If you want to lose weight, you should avoid these foods!

Fruit juice and fruit smoothies

Fruit juice seems healthy for breakfast, but in fact it's just a glass full of sugar and empty calories (even 100 percent pure fruit juice). Fructose, the natural fruit sugar that makes fruit and fruit juice taste sweet, tricks your body into gaining weight by blunting your body’s ability to recognize when it’s full. This also applies to self-made fruit smoothies. So when you fill your blender with five different fruits, you could end up with a smoothie that clocks in at more than 500 calories. Better you eat the whole fruit or pair your fruit smoothies with veggies and/or a protein source.

Salt and Soy sauce

Both are low in calorie, but salt and soy sauce are extremely high on sodium that can leave you bloated. It is also responsible for causing significant amounts of water retention, which stops you from losing the amount of weight you so dearly want to shed. There are many low-sodium soy sauce options available these days but they are not significantly lower than the regular ones. Use sparingly.

A High Carb Snack alone

When you eat carbs only like a banana, bread or rice crackers alone, your body converts the carbs to simple sugars, and sends it directly into your blood stream. In response to the sugar rush, your body produces extra insulin, which helps your body absorb the sugar immediately. The problem: You end up with low blood sugar and the same hunger pangs that led you to carb it up in the first place. You then may be inclined to reach for sugary foods with no nutritional value to satisfy your need for instant energy. Therefore, your snacks should include a combination of carbs, healthy fats, and protein. That way they will take your body longer to digest and will therefore, tide you over for longer. Try a slice of bread with avocado, or whole grain crackers with cottage cheese cheese.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the first thing your body burns before it moves on to anything else. When alcohol is present in your body, it’s considered a toxin that your body wants to get rid of, and becomes your liver’s top priority. So until your body gets rid of alcohol from your system, you won’t burn any fat. In addition, alcohol contains empty calories and that doesn’t provide any nutrients. Plus, it softens your resolve so you’re more likely to overeat.

Low-Fat Foods

Low fat milk, low fat cheese, low fat yogurt… Research suggests that people tend to eat upwards of 30 percent more when they know they’re eating a food that’s low in fat. The problem (besides overeating, which can thwart your weight loss goals fast) is that when food makers remove fat from food, they inevitably remove some of the flavor. To compensate, they often add sugar, which makes the product even worse for you.

Artificial Sweeteners or Sugar-free products

Coke light, sugar free energy drink or sugar free pudding seem low in calories but the effect on your weight (and health) is really bad. Eating them can raise your insulin level, as they often contain unhealthy sugar alternatives. This makes you eat more, and increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes. Better you choose sparkling water. It’s calorie-free, but carbonated, which makes your stomach feel full so you end up eating less overall.