Anyone who’s ever been on a weight loss journey knows the commitment it takes to achieve your goals. All those healthy meals and strenuous workouts at the gym don’t come easy – which is why you never want to undermine your efforts by eating foods that you think are healthy, yet are actually anything but!
Sadly, this is a very common occurrence, as food companies do a great job of marketing their products, making bad foods appear healthy.
To help you avoid these silent assassins that are lurking in your cupboards or fridge, ready to torpedo your weight loss efforts, we’ve put together this list of five types of food that will do their best to stop you from shedding those pounds.
White Rice
For some reason, whenever someone says they’re going to eat clean, they automatically stock up on white rice, which they’ll usually consume at least once, maybe twice a day.
But while white rice is often regarded as a harmless side dish, it’s loaded with starchy carbs and is more or less devoid of any nutrients.
Sure, rice will give you energy, but after initially skyrocketing, your blood sugar will soon crash, promoting insulin production and encouraging the storage of fat. This can then create hunger pangs and fatigue, all of which are extremely bad for weight loss.
If that wasn’t bad enough, rice is also extremely calorific, so if you’re trying to keep your calories low – something you should be aiming for if you’re looking to lose weight – then it’s not the best choice at all.
If you are going to eat rice, opt for brown instead, which still has some of the nutrients. Unlike its brown counterpart, white rice has undergone milling, which strips away the bran and germ, resulting in a loss of fibre and essential nutrients.
Breakfast Cereals
A common choice for a quick and convenient breakfast, especially when we’re running late in the morning, many cereals often masquerade as health-conscious options.
This is in large part due to the health claims that adorn the box, but don’t be fooled by these clever marketing tactics as many breakfast cereals are overflowing with added sugars!
The perceived healthiness of these cereals causes many to overlook their role in spiking blood sugar levels and, consequently, as mentioned above, this leads to cravings later in the day.
For those aiming for weight management, opting for cereals with minimal added sugars and a low glycemic index such as porridge oats is much better for weight management. Oats also release energy slowly to prevent crashes and they can be paired with many types of fruits or other accompaniments to add some excitement to your breakfast.
Smoothies
Smoothies are admired due to their abundance of fruit and vegetables, and many see them as weight loss allies that can help them drop the pounds in no time. But while smoothies undoubtedly contain plenty of nutrients, they often contain massive portions of fruit and high amounts of sugar, which is usually consumed quickly.
As you may have guessed by now, this has an impact on your blood sugar, spiking your insulin and making it next to impossible to drop weight if you’re consuming smoothies on the reg.
If you want to indulge in fruit then there’s no harm in this at all. Just keep it in moderation and make sure you’re eating whole fruits as the dietary fibre means your blood sugar will remain stable.
Dried Fruits
Dried fruits are praised for their natural sweetness and undeniable deliciousness, which is why they’re a popular inclusion in snack boxes and frequently find themselves being used to accompany cereal or yoghurt.
However, what many don’t realise is the drying process concentrates the sugars, leading to a higher calorie density. So while people perceive dried fruits as a nutritious snack, which they undoubtedly are, their high-calorie/sugar nature means you should definitely not overdo it.
Nut Butters
Nut butters are a popular choice for the health-conscious, and for good reason. As well as being rich in healthy fats and protein, they’re also versatile and delicious, making them a great addition to a wide variety of meals and recipes.
However, all nut butters are absolutely jam-packed full of calories, meaning they can very easily contribute to weight gain when consumed excessively. While these spreads offer essential nutrients and can be a valuable protein source, just be sure to moderate your intake when looking to restrict calories and lose weight.
Meal Prep Services
So now we’ve gone over the foods to avoid over-consuming, how do you go about ensuring you get that crucial balanced diet? These days, some of us are simply too busy to cook with fresh ingredients so it can be very difficult to make sure you’re eating the right food!
But there’s a simple solution to this in the form of meal prep services! These provide carefully portioned meals, which ensure you consume the right food and the correct number of calories to hit your goals.
Furthermore, our meals are designed to offer the right balance of macronutrient and micronutrient balance, with a focus on adequate protein, healthy fats and controlled carbohydrates.
So those are the exercises you need to be doing if you want to maximise your weight loss results. Losing fat can be challenging, but with the right exercise plan and the correct diet, it can be achieved and you can get on the road to a trimmer, healthier you.