What Foods to Avoid While Trying to Lose Weight: What Not to Eat!

Losing weight is always difficult for us mere mortals. However there are a few ways to speed up that weight loss. One way in particular is cutting some foods from our diet. I believe our diet is for life and eating healthy should be for life. Treats are fun and should never be banned altogether. But sometimes, fattening food has to be banned for a bit.

The foods below are banned from Monday to Friday. Don't binge at the weekend. Once you reach your goal regulate your allowance to small portions over the week. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. Remember exercise is also a key point in weight loss. You will need to do at least 20 mins of exercise 4 times a week. Anything like walking, swimming even gardening will do. So, the list...

• Mayonnaise: A tiny 10 gram portion has a whopping 61 calories. Adding an ounce (28 grams) of mayo to your sandwich, salad or fries will cost you a 180 calories a pop.
• Butter: A meager ounce hits the scales at 210 calories. Every time you butter toast or bread, add a knob to your mash and vegetables you add calories to your waist line.
• Oil: 10 grams of oil will set you back a magnificent 90 calories. Imagine every time you fry a piece of meet in an ounce of oil you bump up the calories by 270. Your lean 5 oz chicken breast jumps from 150 calories to 420 calories. A cheese burger has less cals.
• Cheese: A 2 ounce slice of cheese averages 200 calories. No cheese sandwiches please.
• Chocolate: Milk chocolate contains 500 calories for every 100 grams. The average bar of chocolate has more than 250 calories. One bar a day adds up to over 1750 calories in a week.
• Crisps: A family bag (170 grams) of crisps tops the calories at just under 1000. The thing about family bags is we never share'em with the family. We eat them all ourselves. Well, they'll go stale won't they!
• Sugar: 1 teaspoon of sugar in your tea or coffee adds up to 17 calories. 5 cups a day over the week calculates at 595 calories. Over the year that works out at 30,948 calories. Cutting out that sugar in your tea or coffee is worth 8 pounds in weight loss. And that's if you only have one spoon!
• Thick sliced white bread: 96 calories on average per slice. Your sarnie is already nearly 200 calories before you add any filling.
• Soda: Ditch the soda. An average can of pop (330 ml) has 150 calories. Plus the fizz bloats the stomach.
• Beer: Generally alcohol has a lot of empty calories. Beer is one of the worst. A pint of beer will cost you an average 200 calories. Lets face it, you won't have one will you?

The average man needs 2500 calories per day. The average woman needs 2000 calories per day. Reducing your calorie allowance by 500 calories a day and introducing some form of exercise 4 times a week should be sufficient to loose 1 to 2 Ibs per week.

• Substitute tomato based relishes and mustard's for mayo in sandwiches.
• Choose low calorie salad dressings or make your own.
• Add spices and herbs to your dishes instead of butter.
• Top your toast with a poached or scrambled egg, hummus or even cottage cheese.
• Swap your toast for fruit and yogurt or a bran cereal.
• Stir fry foods in a none stick pan.
• Grill, bake or steam foods.
• Eat cottage cheese 28 calories in 28 grams.
• Buy mini size chocolates for a treat.
• Try eating frozen grapes as a treat during the week.
• A 30 gram bag of twiglets will take 120 calories off your daily allowance.
• Reduce the amount of sugar in your tea and coffee gradually till you don't add any. Introduce herbal teas, like a green tea.
• Opt for brown or wholemeal medium sliced bread.
• Replace sodas with fresh juices and lots of water.
• Stick to a gin and tonic (90 cals) or a glass of wine (80 cals) at the weekends.

Fast food is laden with fat and calories. There is little or no nutritional value in fast food; hence the reason why you always feel hungry soon after a fast food fix. Trying to lose weight and eating burgers doesn't work.

The average fast food meal is about 1000 calories. Almost half your daily calorie allowance. I'm afraid fast food has to be put on the once in a while list. That's like once a month or less.

Processed foods contain a lot of sugar and salt. It's best to avoid these foods as much as possible. Opt for fresh fruit, fruit juices and fresh vegetables to help lose those pounds.

Deep fried foods are on the once in a while menu too. A small portion of chips averages 300 calories. One medium deep fried onion ring averages 50 calories. A deep fried chicken wing averages a whopping 100 calories and that's without the dip.

Any food over 400 calories per portion is off the menu. Read labels and get familiar with what you eat and what you drink.

Any food with more than 4 grams of fat per serving is also off the menu during the week.

Losing weight slowly and safely is very important. Huge weight loss over a short period of time will leave you with unsightly saggy skin all over your body, especially on your arms, thighs and stomach. Slow weight loss is permanent and healthy weight loss.

Remember; your diet is for life and not just a silly fad. Eat healthy, exercise regularly and enjoy your treats as a treat.

Good luck and go steady.

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© 2011 Gabriel Wilson All Rights Reserved