What’s better than butter? Or sugary treats? It’s hard to say no to some of our favorite foods, especially for the long-haul. You likely have a good idea of what foods you shouldn’t be eating in excess (donuts, ice cream, chocolate bars, candy etc.). They’re all the obvious “evils” when it comes to getting in shape.
But there are some “unexpected” foods that are amazing for increasing metabolism. This is where low carb diets come into play. With a diet such as LCHF (low carb high fat), you are incorporating healthy fats into your diet rather than high-calorie fats.
But there are also some foods you must avoid that are considered “healthy fats”.
Avoid These "Healthy" Foods To Get In Shape
If you aren’t interested in following a low carb diet, you’ll want to at least understand the foods that are typically considered healthy, yet could be adding to your waistline.
This includes:
1. Whole Grains
Most everyone loves a nice bowl of spaghetti with a glass of wine. Portion control is key when you eat pasta, bread or rice. Be vigilant that you are weighing out the serving sizes; they’re probably much smaller than you think!
2. Fruit
Fruit has been debated over for years in the health and fitness community. Is it good for you? Is it bad for you? Fruit is jam packed full of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and carbs that fight disease, provide energy and do many ‘behind the scenes’ activities once eaten.
However, the reason it’s so tasty is because it’s also packed with sugar. The debate will continue to rage about whether fruit sugar is ‘bad’ or ‘good’ sugar (think apple vs snickers bar). The thing you should note is that sugar ultimately gets stored as fat. Stick to only a few servings of fruit a day to be safe.
3. Avocado
Avocados are loaded with great nutrients like vitamin E, antioxidants, folate, heart healthy fats and potassium. Yet, all that plant fat makes them very calorie dense.
4. Nuts
Whether it’s a nut butter or the nut itself, treat all the peanuts and tree nuts your encounter with caution. A ¼ cup of nuts (peanuts, cashews, almonds etc.) usually runs between 130-190 calories. It’s very easy to overdo it when you have trail mix or nut mix in your house.
5. Dark Chocolate
How delicious is a bar of dark chocolate? So, you admit you have eaten a whole bar?! We chocolate lovers have been there! Eating a single square like the packaging suggests can be difficult.
However, try sticking with individually wrapped servings of chocolate that’s 70% dark or darker. That’s where you’ll get great portion control and lots of healthy antioxidants without the extra calories.
6. Olive Oil
Cooking with olive oil can bring out so many delicious flavors and make a meal great. Yet, you should be very careful and measure how much you use. One tablespoon of olive oil contains 120 calories and if you are pouring it into the pan, you can easily triple that number. Measure when cooking and be sure that you are using a oil mister if you are putting it on your salad. Otherwise, enjoy the benefits of heart healthy fats!
7. Hummus
Hummus dip can be delicious and a great way to dress up plain crackers. It’s easy to make and can be infused with many different ingredients (roasted red peppers, basil, pine nuts etc.). It’s also a great source of protein, fiber, iron and calcium. However, it’s also packed with calories.
Two tablespoons equate to 50 calories. Not many people can stop at two tablespoons and soon enough they’ve eaten 250 calories worth with pita chips and have blown the day’s caloric deficit!
4 Foods To Eat Instead
Truly healthy foods are those that help to increase your metabolism and help you get leaner. Let’s go over a few that are great.
1. Fish
Fish is great for you and delicious. Fish such as mackerel, sardines, haddock, herring and salmon contain a ton of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 has been shown to not only help with getting slimmer but work on decreasing your risk of heart disease.
2. Coffee
Habitual coffee drinkers, rejoice! While the beans themselves may not be beneficial, per say, the caffeine that you consume with a cup can be quite helpful. It can increase your metabolic rate and get you energized to get through your workout all while helping you to continue slimming down.
3. Eggs
Eggs can be perfect for stopping your hunger and keeping you full long after breakfast due to their high protein. People used to avoid eggs do to their supposedly high cholesterol but more recent studies have shown that eggs can help to protect your heart and decrease the risk of heart disease. Their protein packed punch will boost your body’s calorie burning during digestion too.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV has been around forever and has been the topic many wives’ tales throughout the years. It’s been shown to not only reduce appetite and lower blood sugar levels but play a part in fat loss. The acetic acid in ACV works to increase your body’s calorie burning and work on shrinking your waist. Try a tablespoon diluted in water twice a day.
Is There an Easier Way?
If you’re looking to finally get in shape then be sure to check out the free video presentation below:
