You may choose to go with a formal weight loss plan or you may choose to create your own, whatever the case there are foods that you must stay away from as part of your weight loss plan and as part of any health and nutrition program.

Avoid Processed Meats:  Processed meats contain high levels of fat, sodium and nitrates each of which has been linked to various health problems including being overweight, obesity, heart problems and cancer.

Stay away from white flour.  As part of any weight loss plan you will be advised to avoid or cut back on the empty calories included in white breads and white flour products moving toward whole wheat substitutes instead.  For those who are following your weight loss plan and then sneak in a piece of white bread either at dinner or before bed, you are erasing efforts you have made throughout the day.

Alcohol.  Nobody’s going to like to hear this one, but alcohol is both full of sugar which adds to weight AND works on our metabolism to slow processing of fats – as well alcohol has been shown to result in cancer causing toxins, especially when used to excess.  Will the odd glass of red wine hurt your weight loss plan – not if you have the discipline to make sure it’s one glass, once in a while.  I would suggest many of us don’t have that sort of will power so it’s best to avoid it altogether for a time.

Cow’s milk – especially for babies.  Studies have consistently demonstrated that cow’s milk – aside from being full of sugar and fat – is often not digested properly by the human digestive system.  Use low-fat dairy substitutes when practicing your weight loss plan.

Potato Chips.  I have to admit, these are my weakness.  Not only are they loaded with saturated fat, they are also loaded with salt which has a negative impact on your body and makes you crave more unhealthy foods destroying your weight loss plan.

Hot Dogs.  Again with the nitrates, high fat and added chemicals - there are few foods that are worse for your weight loss plan and can cause some serious conditions with your health as well. 

Fruit Juices.  Next to soda pop, I have found the #1 factor in losing weight for me is cutting out sugar-filled fruit juices in favor or water or, on occasion, fresh squeezed juices.  Most juices on the market are a lethal mix of sugar, lacking any vitamins leaving you more thirsty than before you started drinking.   I still can’t get over how many people think that a glass of orange juice is healthy for them when most brands contain a tiny bit of Vitamin C and a truckload of sugar. 

Ice Cream.  Weighing in at between 350 calories and 800+ calories (depending on the brand and flavor) makes ice cream equivilant to some of the most unhealthy foods around.  Not only is it heavy in calories, the saturated fat content ranges between 16 grams to more than 30 grams making it enemy #1 to anyone’s weight loss plan.  Replacing ice cream with frozen yogurt can often eliminate 5X the calories and up to 10X the fat.

Soda Pop.  Chalk-full of sugar, acids and other unhealthy ingredients, most people avoid soda pop when on their weight loss plan.  Equally as unhealthy are the low-fat or no-fat alternative soda pops given that they use artificial sweeteners that themselves have been the subject of several health studies.

Red Meat.  Another weak spot for me is red meat – after all, there’s nothing better than a good steak on the barbecue.  Indeed, some red meat in a diet during your weight loss plan is OK, the trick is to limit it to once a week instead of having red meat each and every night or even most nights. 

Of course, it’s not easy for anyone to completely eliminate all of these foods from your diet during a weight loss plan, but there are ways to reduce your intake, replace the craving of these foods with higher quality foods and lower the portions of each of these foods – the overall impact on your weight loss goals and health will be substantial.

Jeff