One of the most common questions people ask when it comes to weight loss is “How can I lose 10 pounds effectively?” The answer to that, as a matter of fact, is to identify the various foods to avoid for losing 10 pounds fast. Sure, most experts would say that it’s plain stupid to hinder yourself from consuming certain foods. But, in reality, there are really those that you need to axe out of your life – especially if you aim to lose weight in a shorter period of time.
Well, if that’s the case, start avoiding these foods if you want to fend off hunger and, most importantly, support your goal of slimming down.
- Multi Grain Breads
Although multi grain breads are without doubt low in calories, soy sauce in particular is superbly high on sodium. It’s the reason behind feeling bloated and being exposed to the risks of hypertension. Despite the fact that there are plenty of low-sodium soy sauce that you can find in the market these days, most are still not significantly lower compared to the regular ones. Nonetheless, it’s best if you use them sparingly.
- Frozen Meals
In order for fresh ingredients to last longer than usual, food manufacturers sometimes load frozen meals with a natural preservative called sodium. However, it can bloat you up, as it retains water in your body. As a result, you won’t feel and look best despite how much weight you’re trying to lose.
Moreover, when food manufacturers squeeze a certain amount of calories into a meal, every bite of it contain, well, lots of calories. Yes, you may think that your full, but in reality you’re unsatisfied. Not only do you need these foods to avoid for losing 10 pounds fast, but you also have to replace your servings of lower-calorie foods.
- Alcohol
In a month, an average wine drinker can consume a total of 2,000 calories. You may love the innocuous look of a sparkling white wine, but the cumulative effects it brings can hinder your goal of losing weight. Diet expert Robert C. Atkins explained that alcohol is among the very first things your body tries to burn prior to moving on another one. Therefore, if you won’t take the effort to completely remove alcohol from your body, you won’t burn fat at all.
- 100-Calorie Snacks
Not only are you consuming an obvious 100 calorie portion, but you’re also not adding anything valuable to your daily nutrition. Remember that cutting back on calories won’t always mean that you’re loading up on junk. Although these foods can be great for occasional treats, but it should not always be an option for regular meals.
- High-Fiber Snack Bars
It’s a fact that every person needs fiber, as it gives the feeling of being full and keeps the digesting system revving. What you shouldn’t do, however, is eating a day’s worth of fiber, which is about 25 grams. Simply put, your fiber consumption should always be consistent all throughout the day to stave off from hunger, avoid stomach upset, and improve the health of your digestive system. Therefore, start ditching those bars and, instead, go for natural fiber-rich products – be it fruits or veggies.
- Juice
Although it only requires few oranges to produce a 6-ounce glass of juice, when you drink it, however, all the calories from those oranges are consumed. And even worst, you won’t get any natural fibers, which could help you fill up. No wonder why experts suggest that a 100% of almost all juices are just plain blood sugar pike, as all of them have empty calories.
Furthermore, the natural fruit sugar called fructose – the reason why fruits and fruit juices taste sweet – deceits your body into accumulating weight. How? It’s by moderating your body’s ability to distinguish when it’s full. As a result, you tend to eat more, increasing your chances of getting diabetes and insulin resistance.
- Microwave Popcorn
A research conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that bags of microwave popcorn contain chemicals that can cause a dramatic increase in developing thyroid and infertility problems. Popcorns that are deemed low-calorie snack, however, can be great in one way or another, as long as they don’t come from a bag packed with lots of additives.
- Artificially Sweetened Drinks
It’s time that you bid goodbye to sweet-tasting beverages like diet sodas, all of which superficially contain zero calories. It’s a fact that a human being’s brain is specifically wired in a way that artificial sweeteners can enhance and/or induce cravings, thus lead to longings for eating more. You’re better off with water with lemon or plain water. A sparkling water, in particular, is absolutely calorie-free; however, since it’s carbonated, it can make your stomach full, making you eat less overall.
- Cereals That Come in Value-Size Boxes
It also holds true with super-sized snack boxes. A study conducted by the Food and Brand Lab of Cornell University shows that people can consume nearly 22% more when they tend to eat from larger packages. When you know that more food is available, you subconsciously let yourself eat more out of it. And the same thing goes with the food you buy on sale, as you’re likely to consume when the food expense is less. That’s not to say, though, that you should be spending more on food in order to eat less – not only it’s silly but it’s also unsustainable. The best thing to do is to measure every serving, so you won’t fall prey to your own mind’s game.
- Snacks that Contain Carbs
Just by eating foods like crackers, rice cakes and dry cereals alone, your body tends to convert all carbs into simple sugars. Apart from sugar rush, your body will produce extra insulin, something that helps your body absorb all the sugar quickly. As a result, you end up getting low blood sugar and tend to crave for carb (or food in a sense). From there, you’ll try to reach for more sugary foods – all of which have no sufficient nutritional value to satisfy your wants for instant body fuel.
If you want to lose weight effectively and in a shorter period of time, start by avoiding the aforementioned foods. Which of these foods to avoid for losing 10 pounds fast have you already removed from your daily diet?