Losing weight is tough. You eat less, even fast, and exercise as much as possible, but you still don’t lose weight. Well, you should also avoid some worst foods as much as possible. Many factors can influence your weight, from the rate you burn calories throughout the day to your daily habits and overall health status. Cutting back on fatty and sugary foods might help, but you need a complete dietary change in your routine to help you maintain your desired weight in the long term.
So, where do you start? Begin with a fresh start and plenty of water. Be physically active, sleep well, and avoid these 40 worst foods as much as possible. You see, losing weight is not only about the foods you eat; it’s also about the worst foods you don’t eat.
Make sure you read until the very end because after talking about Worst Foods that cause weight gain, we’ll give you a list of the Worst Foods you should start eating instead to cut the fat. Let’s jump in and talk about the 40 worst foods that cause weight gain.
Here Is The List of the 40 worst foods that make you fatty and ugly.
1. Potato Chips
According to studies, potato chips are usually high in fat and sodium. According to studies, potato chips are the foods most associated with weight gain over the years. Yes, we know they’re delicious and a fast snack to have on your way to work or that they go well with Netflix and chill, but hey, if you’re committed, try to cut back on your potato chip intake. You’re on a mission to lose weight.
2. French Fries
According to nutritional studies, french fries are linked to some of the most significant weight gain: 3.35 pounds in four years. Yes, they are tasty and easy to prepare and eat. Still, they increase your blood sugar and insulin levels as quickly as sugar does, but with an additional blast of fat. Furthermore, french fries are extremely caloric; for example, a large McD’s serving of french fries has up to 500 calories. They are deep-fried and processed, which makes the carbohydrates even more dangerous.
3. Sweet, Sugary Drinks
Soda is a sugar-sweetened beverage that contains a lot of calories. However, it’s liquid sugar and won’t make you feel full, so you won’t eat less food to compensate. On the contrary, you are tempted to eat French fries or potato chips with sugary drinks. That’s quite a dangerous cocktail, so if you’re serious about weight loss, you should give up on sugary drinks.
4. Fatty Red Meat
Some examples of red meat are lamb, beef, and pork. Some of these, especially pork, are highly fatty and can cause abdominal weight gain, so make sure you take a peek at how fatty the meat cut is. Also, you should only eat meat from grass-fed farm animals; processed meat is unsuitable for your overall health.
5. White Bread
Fine white bread contains a lot of sugar; its glycemic index is very high and can cause your blood sugar levels to rise. Why eat white bread when there are so many healthy and tasty alternatives on the market? You can try Ezekiel bread made from organic sprouted whole grains instead of almond flour bread, but remember that most pieces contain gluten.
6. Processed Meats
Processed meats such as bacon, sausage, or hot dogs are very unhealthy. Researchers have associated them with an additional 0.93 pounds of weight gain in 4 years. Processed meats are also thought to increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, so tread carefully here and avoid processed meats as much as possible.
7. Candy Bars
Candy bars pack a lot of sugar, unhealthy oils, and refined flour; they are high in empty calories. For example, your average chocolate candy bar contains around 200 to 300 calories, maybe even more, so try to keep your temptations in check. If you crave a snack, eat fruit instead.
8. Alcohol
You can have an occasional glass of wine or a beer, but not daily, as excessive alcohol consumption can jeopardize your weight loss efforts. Usually, drinking opens up your appetite. Do you know how a beer calls for some spicy potato chips? Alcohol alters our perception of food, causing us to eat more than we intended. Studies show that drinking alcohol can cause us to eat an extra 384 calories daily. That’s a lot, so if you’re serious about losing weight, cut back on alcohol.
9. Fruit Juices
You might think, “Okay, I’m avoiding sodas, but I can drink some fruit juices from the supermarket.” No, you can’t; they’re also loaded with lots of sugar. If you want to enjoy fruit juice, make it yourself; don’t buy it from the supermarket. Avoid fruit juice and eat a bowl of fruit instead of juice to be safe.
10. Sweet Cereals
Sweet cereals will not shrink your waist; they contain a lot of calorie-dense sugar, so replace your favorite sweet cereals with something healthier like oatmeal, which keeps you fuller for longer during the day, and you’ll learn to love it over time. You can add some fruits to your oatmeal to make it more delicious.
