TOP 10 Foods to Avoid to LOSE WEIGHT

 Have you been trying to lose weight but you aren't having much success? If you are, you definitely are not alone. I've found that in a lot of cases there are certain pet foods that people just hang onto that are keeping them from their goals. In this video we are going to go over 10 foods that you need to get rid of if you want to have success. Hi, I'm Dr. Erik Richardson a board certified Family Practice physician. I'd like to welcome you to FamilyMed, a channel that focuses giving you practical and accurate medical information to help you and your family. 

If you think this would be something that is helpful to you make sure you subscribe, hit that notification button and follow along with us. OK so what are the foods that are getting us in trouble. Most everybody struggles with losing weight. It's not a normal natural thing for our bodies and sometimes we just struggle knowing where to start. Exercise is important but it's only a small part of the picture. It really boils down to finding ways of eating that work with you and your body. 

But, no matter what eating plan you go with as you are trying to lose weight, there are certain foods that we know are going to get you in trouble. This isn't going to be an exhaustive because frankly there are tons of foods out there that aren't good for you but these are some of the most common that I see causing my patients trouble. 

• French Fries and Potato Chips

The first, is one of my downfalls. That's the blessed French fries and potato chips. Nothing beats a fresh mcdonald's French fries but it wreaks havoc on your waist line. French fries and potato chips are very high in calories, are easily broken down and converted to sugar in the body and quickly can turn to fat. Several studies show that consuming French fries and potato chips are linked to weight gain and one showed that potato chips may contribute to more weight gained per serving than any other food. So eliminating these or keeping them at a minimum are important if you are trying to slim that waist.

• Sugary Drinks

Number 2 is Sugary Drinks, this probably should be number one as it is probably one of the worst things for you that we consume on a regular basis. The have a strong association with weight gain. One study I read a while back showed that one can a day of non-diet soda can put on 10 pounds in the average person a year. They have a lot of calories but your brain doesn't recognize it as food so it doesn't make you feel full and you are much more likely to overdo it on your calories in a very big way. So do yourself a favor and stick to some cool water with a lemon. 

• White Bread

Number 3 is White Bread. White bread is the chewable version of sugar drinks. When wheat is processed to white flower, they strip away most of the fiber and nutrients that cause the grain to be digested slowly. Instead it is converted quickly to sugar in the body and increases your sugar levels. AS well, because there isn't as much fiber you are much more likely to eat more of it. Because of all of this, we see a subsequent spike in insulin which is your enemy when you are trying to loose weight. If you are going to be eating bread, make sure it is a whole grain and still keep your portions low. 

• Candy Bars

The 4th really shouldn't even be considered food but for some are a big temptation. These are candy bars. These of course, are very unhealthy and are the perfect mix of sugar, refined flours and oils. There aren't many other foods that can pack in as many calories in a small package as you find in a candy bar. The worst part about them is they usually are placed in strategic places in the store so that when we are bored, hungry and waiting in line they are right there for the taking. Resist the temptation and stay away from them if you want to make progress in your goals. 

• Fruit Juice

Number 5 sometimes tricks some of us because we think it is healthy. This is Fruit Juice. Fruit is a great way to take care of that sweet tooth and in moderation is a very healthy part of a diet. The problem though is when we drink it as a juice. The first problem is that most commercially available fruit juice still isn't just juice. There are oftentimes added sugars that make this worse. But even if it is 100% juice, it can still hold you back when you are trying to lose weight. The problem is that in the making of the juice they usually get rid of all the pulp, fiber and other things that come with the fruit itself. Doing so makes it much easier for your body to absorb the sugars, increasing your insulin and making you gain weight. Because you don't have all the extra fiber as well, it is much easier to consume more calories than you would if you just ate the fruit. So, if you are trying to shed a few, stick with the whole fruit and pass on that morning glass.

• Pastries

 Number 6 is also one that gets me a lot, and that is pastries, cookies and cakes. There is an incredible French pastry cafe in Salt Lake City, Utah called Gourmandise that if you are ever in the area, do not stop by because you will definitely fall off your diet wagon. That place is incredible. But if you are trying to make progress in your weight loss journey partaking of these kinds of things will not get you where you want to go. They are also filled with refined sugars and flours and oftentimes oils that really get in the way with your goals. Many of the store bought kinds as well are full of transfatty acids which also harmful when it comes to cholesterol and heart disease. One of the big problems with these kinds of foods as well is that because they are high in sugars and low in nutrients you are more likely to get hungry faster after eating them.

• Alcohol

 Number 7 is Alcohol and specifically Beer. We all know about the beer belly and that is with good reason. Beer specifically is much like soda or other sugary drinks. It contains a lot of carbs that just like everything else we are talking about today will increase your blood sugar triggering the insulin response and will bring on that weight gain. So, If you are trying to lose weight, you may want to consider cutting back on alcohol or skipping it altogether.

• Ice Cream

Number 8 is another guilty pleasure of mine but will get you in trouble quickly. I hate to even say it, but it is Ice Cream. There's nothing better than a bowl of ice cream but unfortunately it's not very healthy. It is super high in calories and is loaded with sugar. Small amounts occasionally can be fine but the problem is that it is easy to eat a lot in one setting. Doing things like making your own ice cream and using less sugar and more natural ingredients can help. Also, serve it in a smaller bowl and don't eat out of the carton so you keep your portion smaller. 

• Pizza

 Number 9 is going to get me in trouble with my kids and that's pizza. We all love a slice of pizza but it is very high in calories and usually is made from refined flours and processed meats. Because of that, it is easy to overeat. It's just about the perfect combination of carbs and unhealthy fats and that's what gets us in trouble. Better options are some of the cauliflour crusts, thin crusts or making it at home with more whole grain and healthier toppings. 

• High Calorie Coffee

OK, so the last one, number 10 is a big one that gets a lot of people in trouble. If you want to lose weight you have to avoid the high calorie coffee drinks. Starbucks is not your friend. One of the biggest offenders on their menu is the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino. Their large beverage comes in at a whopping 590 Calories. It has 26 grams of fat and 76 grams of sugar. Yikes, that will not help you get into that swimsuit you are wanting to wear. Any kind of liquid empty calories are not going to help you get to your goals so stay away from the starbucks line, save yourself a lot of money and a lot of excess calories So as you can see from this list, there are a lot of things in common with the foods that we have discussed. They are all highly processed junk foods that are loaded with added sugar, refined flour and added fats. These are the types of foods that are responsible for our current obesity epidemic but fortunately staying away from them can go very far in helping you with your weight loss goals.

Now I'm not trying to say that you can never have anything like these but they really should not be part of your typical diet. Look at the labels, avoid foods with added sugars and fats. Stay away from things that are processed. The closer you can get to a whole food diet the better off you are going to do. So now you know about 10 of the top foods that you need to avoid to help you lose weight. IT certainly isn't an all inclusive list, there are plenty of other foods out there that you should avoid. So our question of the day is: What is the most difficult thing that you need to give up that is keeping you from your healthy eating goals? Let us know in the comments below.

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