Here’s a simple truth – it is hard to lose weight. People who are on a weight loss diet, we know your struggle is real and we are with you. You must be exercising daily and eating healthy foods to shed those extra kilos but the results (even after months) may not be convincing enough.
What you eat affects your weight. If pizza, fries, samosas, sugary drinks, and all things delicious tempt you and we give into your temptations just like that often, then you know what’s stopping you from achieving your weight loss goals. But if you want to lose weight, there are certain foods that you should completely avoid.
Foods That You Should Not Eat While Trying to Lose Weight
Here is a list of foods that you should avoid or try to eat in moderation when trying to lose weight. A few of them can help you with weight loss (but only if you eat them in moderation). Eating them in excess amounts can lead to weight gain. Find out which foods you should strictly avoid and which you can eat in moderation.
1. Deep-fried Foods
If every now and then you eat deep-fried foods like samosas, bhajiya, or puri, then losing weight will be even harder for you. No doubt, samosas and moong bhajiya taste delicious, but they won’t do any good to your body. These foods are high in calories hence may prevent you from losing weight. So avoid these popular Indian foods when trying to weight loss.
2. Dates
Dates are a popular snack and we love to eat them because of their naturally sweet taste but they may not be all good for your health. When these fruits are dried, they lose their water content and sometimes sugar is added to them to enhance the taste, which increases their calories. Dates also have the highest sugar content, hence are best avoided. But if you get sweet cravings, you can eat them in moderation.
3. Refined Flour
Foods made with refined flour are usually high in calories and carbohydrates, and very low in protein, fibre, and other essential nutrients. These foods won’t do any good to your body. That being said, you should avoid anything made from refined flour. Avoid eating white bread, cakes, pastries, pasta.
4. Low-Fat Foods
If you think eating low-fat foods can help you lose weight then you may be wrong. While removing fats from low-fat foods, the flavour also gets lost, leaving you with a pretty tasteless product. To make up for the loss of flavour, a lot of extra sugar is added and hence you may not lose weight. So, say no to low-fat foods.
5. Potatoes
We all love to eat potatoes but the starch present in them can interfere with your weight loss goals. If you can’t live without eating potatoes, eat them boiled and not go for the fried potato treats. Also, keep in mind that consuming them in moderation is perhaps the best way to go. So try to reduce it to a few times a week.
6. Processed Foods
While processed food is convenient and you can enjoy anytime, they won’t do any good to your health. Processed foods contain preservatives and sodium which can interfere with your weight loss goals. Hence, it’s best you avoid them.
7. Watermelons
When it comes to fruits, watermelons are delicious and one of the best fruits to eat on hot summer days. Watermelons are high in water content but they are also high in sugar. You can eat watermelon in moderation but if you eat in excess you may not lose weight. Moderation is the key and the fruit can easily be substituted with oranges for a refreshing treat.
8. Fruit Juices
Another seemingly healthy food or drink may not actually help you lose weight. While drinking fresh fruit juice may help, drinking juice out of a carton won’t help. Packed fruit juices contain fructose that makes them sweet. It’s just empty calories. So avoid drinking fruit juices. You can eat whole fruits instead.
9. High-Calorie Coffee Beverages
Drinking plain, black coffee may boost your metabolism and burn fat, but if you add flavours, sugar, and creamers, its benefits are lost.
10. Ice cream
Saying no to ice creams on hot summer days would be really hard, but you have to give them up if you want to lose weight. Ice cream is high in calories and is laden with sugar, so avoid eating it.
11. Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are high in calories and sugar. Drinking alcohol won’t do any good to your body and you will just consume empty calories. Also, when you drink alcohol, you will eat more because overconsumption of alcohol often makes food taste very delicious. Drinking beer can lead to weight gain.
12. Halwa
Whether it’s gajar ka halwa or aate ka halwa – you should avoid them. No doubt, halwa taste delicious but a bowl of goodness contains a lot of calories and sugar which can prevent you from losing weight. Be very careful about how much you eat. It is best avoided while you are trying to lose weight.
13. Candy Bars
Hard to resist when they are arrayed so beautifully in shops, but resist them if you want to lose weight. These innocent looking bars contain sugar and are high in calories and are a big no while on a weight loss diet.
14. Sugary Drinks
It doesn’t matter if it is a diet coke or an iced tea, any drink that has added sugars should be given a miss. Drinking water to quench your thirst is the best way for you to make sure that you are not unintentionally adding numerous extra calories into your diet.
15. Soybean Oil
Soybean oil can be very bad for your health. If this oil is a part of your regular diet, it can lead to weight gain. If you are currently using soybean oil, replace it with virgin olive oil or coconut oil as these are healthier options and provide you with healthy fats.
16. Chewing Gum
No, you don’t really consume a piece of gum, but you do end up ingesting the flavouring that it is loaded with. Chewing gum contains sugars and even sugar alcohol, which instead of helping curb your sugar cravings, may worsen them.
17. Granola Bars
They may be full of fibre, but they are also full of added sugars that are bad for your health. Eating granola bars may not help you lose weight. Some types of granola bars even contain more sugar in them than regular candy bars, so do not be fooled into thinking they are a healthier alternative
Losing weight is not easy, but if you are determined, you will be able to drop the extra weight in no time. Avoid the foods listed above, and you will achieve your weight loss goals faster!
