There are lots of foods that call themselves “healthy foods” but actually…
They destroy your weight loss!
These “healthy foods” have hidden ingredients, like added sugars and excessive sodium, that make weight loss nearly impossible!
Here’s the list of foods that you need to avoid to lose weight and achieve your weight loss goals.
Granola has a reputation as a healthy snack, but this is neither true nor earned. Most granolas and bars have large amounts of added sugars and sodium that will DESTROY your weight loss goals.
For example, just ONE ounce of Nature Valley Oats & Honey Protein Granola® has 7 grams of sugar and a staggering 120 calories! [1]
That means you’re getting close to the same amount of calories from 1 little ounce of granola as you are from one of our Meal Replacement Shakes, but not even close to the same amount of nutrients and vitamins!
Better: If you’re craving something crunchy, go for raw, unsalted nuts. They are packed with protein, fiber, and other vitamins you need without all the added calories! [2]
Sports drinks are branded as a great way to re-fuel because they contain important electrolytes.
While they may help provide these electrolytes, they also give you added sugars and added calories.
A 20-ounce bottle of Lemon-Lime Gatorade® has a ridiculous 34 grams of sugar and 140 calories! [3]
The American Heart Associates suggests 24 grams of sugar for women a day, so you’d be getting MORE sugar in one drink than you should be having in an entire day, PLUS added calories!
Better: You can get the hydration AND electrolytes that your body needs with 0 sugars and 0 calories with Transform Hydration!
Again, yogurt is another food that is thought to be healthy but can absolutely destroy your weight loss goals.
The culprit, of course, is added sugar, which adds unnecessary calories, which will cause you to gain weight without ever feeling full!
For example a small, 6 oz. Yoplait® Original Yogurt Single Serve Cup of Strawberry yogurt has a jaw-dropping 19 grams of sugar and 150 calories! [4]
150 calories is a LOT for a small cup of yogurt that won’t even get close to making you feel full, and 19 grams of sugar is close to an entire day’s serving!
If you have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten, then you should certainly be opting for gluten-free snacks.
However, even if you aren’t gluten-sensitive, you shouldn’t mistake “gluten-free” for “healthy”.
To combine this with #1, a Nature Valley® Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate, Gluten-Free bar has 7 grams of sugar and a weight loss-destroying 190 calories! [5]
Amount of calories burned varies on several different factors, but to burn off the 190 calories from that single bar, you’d have to do 30 minutes of calisthenics! [7]
Better: Whether a snack is gluten-free or not, make sure to be checking the ingredients. Remember, gluten-free doesn’t always mean better, so be vigilant!
Protein bars are labeled as healthy for you, and many say that they will help you with your weight loss or build muscle.
Many of these protein bars, however, have added ingredients that will destroy your weight loss, and add so many calories that you gain weight just from eating bars!
For example, a standard chocolate chip Clif Bar® has a jaw-dropping 260 calories, 17 grams of sugar, and 43 carbs! [6] All in one little bar!
Again, calories burned may vary slightly, but 260 calories would require you to spend around 45 minutes walking stairs...that’s a LOT for one protein bar! [7]
Better: There ARE protein bars that don’t have unnecessary sugars and calories. If you’re looking for a protein bar, find one that WON’T destroy your weight loss goals!
While coconut water may be a better option for you than soda, it has some big drawbacks that will jeopardize your weight loss.
A 16 ounce Vita Coco® Coconut Water has 22 grams of sugar and 90 calories! [8]
While that might not be as extreme as a soda, this is certainly a drink you want to have in moderation, if at all.
Better: If you’re craving that sweet, coconut flavor, then you should try our Pina Colada Boost Shot! This 0 sugar, 0 calorie drink will give you the refreshing taste of coconut without destroying your weight loss goals!
Whole-grain oats can have some awesome benefits for you and your weight loss goals!
Unfortunately, many companies pack their oat products with other ingredients to make them more enticing, which ultimately destroys any benefits they might have had!
For example, 1 packet of Quaker® Instant Maple and Brown Sugar has 12 grams of sugar and 160 calories! [9]
It would take you around 30 minutes of water aerobics to burn off that “healthy” oatmeal! ?
Better: Add oats to your diet that DO NOT have added sugars or unnecessary calories. Many companies have an “unflavored” option that would be best!
Parfaits are often seen as a healthy alternative to unhealthy desserts, but that parfait is likely just as unhealthy for you as ice cream!
Many parfaits use ingredients we’ve talked about on this list, like sugary granolas (#1), high-carb yogurts (#3) and other weight loss destroying ingredients, such as whipped cream!
Better: Make your own! When you make your own parfait, you can be sure that the ingredients won't destroy your weight loss, AND you can include all your favorite fruits.
Many veggie straw packaging claims that they have much less fat than the leading potato chip.
While that may be true, fat isn’t the only reason that potato chips are bad for you, and veggie straws are just as guilty of housing bad ingredients.
1 serving of Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws®, Sea Salt flavor, has 220g of sodium! [10]
And too much sodium intake can lead to increased blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke! [11]
Plus, despite having “Veggie” in the name, these salty snacks have NONE of the health benefits of actually vegetables!
Better: If you’re wanting a crunchy snack that is healthy, opt for ACTUAL vegetables, like baby carrots! Actual vegetables are extremely low in sodium content, but high in nutrients that you NEED!
Fruit snacks are notorious for saying that they are healthy, with sayings like “real fruit juice”, and “gluten-free” (which, as you know from #4, doesn’t necessarily mean healthy!).
These snacks, though, are anything but healthy. A small little pouch of Welch’s Mixed Fruit® Fruit Snacks has 5 grams of sugar and 45 calories!
That may not seem like much, but this is their SMALLEST pouch, which means you’re getting sugar AND extra calories for just a few fruit snacks. Not worth destroying your weight loss goals!
Better: When you’re looking for a sweet snack, go for ACTUAL fruit. Sliced strawberries and kiwis can make a great snack, and WON’T destroy your weight loss goals!
Remember, there are lots of foods out there that SAY they are good for your weight loss but will actually destroy it, and make achieving your goals nearly impossible.
Check labels, and don’t fall victim to buzzwords or flashy packaging, or you’ll NEVER achieve your weight loss goals!
Sources:
[2] Benefits of Nuts
[3] Gatorade Facts
[4] Yoplait Yogurt
[6] Clif Bar
[7] Harvard Calories Burned Info
[8] Vita Coco Water
[9] Quaker Oats
[10] Veggie Straws
