4 Foods to Avoid to Get in Shape

April 22, 2020

Hey, Annie here. Today I'm going to share a handful of foods to avoid if you want to get in shape. This whole quarantine business isn't exactly helping the waistline.

The gyms are closed and the temptation to snack all day long is ever-present. And yet, you want to stay healthy, right? The first step to health is to eat well.

To help you steer clear of certain food groups, I compiled a list for you. I hope it is useful for you and helps you stay healthy, happy, and confident despite these circumstances.

1. Dairy

Dairy can cause a host of gastrointestinal issues including bloating, excessive gas, and unwanted weight gain for people who are lactose intolerant. As it turns out, many people are mildly sensitive to dairy - though they aren't aware of it.

After all, it's a little strange that humans are the only mammals that consume milk in adulthood. When it comes to digestion, dairy is not exactly easy on the stomach. It can lead to water retention, stomachaches, and weight gain.

If you're eating healthy and working out but the scale still isn't budging, consider cutting dairy. Try oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or hemp milk. These milk alternatives are delicious!

2. Soda

Soda is chock-full of sugar and calories, leading to unwanted weight gain. Studies show that even drinking one less soda per week can help you lose weight.

Consuming sodas is one of the worst things you can do for your health. It makes your body produce more insulin, disrupting the metabolic process.

Even if you drink diet soda, it confuses the brain and leaves you craving more sugar than ever before. Stick to water, as it will hydrate you and flush out any toxins.

3. Fried Foods

We all have memories of eating funnel cake or that deep-fried Oreo at a theme park or carnival during childhood. (Hopefully it's not just me!) Well, those days are over (or at least very limited.) At this point, you've probably come to realize how unhealthy it is to consume fried foods.

They're filled to the brim with grease and fat. The body has a hard time digesting high-fat foods. Whether it's the grease, fat, slow digestion, high amount of calories, or the complete absence of any nutritional value- weight gain is likely to occur if you eat a high-fat diet.

It's important to differentiate from healthy fats, like avocados and peanuts and unhealthy fats like french fries and pizza. Remember, it's okay to indulge once in awhile. Just make sure you don't eat these foods regularly.

4. Potato Chips

Who doesn't love to munch on a bag of potato chips? I know I'm guilty of eating way too many chips, especially at the present moment. Still, if you want to get into great shape, it's time to look into other options.

Potato chips are coated in hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and excessive sodium. This can lead to water retention, insulin resistance, heart disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, high cholesterol, and weight gain.

If you're craving a crunch, try carrots, seaweed snacks, or kale chips.

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Omitting these foods may be the answer to your health issues! If you're doing everything right - eating clean and exercising- and you still aren't losing weight, these foods may be the culprits.

I hope this list was useful information for you! Knowledge is the first step toward change. Now that you're aware, you can start to transform your diet.

It may be difficult at first, but once you've fully cut out these foods you'll feel so proud of yourself. I believe in you! Thanks for reading my blog post.

Annie Foley
Author
UrbanValle