11. Diet Soda
It’s time to bite the bullet and tell you the naked truth: diet soda is unsuitable for weight loss. Most diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners, and your body will react like refined sugar. Studies have linked artificial sweeteners to excessive long-term weight gain, so stay away from soda.
12. Sweet Chocolate
Hence, sweet dark chocolate has a lot of benefits for your health and can even aid in your weight loss goals, but milk chocolate will do just the opposite. Milk chocolate can significantly expand your waistline if you do not remove it from your diet. You see, sweet chocolate contains heaps of sugar, which contributes to your visceral fat growth. So replace any milk chocolate with dark chocolate that is at least 75 percent dark, and you’ll be one step closer to your weight loss goals.
13. Pretzels
Packaged salty snacks stand between you and your weight loss goals. First of all, salty snacks contribute to water retention. Second, they can trick our bodies into thinking we need more food. Add salt to fat, and you can eat more of it. So avoid pretzels and salty packaged snacks shortly; they’re not good for weight loss.
14. Pastries
Pastries usually contain lots of sugar, refined flour, and artificial trans fats. Furthermore, they are high in empty calories, so you can quickly feel hungry after having one or two pastries. If you’re craving a snack, reach for dark chocolate instead.
15. Canned Soup
Canned soups are processed food containing lots of sodium, causing your belly to bloat and increasing your appetite even more. Furthermore, sodium can dull your ability to feel when you’re full, which does not help you lose weight.
16. Ice Cream
Everybody loves ice cream. Well, your weight-loss plan doesn’t believe us. Ice cream is usually high in calories and loaded with heaps of sugar, but a bit of it here and there would be all right if it were possible to stop at just a little. Consuming a large amount of ice cream in one sitting is a no-no. It would help if you made your ice cream using less sugar and healthier ingredients, such as low-fat yogurt and fruit.
17. Pancake Syrups
The majority of pancake syrups you find in supermarkets are high in fructose corn syrup and caramel coloring; these two ingredients have directly been associated with obesity, weight gain, and even insulin problems. If you crave some pancake syrup, stick with 100% pure maple syrup, but tread carefully; too much maple syrup can also stand between you and your weight loss goals.
18. Granola Bars
Granola bars are made of hydrogenated oils and sugar; they don’t contain much protein. Yes, they might be lower in calories than a traditional meal. Still, they contain few nutrients, so granola bars cannot replace a proper meal. So why get all the sugar and hydrogenated oils in your system if they don’t contain nutrients?
19. Pizza
Pizza is trendy worldwide; however, most pizzas are very unhealthy. They are high in calories and contain lots of refined sugar and processed meat. If you are craving a slice of pizza, try making one at home with healthy ingredients. While you’re at it, try making some pizza sauce as well. Avoid the one from the supermarket because it contains heaps of sugar.
20. Muffins
You know what a muffin top is: it’s the body fat that extends horizontally over the edges of the waistline. What a name they chose for it, right? Well, muffins contain lots of fat; your typical blueberry muffin packs approximately 400 calories and about a third of the day’s fat, and you know what’s worse? They are high in sugar, so avoid Starbucks pastries if you want to lose weight.
21. Coffee Drinks
Black coffee is okay. Caffeine can boost your metabolism and increase fat burning; however, your typical Starbucks frappuccino is more than just coffee. You know all those artificial creams and sugars are very unhealthy, so try to avoid high-calorie coffee drinks rich in sugar and cream because they’re no better than sodas.
22. Croissants And Bagels
So no, we don’t want to torture you; we want you to cut down on croissants and bagels. Yes, they’re delicious and satisfying, but they contain white sugar and flour. As a consequence, your blood sugar levels will rise. Then crash, causing you to feel hungrier than before.
23. Donuts
Donuts are a no-go when it comes to weight loss. First, they are made almost entirely from sugar and contain many empty calories. Second, they will cause you to feel even hungrier after the sugar spike is gone, so do not eat donuts if you want to keep true to your weight loss goals.
24. Fast Foods
Okay, so you were expecting this whenever you pass by a McDonald’s drive-through, floor the gas, and pass by quickly. These highly processed foods contain preservatives, trans fats, and salts. All these ingredients trick our satiation hormones into thinking we are not complete yet, so we keep eating more.
