweeteners has been controversial. Artificial sweeteners provide the sweetness of sugar without the calories. Even though artificial sweeteners do not raise your blood sugar, their safety is questionable. I would personally avoid them just to be safe. Replace artificial sweeteners with “Natural” sweeteners like raw honey or go sugar free.

4. Deep fried foods:

Deep fried foods are tasty, but they are definitely not healthy. Fried foods are unhealthy because they tend to be high in fat and calories. Deep-frying also robs the food of its nutrients. Partially hydrogenated oils are unhealthy as they contain Trans-fats. Avoid potato fries, onion rings, fried fish, breaded chicken etc. Replace them with grilled foods and salads.  In the end, it is important for most healthy exercising people; a sweet snack or a deep fried treat is not the end of the world, be it potato chips fries, chocolate, ice- cream cone, or indeed a glass of fruit juice. However, overdoing on these foods may halt your fat loss effort or even lead to weight gain. So be mindful when eating these kinds of foods and minimize their intake.