Weight loss often requires determination, self-discipline and a level of regular fitness. What you eat and, more importantly, what you don't eat are also important in determining your success in any attempt to lose weight. It can be difficult to avoid many fattening foods, as they can be very prevalent in grocery stores and on restaurant menus, but with some knowledge of what to avoid, you can find less fattening alternatives with relative ease.
Soda and High Fructose Corn Syrup
The Three Fat Chicks on a Diet website, which provides information on diet, fitness and weight loss, lists soda as a primary dietary ingredient to give up if you are seeking to lose weight. The high fructose corn syrup contained in most sodas not only encourages weight gain, but is worse for your body than regular sugar. Because soda is a source of empty calories with little or no nutritional value, there is little to lose by cutting it out of your diet. Diet sodas, to which many dieters switch in order to avoid the high corn syrup content, are also of little or no nutritional value, and the sodium and artificial sweeteners in diet sodas may have other negative effects on your health.
Be Selective of Dairy Products
While some low- or nonfat dairy products may not have a significant effect on your weight, many others will. Dairy products can contain an abundance of saturated fats and calories. Butter, ice cream and whole milk are a few examples of dairy products that will not help you lose weight. When looking for other foods you can substitute for dairy, look to products made with soy or rice. These ingredients can provide a number of dairy substitutes, such as soy milk and rice milk, which will spare you from the high calories found in dairy products.
Fatty Meats and Processed Foods
Cut fatty meats and junk food out of your diet to aid in your weight loss. Deep fried foods, such as french fries, onion rings or potato chips, should be avoided. FamilyDoctor.org notes that foods which are high in fat or are prepared fat, lard or certain oils are also usually high in calories. Saturated fats and trans fats not only contribute to weight gain, but can increase the presence of LDL cholesterol, increasing your risk of heart disease. Sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that can take the place of other fatty foods in your diet include fish, nuts and low- or nonfat dairy products.
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