Any food has the potential to hurt your weight-loss efforts. That's because any calories eaten in excess of what your body can use are stored as fat. That means that even healthy foods can hurt your weight loss if they're not eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Still, certain types of foods pose the biggest threat to your weight-loss program.
Fatty Cuts of Meat
Meat that's cut from different parts of the same animal can contain very different amounts of fat. Since fat is a calorie-dense fuel source for your body, it's important to know how to distinguish lean cuts and types of meat from fatty ones.
With beef, marbling is a sign of quality, but it's also a sign of high fat. The leanest beef cuts are top sirloin, top round, sirloin tip and eye of round. The fattiest chicken parts are legs and thighs, while skinless chicken breasts are lean options.
Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates, also called simple sugars, can hurt your weight-loss efforts. They cause your blood sugar to spike and fall quickly, which may cause you to become hungry sooner and eat more calories than if you'd chosen complex carbs instead.
Simple sugars are found in foods like white bread, white rice, table sugar or any food made with with enriched white flour. Complex carbohydrates like those in foods made with whole grains and whole-wheat fiber make you feel full longer. They also keep your blood sugar levels more stable to better control hunger.
Dairy Products
Avoid regular dairy products that are high in fat; choose low-fat, reduced-fat or fat-free varieties instead. If you prefer the flavor of regular dairy products over lower-fat options, pay close attention to serving sizes.
The calories in an otherwise healthy dish can easily be doubled or tripled by adding too much regular sour cream, half-and-half or other regular dairy foods. Low fat doesn't always mean low calories, however. Some low-fat versions of dairy products still contain high amounts of refined sugars, so be sure to always read food labels.
Preparation Methods
No matter how healthy a food is, when it's prepared in an unhealthy way it can keep you from weight-loss success. Fried and sauteed foods have higher calories than foods that are steamed, baked, broiled or grilled. White, cheesy or cream-based sauces and soups are much higher in calories than tomato-based sauces and clear broths.
Ready-to-Eat and Processed Foods
Ready-to-eat meals and processed foods have high amounts of fat and total calories that can affect weight loss. Foods like frozen TV dinners and microwave meals also contain excessive amounts of sodium that can contribute to excess water weight. If you have to eat processed items like fast food, choose smaller serving sizes. Use nutrition information provided by fast-food restaurants to guide you to healthier options.
Member Comments