Whether male or female, you would much rather have a flat stomach than a heavy one. Not only does it look better, but it’s much healthier. Unfortunately, abdominal fat is the most difficult fat to get rid of. If you’re only exercising, then you can be sure that your abdominal fat will not go quietly. You’ll have to start pitching in with your diet, too. There are foods to avoid if you want to have that flat stomach.
Having a proper diet to complement your exercise definitely will help you get rid of that stubborn belly fat. If you’re someone who is having issues getting rid of that unwanted stomach fat, here you will find the top foods to avoid that will help. Something you don’t want to avoid is our post! Don’t forget to hit subscribe and click the notification button, so you never miss our new posts posted daily!
#1 Flavored Yogurt: Flavored yogurt is often advertised as a healthy snack. But according to Tanya Zuckerbrot, Registered Dietitian and founder of F-Factor Nutrition, flavored yogurt can contain up to 30 grams of sugar with every 6oz serving. Zuckerbrot adds that the amount of sugar found in flavored yogurt is more than what you’d find in ice cream. Excess sugar can lead to weight gain, so you might want to avoid flavored yogurt and stick with Greek yogurt.
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#2 Pancake Syrup: Zuckerbrot explains that pancake syrup contains high fructose corn syrup which is mixed with artificial colors and flavors. She adds that this refined sweetener will actually cause you to crave more sugar and sweet foods, which will not help get rid of that unwanted belly fat.
#3 White Rice: White rice is stripped of its filling fiber and antioxidants, says Zuckerbrot. She adds that most calories found in white rice are carbohydrates that will leave you feeling hungry not long after you consume it. If you’re not full, then you may tend to overeat.
#4 Granola: Granola has been touted as a healthy food, especially for breakfast. But Zuckerbrot explains that granola can be laced with as many as five different types of sugar and added fats. Not only can it set you up for a midday crash, but it can also leave you craving sweets for the rest of the day. This is not beneficial for your waistline.
#5 Bagels: According to Shape Magazine, one bagel contains the same amount of carbohydrates as six slices of white bread. They add that foods that have high amounts of carbohydrates can spike insulin levels which can lead to cravings for unhealthy foods. In addition, they say that refined grains can turn into sugar which ends up getting converted to fat and stored in the body.
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#6 Dried Fruit: When you take the water out of fruit, you basically have candy, because of the added sugar content, says Zuckerbrot. If this is in your diet, you might want to remove it because it will alter the body’s blood sugar levels and induce sugary cravings, she adds.
#7 Soda: Soda is filled with sugar and calories and should never be on anyone’s diet if they want to lose weight. Refined carbs have the ability to stop fat burn in a very short period of time, says Livestrong. They add that once the body gets a blast of sugar, it stops using the fat as energy and uses the sugar instead.
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#8 Nut Butters: According to Angela Lemond, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, nut butter are high in fat, and calories tend to add up. She adds that one gram of fat is nine calories. If you’re going to have nut butter in your diet, you need to have it in small portions, or you’ll just be adding unnecessary weight to your stomach.
#9 Potato Chips: This one should be a no-brainer, but if you want to shed those unwanted pounds you need to ditch the salty snacks. Unfortunately, these chips are usually loaded with unhealthy stuff like Hydrogenated oils which can up your cholesterol intake and increase your risk of heart disease. There are low-fat or baked potato chips that you can buy instead, but it’s best just to avoid these together, as all that extra salt might make your body retain water and adds a few extra pounds.
#10 Candy: If you have a sweet tooth this can be especially hard. However candy is built into many of our celebrations, like around the holidays, birthdays, and any visit to grandma’s house, it’s everywhere! We don’t need to tell you but candy is nothing but empty calories and sugar. When you’re trying to lose belly fat you want to avoid any added sugar to your diet. According to Harvard nutritionist Walter Willett, high-calorie, low-value foods like candy should be the first thing to go when trying to lose belly fat.
#11 Fast Food: It may be convenient, fast, and taste good, but nothing worth doing was ever easy, right? Something to keep in mind when driving past the drive-thru. Fast food joints offer meals that can skyrocket your calorie count for the day. Some meals can have over two thousand calories!! That’s usually over the total calories you should eat in a day, and you’ll spend it on one single meal. The way to avoid giving in to the convenience of takeout is to be prepared. Have healthy snacks like nuts and fruit available for when hunger strikes unexpectedly.
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#12 Alcohol: One six-pack contains over 800 calories, and that’s before you factor in the pizza that you’re probably eating along with it. Not to mention those fancy cocktails can be full of sugar, which is basically like candy in a glass. We mentioned earlier that sugar is something you should avoid when thinking about a healthy diet. Booze tends to be heavy in calories and has little to no nutritional value. These are the types of things you’ll want to avoid. There’s a reason they call it a beer belly.
#13 Baked Goods: This is another food where convenience is king. When you’re in a rush to get to work in the morning and you just don’t have time to make a healthy snack, it’s really easy to grab a muffin or doughnut, but if you’re trying to shed a few pounds, this is a fairly easy one to cut out. These little desserts are packed with extra sugar and calories plus, they’re difficult for your stomach to digest. They’re often packed with preservatives and refined sugars, which just aren’t healthy in general.
#14 Fruit Juice: Again, this is another place for sugar to hide. Even unsweetened juice can contain loads of sugar. Sometimes fruit juice can even contain more sugar than soda! Sugary drinks like fruit juices might seem like a healthy choice because they can provide some vitamins and minerals, but all the sugar mixed in can be really unhealthy and promote unwanted belly fat. Not to mention drinking your calories means you’ll probably still be hungry, and this could cause you to double up your calories in a single day without being aware of it.
#15 Cereal: Not all cereal is created equal, and there are actually some great ones out there. Sorry the sugary, brightly coloured ones, don’t usually make the cut. The problem with eating cereal isn’t always the sugar content, it’s the serving size. Most people eat more than one recommended serving at a time and this can double the calorie intake that’s listed on the side. Also if you’re adding dairy to the mix, that’ll add more calories and probably more bloating into the mix.
#16 Potatoes: Potatoes come in all shapes and sizes from french fries to potato chips. But in this case, we’re talking about the good old-fashioned baked potato. According to Harvard nutritionist Walter Willett once again, one baked potato can give your body the same negative effects as a whole tablespoon of sugar. Plus when you’re eating a baked potato, you are probably paring it with some toppings. Whether it be sour cream, bacon, or cheese.
So what did you think of this post? Are you going to cut out any of the foods we’ve listed? Were you surprised by any of the things on this list? Do you have some foods you enjoy that can help you to lose that belly fat?
Why not share your favourite healthy snacks in the comment section below.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. You should never use content in my writing as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or another qualified clinician. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if indicated for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog. Thank you.