25. Refined Sugar
Refined sugar, in its many forms, contributes to belly fat. The World Health Organization recommends we limit our sugar intake to 10 percent of our total daily calories. However, research shows that the average American eats three times more sugar than that, so if you want to lose weight, don’t do that.
26. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit might seem like a very healthy snack; however, it isn’t because most dried fruits you find in supermarkets are artificially sweetened, so we recommend you take them out of your diet. You’ll avoid about 16 grams of sugar per ounce, which is a good deal.
27. Refined White Pasta
Refined white pasta has little fiber or nutrients; your body will process it as sugar, adding fat to your belly and thighs. If you like pasta, make sure you only eat whole-grain pasta in moderation; furthermore, you should avoid supermarket pasta sauces, which might also contain added sugar and sodium.
28. Beer
We have already mentioned alcohol in this list, but beer is exceptional. If you’re serious about losing weight, we recommend you quit drinking beer forever or until you achieve your desired result. Several studies have shown a relationship between drinking and beer and having a high BMI and a large waist circumference. More than that, beer calls for other unhealthy chips and snacks, and you’ll end up in a vicious cycle, so you better stay away from beer.
29. Cookies
Throw away the cookie jar or put it under lock and key until you achieve your desired weight loss goals. Cookies are double trouble. First, they are filled with palm oil, which promotes fat and causes inflammation. Second, they’re addictive; you cannot eat just one.
30. Soybean Oil
Vegetable oils such as soy, corn, sunflower, or palm oil have a high concentration of omega-6 fatty acids. For a healthy lifestyle, your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio should be one-to-one. According to research, persons who consume a lot of vegetable oil-laden foods have a ratio of 20:1, which causes inflammation, obesity, and many more troubles.
31. Burgers
Burgers are high in saturated fats that trigger inflammation in white adipose tissue, leading to obesity. According to studies, burgers represent 19 percent of America’s total saturated fat consumption.
32. Street Food
You should exercise if you wish to reduce weight. Avoid conventional street food that is rich in hydrogenated vegetable oils. These foods can lead to fat storage around the belly, which is the last thing you want when looking to lose weight.
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33. Deli Meats
Deli meats are loaded with sodium and chemicals associated with obesity and chronic diseases. Eat pure, grass-fed meat instead to build natural muscles. Avoid processed products at any cost.
34. Bottled Tea
Bottled teas are usually loaded with lots of sugar. Don’t be tricked into believing they’re healthy, as the traditional tea you make at home is a cup of sugar water with aromas. So please throw away any bottled teas and make yourself a nice hot cup of classic tea at home.
35. Waffles And Pancakes
Waffles and pancakes contain all the usual suspects we’ve been preaching about so far: white flour, salt, butter, sugar, eggs, and milk, which will not save them from being oversized old discs of empty calories. You can do better than that; avoid waffles and pancakes.
36. Fried Chicken
You knew it was coming. Deep-fried foods, in general, can trigger the production of advanced glycation products, which are harmful compounds that form when protein and fat link with sugar in the bloodstream. Avoid them as much as possible.
37. Pies
Pies are baked desserts that contain high levels of trans fats; these trans fatty acids can increase heart disease and other chronic disorders. Furthermore, if you genuinely love your waistline and thighs, stay away from pies or baked desserts.
38. Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are no better than sugar; they can lead to weight gain and only fuel your sweet cravings. Furthermore, studies have associated a large consumption of artificial sweeteners with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, so next time you feel that sweet craving, eat some dark chocolate or fruit.
39. Cream cheese
Two tablespoons of cream cheese have about 100 calories. Nine grams of fat and 6 grams of saturated fat is quite a lot, and you don’t get much in return. The amount of calcium is too low, and we tend to spread cream cheese on bagels or other sweet pastries is even worse, so if you leave the cream cheese out of your diet, you’ll be happier in the long term.
40. Onion rings
Everything good about onions has been ruined regarding onion rings. They’re deep-fried and just as bad as French fries; they contain lots of calories, saturated fat, and sugar, so avoid them as much as possible.
Learn More About the Health Benefits of onion
Conclusion
Losing weight is a journey that requires quite a few sacrifices, and we’re sure most of the foods on this list are your favorites. Giving them up won’t be easy, but you must set a weight-loss goal and stick to it. A well-balanced diet is only half the battle; you’ll also need plenty of exercise, plenty of water to drink, and plenty of sleep. Come on, and you can do it.
