If you want to lose weight, you should avoid certain foods. These foods are either high in sugars or fats or contain other unhealthy ingredients. According to an article by Bob Greene on Oprah Radio, getting rid of the foods in your house that aren't good for you at the start of your diet will make success more likely when it comes to losing weight.
High in Saturated Fats
Foods high in saturated fat not only don't fill you up, they also contain a lot of calories. Greene recommends cutting back on these foods. According to a Fitness Magazine article published in January 2010, regular ground turkey and ground chicken are high in fat, so you should find extra lean versions or get extra-lean ground beef.
Trans Fats
According to the American Heart Association, trans fats lower good cholesterol while raising bad cholesterol. They are found mainly in the types of processed foods that aren't good to eat when you are on a diet, such as cookies, chips, donuts, french fries and other commercially baked and/or fried foods.
Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Salads are a common diet food, and high-fat dressings can add a lot of calories. This doesn't mean you should go for a fat-free dressing, however, according to Fitness Magazine. Without at least a little fat in your meal your body will not be able to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in your salad.
Sugary Foods
Foods high in simple sugars, including cakes, regular soda and cookies as well as diet favorites like yogurt, smoothies and granola, add a lot of calories without providing much nutritional benefit. Both Green and Fitness Magazine recommend limiting the amounts of these products that you consume.
Sugar-Free Treats
According to Fitness Magazine, sugar-free treats are also bad for those on a diet. In the case of diet soda, the artificial sugar can actually trigger you to eat more and gain weight. Other sugar-free treats tend to have added fat and fillers to make up for the loss in flavor caused by getting rid of the sugar, making them still high in empty calories.
Salty Foods
Most processed food is high in salt and can be addictive, according to Greene's article on Oprah Radio. You should limit your sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams daily. Fitness Magazine warns that veggie chips are really not much better than other chips when it comes to fat and salt, so these are not a healthy alternative. Many are mainly made with coloring and potato flour.
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