| When you first decide to lose weight, you will | | | | flavor, and will have far fewer calories than its |
| undoubtedly hear a lot of advice about which | | | | "healthy menu" counterpart. |
| foods to eat, and which ones to avoid. Although | | | | 3. Meal replacement bars: Diet bars are another |
| some of the suggestions you will hear might | | | | type of food that you should avoid when on a |
| seem to make perfect sense, some of them can | | | | weight loss plan. Like diet sodas, these items |
| actually sabotage your diet, and keep you from | | | | often contain artificial sweeteners that can make |
| losing weight at all. Five of the most surprising diet | | | | you crave sugars. Also, they are typically packed |
| saboteurs are listed below: | | | | with refined flours, which are converted into |
| 1. Diet Soda: One of the biggest offenders is diet | | | | sugars by your body. These sugars end up being |
| soda. Conventional wisdom dictates that by | | | | stored as excess fat. Some meal replacement |
| choosing sodas with zero-calorie sweeteners | | | | bars are glorified candy bars, and contain very |
| instead of those laden with sugars, you can | | | | little actual nutrition. |
| decrease your caloric intake and lose weight | | | | 4. Your morning cup of coffee: Caffeine can also |
| faster. Unfortunately, this is not the case. While | | | | sabotage your diet. Although many over the |
| diet sodas are low in calories, they cause a | | | | counter weight loss pills contain caffeine, this |
| significant amount of damage to the body. First, | | | | chemical can alter your metabolism and make it |
| they stress the liver, reducing your body's ability | | | | even more difficult to lose weight. Many people |
| to efficiently burn fats found in other foods. Even | | | | assume that caffeine speeds up the human |
| worse, the synthetic chemicals found in diet sodas | | | | metabolic rate, but it tends to have the opposite |
| trigger cravings for real sugars - so you may find | | | | effect. Your daily latte fix may be affecting your |
| that you often follow a diet drink with a candy | | | | diet another way-if you are filling your cup with |
| bar. | | | | half and half or whole milk, you may be drinking |
| It is a good idea to avoid diet sodas and other | | | | more calories than you think! |
| drinks that contain artificial sweeteners when you | | | | 5. Happy Hour: Finally, alcohol is a common |
| are trying to lose weight. The best alternative is | | | | problem for people who are trying to lose weight. |
| water - it is not only a calorie-free drink; it will also | | | | You might not think much about that glass of |
| help keep your body hydrated to flush out fats | | | | wine or cocktail you have with dinner, but it can |
| and keep your muscles toned and healthy. | | | | significantly impair your ability to lose weight. A |
| 2. Restaurant "health" food: When you are trying | | | | typical 12 ounce beer contains nearly 150 calories, |
| to lose weight, you should also steer clear of | | | | as does a glass of red wine. Some types of |
| most "healthy" restaurant menu items. Most | | | | cocktails add even more calories to your daily |
| restaurants offer at least a few salads, but these | | | | intake. Drinking alcohol can also lower your |
| are often packed with more calories than you | | | | inhibitions-so the single handful of peanuts or |
| might think. Even "light" salad dressings may add | | | | snack mix may turn into an entire bowlful if you |
| hundreds of calories - and that's after fried | | | | aren't careful! |
| chicken, bacon, and other unhealthy items are | | | | Understanding how these items can sabotage |
| piled on your salad. Instead of choosing something | | | | your diet is an important step for rapid, |
| simply because it has the word "healthy" | | | | permanent weight loss. Take measures to |
| attached, order healthy food, prepared in a low | | | | eliminate these sneaky saboteurs from your diet, |
| fat way. A simple grilled steak or chicken breast | | | | and you will find that weight loss becomes a much |
| with a side of steamed veggies is packed full of | | | | easier process. |