There’s plenty of tips out there on what you SHOULD do when you’re on a diet or trying to lose weight. But what about things to AVOID? Here’s a few things to keep in mind and stay away from during your weight loss journey:
1. Beverages: Drinking fruit juices, sodas, smoothies, and sports drinks can quickly add up to unwanted calories. Plus, many of you may not realize that you’re adding even MORE calories to your drinks when you do things like pour sugar in your tea or creamer in your coffee. Switch up your morning cup of joe for a hot cup of green tea — it’s calorie-free and offers healthy antioxidants to fight free radicals. And, of course, drink PLENTY of H2O! Eight glasses of 8 oz. a day is recommended for EVERYONE, regardless of whether they’re dieting or not.
2. Fast food: Face it, fast food is part of what’s making us FAT. More importantly, fast food preys on those who are on-the-go, looking for a quick hunger fix. Don’t give in! The last thing you want to put in your body is something that could only be defined as “food product,” full of fat, sodium, and carbs. Bottom line: no more drive-thrus. Your body (and wallet) will thank you.
3. White Bread: This kind of bread (or refined grains in general) really offers no nutritional value when compared to whole wheat breads. It’s low in fiber, high in carbs, and leads to a spike in blood sugar levels. Stick to whole wheat bread, or try whole wheat grains such as barley, oatmeal, buckwheat, brown rice, and pasta. Whole wheat foods contain more heart-healthy fiber, which also keeps you feeling full – an important factor in keeping yourself from overeating.
4. Processed snacks: Walk into any grocery store, and you’ll see whole AISLES dedicated to snack food. The trouble is, most of these snacks are heavily processed, adding refined sugar, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenate oils, artificial flavors, and more unwanted chemicals, preservatives, and additives in your body. While we all like to snack, grabbing a bag of cookies is NOT the answer your to hunger. stick to healthier options such as fruit, nuts, and yogurt. These foods offer real nutritional value over empty calories, so reach for some walnuts or a cup of apple slices if you feel like snacking. (Be sure to drink Rescue Me to help curb hunger and reduce sugar cravings!)
5. Saturated fats: Okay, this isn’t really a food, but it’s very important that you watch how much SATURATED fat you’re eating, not just overall fat. Saturated fat, often found in certain meats and oils, raise your total cholesterol. Trans fats are especially dangerous, as they lower “good” cholesterol (known as high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) and raise “bad” cholesterol (known as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL). Avoid trans fats as much as possible, and try to limit your saturated fat intake to no more than 10 percent of your calories. What are foods you avoid eating while on a diet? Share your tips with us in the comments!
Photo: Poldavo (Alex’s) Flickr photostream/Creative Commons
Photo: grongar’s Flickr photostream/Creative Commons
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*Featured article from the Organic Liaison Blog
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ABOUT ORGANIC LIAISON
Kirstie Alley’s Organic Liaison is a brand new, innovative weight loss program with the goal of “liaising” people from conventional eating habits to healthier organic ones while losing weight and supporting the body 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Organic Liaison membership offers a complete system including Rescue Me ? weight loss elixir, the first USDA certified organic weight loss product; access to online tools including a daily journal, weight loss graph, daily menu planner; as well as other natural supplements and health tips to help members lose weight safely and effectively. Organic Liaison worked with experts in the fields of organics, nutrition and fitness to create an outstanding natural weight loss lifestyle and a comprehensive health and fitness community for their members.
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